De Mos`Offish: On The Rise New York Artist "Esso"

Friday, April 16

On The Rise New York Artist "Esso"

NEW YORK- The latest piece of work from hip-hop artist ESSO is a confessional mixtape that expresses a day in the life of the up and coming rapper from Harlem, NY. Ushering in a new era of hip-hop, ESSO stamps a new sound that leaves behind the day of the 80’s baby and awakens the dawn of a new age that has learned more from the mistakes and triumphs of generations past. Since releasing ESSOcentric in October of 2006, and the follow-ups ESSObama: The Champagne Campaign, and E3: E-Day, ESSO has quickly become one of the most well known independent artists in New York City. Named “Unsigned Hype” by The Source Magazine in December of 2006, ESSO has also made appearances on BET’s Rap City and MTV’s Sucker Free: Straight from the Streets, SHADE45 (Sirius Satellite Radio), XM Raw 66 (XM Satellite Radio), various College Radio shows throughout New York State and was reviewed twice by SCRATCH Magazine to critical acclaim.

Recently he has been performing across the country in New York, Las Vegas, and Washington DC. His notable performances include the stages at CMJ in 2008 and the highly attended SXSW for the first time in 2009. He was spotlighted in XXL Magazine’s “Show & Prove” feature in their September 2009 issue and was also included in YRB Magazine’s Fall 2009 Fashion Issue.

Born and raised in Harlem, ESSO was always very much in tune with the duality of his surroundings. Raised in a transitional period stemming from the 80’s & carrying on through the 90’s he was brought up extremely aware of the street activities & the tribulations surrounding his predecessors. Understanding and living in the cultural significance of Harlem from an early age, his education & experience helped to shape his musical identity years later. In explanation he illustrates, “On one side of Harlem you have the Bumpy Johnson’s, the Frank Lucas’s, and the AZ’s of the world. And on the other side, you have the Langston Hughes and Count Basie’s and the Harlem Renaissance. Being exposed to both sides really makes me look at things a bit differently than a lot of people.” Being a recent graduate of Howard University, ESSO is an advocate of spreading a message that proves we are all capable of achieving whatever it is that we believe is important as individuals. In his music he provides a more diverse & progressive sound in which he showcases a more well rounded dynamic of what it’s like being from Harlem, NY & part of a new generation.

When referring to ESSO, the “Theory of Evolution” is the heart of where he stands right now. A primary influence in the direction of how he expresses himself in his music he explains, “Everybody wants to bring New York back. I want to be one of the people at the forefront of moving New York forward.” Signaling a deliberate desire to carve his own niche and blaze his own trail he states, “More important than trying to fill my music with smoke and mirrors and distractions, I'm honest with my listeners and they appreciate that.”

In May of 2009 ESSO released a 6 song EP titled “Lifestyles of the Young & Ignorant” to critical acclaim as a free download. In August he followed up with a release of his own version of the 1979 Michael Jackson album “Off the Wall.” The release has received over 10,000 downloads to date. He is currently in the studio working on an upcoming project titled “THE ANTI-SOCIALITE” (scheduled for release April 2010). The project features production by RENA1SSANCE and Woody’s Produce.

Esso – New York, New York "Newest joint"