UPDATE: I decided to throw this track on my latest promo EP, FRMX3.  Enjoy!

FREE DOWNLOAD LINK: 

http://shop.firstwordrecords.com/track/hey-you-ft-devise

Here's one that was meant to be on an EP I dropped last year called FRMX2.  Sadly, it wasn't quite completed in time to go on the EP. Might have to add it to FRMX3 ... it's a freestyle over "Hey You!" - one of my favourite tracks of 2012 by the Shining.  It features my man Devise - yup, it's a Dupa Styles reunion for all those that know!  Available right now for free download alongside a slew of fantastic tracks by my labelmates on the latest First Word Records comp Two Syllables Volume Nine.

LYRICS: 

Verse one (Essa):

THIS RIGHT HERE IS A...
Game changer, brain strainer
Rain maker, hay maker, risk taker,
Hip shaker, criss flavour,
Sip, savour, wait, hold on...
SWITCH CRITERIA
Resume mission, with new vision,
Dude listen, true spitting, we slew riddim,
We rule Britain, new king in town,
The shoe's fitting, the suit's linen
EASE UP ON 'EM ESS....
They're like keep it simple for them Yge
You ask me that isn't good advice advice
You catch it first time you won't listen to it twice
So I packed a verse tight with the intricate delights, like
The asthmatic, rap addict, back at it
With that magic, black magic
My track classic, your track tragic
A wack racket, sack it, jack it in like a bad habit

HEY YOU! (hook)

Bridge:

It's been a while since I came through
So if you lost touch I don't blame you
You just rocked up? Welcome to phase two
Essa's the name and I came to entertain you
HEY YOU!  Dupa styles in the building
HEY YOU! How you feel how you feeling
HEY YOU! Raise your hands to the ceiling
HEY YOU! Standard proceedings

Verse two (Devise):

Sat back and I cotch
Osho Rajneesh Bhagwan a’ watch
Bandanna on, Rachmaninov
Your girlfriend's back play backgammon off
 Check the back catalogue
Respect the tracks and the songs
I'm back man so watch
The capitan the boss
The champion that man's cantankerous
You act like you and you mans handle glocks
And bang bang and pop that black cannon off
A badman you're not, a gang banger? Stop
Like batman and robin I backhand 'em off
OFF
I bang bang a lot
But with my pants round my socks
Get Hannah montana's thong and her soft black panties off
Then wham bam thank you ma'am and I'm off
Stranded and lost
Ram from Afghanistan to Bangkok
In Amsterdam that's where that stopped
When I got caught carrying a bag of crack rock
Ransacked **** *****'s pad
Did a handstand w**k in my pants and ran off
I'm a madman like Yasser Arafat was
Give the man a standing handclap and hats off

HOOK




Hey You! FRMX Ft. Devise

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This track originally saw the light of day on a cover-mount CD that came free with a recent issue of Wordplay magazine. I decided to throw it on FRMX3 to spread it a little further.  It's produced by the incredible DJ Snips (one of the realest hip-hop heads I've ever met!) and features LSK on the hook.  LSK sings and tours with Faithless and I remember him and Maxi Jazz giving me props on this track, which meant a lot to me ...

Deep ft. LSK (produced by DJ Snips)

The main mix of this track was released on the Time For Something New EP: http://essamusic.bandcamp.com/   Mr. Thing's version actually predates the version on that EP but we shelved it because Pharoah Monche flipped the same break on a track for his W.A.R. album. Thing's beat was banging, though, so I always wanted this version to be heard.  This new FRMX EP was the perfect opportunity.

Let's Start Living (Mr. Thing RMX) ft. Inspectah Deck and Skinny Man

Eternity

Fuse

Will I Wake Up

LIVE AT JAZZ CAFE 23 APRIL 2014. TICKETS/INFO: http://essamusic.bandcamp.com/merch

OK, my new album is called Misadventures of a Middle Man (released May 2014 on First Word Records).  The first single is called The World Belongs To You (released 24 March on First Word Records, produced by Ta-Ku, Australian beat supremo and rising star).  This track right here is the b-side to that single - an exclusive bonus track that is not available on the album.  It's entitled Call Me Essa (also produced by Ta-Ku).

Shout out to legendary London hip-hop DJ 279 who gave me the idea for this track.  When I changed my name from Yungun to Essa he said he thought people would be confused and that the best way to explain it would be in a verse.  Thanks numbers, good idea!  Hopefully this clears things up for anyone who was confused ...

UK heads - I'll be performing this track (and the tracks from the Misadventures of a Middle Man) live at the Jazz Café on Wednesday 23 April 2014.  See above for ticket/info link.  Hope to see you there!

Call Me Essa (produced by Ta-Ku)

VIDEO PREVIEW LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY6W_7XQZm4

Artist: Essa
Title: The World Belongs To You
Label: First Word Records
Release Date: 24th March 2014
Format: DL  
Cat No: FW117

The World Belongs To You is the first single from Essa's hotly anticipated new album 'The Misadventures Of A Middle Man'. Produced by Australian sensation Ta-Ku, the track is an up- tempo call for positivity, inspired by Essa's global travels. Accompanied by a sun-kissed video (shot on tour in China, Australia and Soundwave Croatia Festival) it's the perfect way to usher in the summer months. The single includes another Ta-Ku-produced banger, the self- explanatory 'Call Me Essa', a non-album bonus track only available on this single.

Despite being a firm fixture in the UK rap scene for over a decade, 'The Misadventures Of A Middle Man' will be Essa's first full-length since 2006's 'Grown Man Business' album with DJ Mr. Thing. Early releases 'Liquid Love', 'City Breaks' and 'Dancing Shoes' (under former name Yungun) established him as one of the UK's most insightful MCs. Collabs with Guru (Gang Starr/Jazzmatazz) and praise from Nas and Mark Ronson followed. All of this whilst pursuing a parallel career as an entertainment lawyer.

The collision of these two worlds, plus his mixed race heritage, are the inspiration for new album 'The Misadventures Of A Middle Man'. The full album will be released in early May, plus a bonus seven-inch featuring an exclusive vinyl-only remix from Tall Black Guy, one of the all-star cast of producers assembled for the album, including Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers/Slum Village), Ta-Ku, fLako, Eric Lau and Budgie.

The World Belongs To You (prod. by Ta-Ku, full-length version)

I used to go by the name Yungun.  Back in what some call the “golden age” of UK Hip-Hop I dropped a couple of albums -  "The Essance" (2004) and "Grown Man Business" (2006, a joint effort with my long-time collaborator DJ Mr Thing). I had a lot of fun, worked with some of the best hip-hop artists in the UK and got the nod of approval from people like Nas and Mark Ronson.  I even ended up doing a track with Guru from Gang Starr (R.I.P.).  Then I took a bit of time off from music to qualify as a lawyer (I specialise in media and entertainment industry law).

Now I’m back under the name “Essa”. My latest album 'Misadventures of a Middle Man' was released in May 2014 on First Word Records. I’m currently working on new material  and am looking for collaborators ...

Essa (previously Yungun)

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