Esso:Esso For President

Words By David Lopez

If ever there was an artist that represents what EntertainmentOnFire.com's phrase of "True Heat Always Rises," means that artist is Esso.

The Harlem emcee has recieved all of the praises from all the right media outlets, including allhiphop.com's "Breeding Ground," and The Source's "Unsigned Hype,” and his mixtape Essobama, recieved the coveted Hood selection from Scratch magazine. That same mixtape earned him an Underground Music Award for best mixtape of 2007.All signs point that he's the next to blow.

Still with all that he's achieved the young man is not satisfied. As he told EOF at a recent event that though it feels good to be recognized but it's also very frustrating to him that his songs are not on the radio, and he’s not preparing a major release and all the promotion that comes with it.

And it’s that honesty that makes Esso so easy to relate to.

EOF witnessed a Esso performance recently as he performed tracks such as a " Million Bucks," and "Never Live My Life," with a lot of style and energy. His lyrics are a hybrid between educating and entertaining.

Similar to the man who is planning to lead our country post George W. Bush, Presidental canidate Barack Obama, and the inspirtation of his Essobamba mixtape title. Esso is at the forefront of the up and coming NYC rappers leading not only by his words and actions but by his growing popularity.

In this EOF interview Esso describes life on the campaign trail to stardom.

Entertainmentonfire.com:There's a lot of people that know about you because of the allhiphop journals and your positive mixtape reviews in Scratch magazine, and being Unsigned Hype, in The Source. For those who don't know, how would you describe yourself as an artist?

Esso:Basically, as an artist, I want people to feel like they can relate to me. We all pretty much go through the same things, just at different times in different places. So I want to make sure that I paint a picture of whats goin on around me so that whoever's listening either feels like that's something they're going through themself or feel like they're right there with me seeing what I'm seeing


Entertainmentonfire.com: How is everything going for you an unsigned artist ?

Esso:I cant even complain about where I'm at right now because I'm always being reminded that a lot of people wish they were where I'm at. But at the same time, I'm one of those people that doesn’t get content all that easily. So I'm always working, always looking for new opportunities to get myself out there and take it to another level. But at the same time, I've had a lot of looks that other unsigned artists haven't had like the journal on AllHipHop, and being in a nationwide ad campaign. Most recently I won an Underground Music Award for Mixtape of the Year, so I'm definitely moving in the right direction. But I would be lying to you if I said I wouldnt rather be out there on a major label getting ready to release my first album, yanno?



Entertainmentonfire.com: How did you get the rap name Esso?

Esso:When I first went to school me and my homie had a radio show, and we were on from midnight to 3am. We would get all these girls calling in telling me I got the Quiet Storm voice, so I started going by Solace which is basically a calm moment. Then in the course of freestyling and writing and all that I must have flipped Solace about 500 different ways, and Esso just stuck


Entertainmentonfire.com: How was the experience of opening up for the Clipse?
Esso:It was a cool experience. It was probably the second biggest show I've been a part of so far. I performed at Howard Homecoming in October of 06, and that was huge also. The clipse show was a good look though, Skyzoo and Torae performed and so did Kidz in the Hall so the lineup was definitely crazy. I love being on stage so any chance I have to do that I'm gonna tear it down.

Entertainmentonfire.com: EOF, has a saying in which we believe True Heat Always Rises, . What is is that's going to make you rise to the top of the charts?
Esso:Theres always room for something different. The one thing I dont ever want to be is a carbon copy of someone else or The Next ______. As long as I just keep being the first Esso and not the second coming of anybody else, I'm gonna be straight.


Entertainmentonfire.com:Anybody who sees you perform can vouch you have a lot of swagger and fashion sense. How much as being raised in Harlem influenced that?

Esso:Harlem is what it is, and its been like that way before rap was ever around. Anyone that's ever been to NYC knows what that's about, and if I can hold the torch for that, then thats an honor. Its funny though because I really just throw together whatever looks right to me, its no real thought process to it. As far as swagger...I been thinking that people show want to follow my lead since I was in Elementary School...hahaha


Entertainmentonfire.com:Who do you want to give to props to as far as helping you with your career?


Esso:I definitely gotta show love to the people that hold me down all the time, my cousin Saint Paul, my manager Ralph Dibugnara, Sickamore, Kay Konnect, Tory, Emmanuelle, Riggs Morales, my older cousin Dise, and of course all of the people that support me at my shows, listen to my music and appreciate what I do.

Entertainmentonfire.com:What's next for you, another mixtape, or are you working on the Esso album to push independently?


Esso:I always feel like I'm workin on 3 projects at a time. Right now I got one project on stash sitting down in Houston that me and my girl IB3 put together called Separated at Birth she's rapper signed with Matthew Knowles and we banged out 16 songs in 4 days. Then I'm working on my album project which we dont know yet if thats gonna be independent or major, and of course E3 which is probably gonna be dropping towards the end of the fall. So I aint slowing down a step.

Entertainmentonfire.com:EOF is all about giving exposure to next crop of great artists Joell Ortiz, King Nappo, Malik-16? Out of the up and coming rappers, who's work do you respect for their talent and creativity?


Esso:Shit, let's go down the line... Lupe Fiasco, Sha Stimuli, Skyzoo, Torae, Joell Ortiz, my girl IB3 of course, Nina B, Ciz, Gage, Xclusiv, Liaison, Kidz in the Hall, Mickey Factz...anyone I forgot blame it on the brain but off the top of my head those are some of my favorites



Entertainmentonfire.com:I want to give you the platform to say what ever you want to say. Any parting words?


Esso:First and foremost I want to thank you and EOF for the opportunity. Other than that, holla and add me on MySpace at www.MySpace.com/ESSO, go catch up on ESSOcentric and ESSObama if you're still narcileptic, and get ready for E3, and Real Life: The Movie, coming out as soon as we figure out this distribution situation...hahahaha
GONE