(2)Dope Questions w/ ESSO
What up dopeboyz and dopegirlz. I wanted to introduce ya’ll to a new series we’re gonna be running sporadically on 2DB. The title says it all. We’re gonna ask emcees, producers, etc two questions. Yep, just two. Let’s face it… any full interviews will be done at the fulltime. These aren’t just “what’s new” or “how old are you” questions though! After speaking with my man ESSO (whose dropping a dope new mixtape this week) I figured I’d start with him. I ask him his thoughts and reactions to the Sean Bell verdict and for an added bonus, gangster ass Laterian Milton gets thrown in the mix. Hit the jump and let us know what you think…
Listening to License to Kill [Sean Bell Tribute] it seems like you feel really connected to Bell. What went through your mind when the verdict came through and what are your thoughts on the Justice System in America?
Damn thats a heavy question. Honestly I didnt even know what to think when I heard that the cops were acquitted. As crazy as this might sound I been tellin people that it’s a good thing that they decided the case when it did because the weather in NYC has been so up and down. If this was June and that would have happened, the streets of NY would have been banannas. There have been a lot of smaller incidents since then that you won’t hear about but it’s been almost eerily quiet for the most part.I remember I was going out that saturday night and I met my cousin on 125th and 3 out of the 4 corners on 125th & Lenox had 2 man patrols holding the corners down. And I was thinking to myself “so what they think I’m gonna riot so they can shoot me and get away with that too? That’s where the inspiration for the song came from. It was really just my honest reaction to everything that I was seeing. And I kept thinking to myself “what can I do?” The one vehicle that I do have right now to reach people is music. And as I started actually learining more about Sean Bell I realized that he was like me in a lot of ways. I think I even read somewhere that he was 11-0 as a pitcher in his Senior HS season as a pitcher. that struck a nerve with me because it made me imagine that he could have been any one of my teammates from over the years.
As far as the Justice system in America is concerned, politics play a major role in the justice system at the highest levels. On the lower levels look at things like the Rockefeller Drug Laws and the minimum mandatory sentences for Crack vs. Coke. Who buys Crack? Who buys Coke? It’s really not that hard to figure out. I dont want to get too political before I have to go and record Anti-Backpack II, but I will say that I’m glad Obama is bringing new voters into the equation. I dont remember the last election for anything other than Most Likely to Succeed that had so many people my age interested.
Now that the trial is over, what can we [the people] do about it? Sharpton, the two other victims, Nicole Paultre-Bell (Bell’s widow) and 200+ people were arrested in a public protest. Is that all that can be done?
Nah you know what, the public organized responses are cool, but it can’t be forced. Something like that needs to grow gradually. It makes a nice statement for them to go out and sacrifice themselves in that way, but how long will it be remembered? How many people right now probably confuse Abner Louima and Amadou Diallou? How many even remember them? At this point, Sean Bell isn’t even the most recent Police related death in New York anymore. How many people are shouting out about Khiel Coppin?The most honest answer that I can give you is that I dont even know what can be done about it. I’m not a Politician, so I dont know what sort of bills may be in the drafting process, I’m not a community organizer, so I cant really tell you if there are gonna be any more protests. I choose to make my voice heard through my music, and I think it comes down to people making their voices heard the best way they know how. If someone listens to “License to Kill” and when it’s over they say to themself “damn that could have been me too” then that keeps the dialogue going and I’ve made my contribution. I didn’t do it for attention or to be seen as righteous or anything like that. I did it because thats how I felt at the time, and I thought at that particular time it needed to be expressed.
BONUS: How gutter is Laterian Milton?
Ahhh man, that kid is 1000% Young & Ignorant Certified. I’m surprised no one’s taken his quotes and used them in a song yet. I bet somebody’s gonna do it before the year’s out.
Thanks again ESSO! Those interested in checking out more from ESSO can hit his MySpace. And like I said above, his new mixtape E3: E-Day is dropping Thursday (May22) along with a video to his Anti-Backpack joint (which is just so Young & Ignorant haha). If you’re in the NY area be sure to check out the release party (flyer below).
DOWNLOAD: ESSO - Anti-Backpack (prod. Talksik)
esso-bama is dope. i’ve only heard like 3 cuts of his but dude is nice with his.
khal said this on May 19, 2008 at 8:44 pm
that lil kid is supergangsta
bananaclipse(3.0) said this on May 19, 2008 at 8:51 pm
oh, i have a new respect for esso, ill admit i kinda just wrote him off
bananaclipse(3.0) said this on May 19, 2008 at 8:54 pm
yea i really dig esso’s music. be on the look out for the new mixtape. i will probably up the first two as well
Shake said this on May 19, 2008 at 8:55 pm
You have to be f*ckin kiddin me. AND you ran a piece on “swagger jackin!!!!”
I see this as friendly competition but its still f*ucked up. haha.
http://ldntimes10.wordpress.com/category/ldn-quick-questions-x10/
ldn
ldnx10 said this on May 19, 2008 at 9:07 pm
great new series!
kid karacho said this on May 19, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I cant even lie tho you have stepped the graphic design game up.
ldn
ldnx10 said this on May 19, 2008 at 9:09 pm
im sorry dude, i dont even check your site to be honest. not being rude or anything. coincidence is all. and you wonder why i get testy with you. coming here all vigilanty style for no reason.
Shake said this on May 19, 2008 at 9:14 pm
speaking of sean bell. im FINALLY getting the shirts printed today haha. i’ll be heading to the shop at 4 my time. so expect some pics later in the day. then we’ll start getting orders underway. yessir!
Shake said this on May 19, 2008 at 9:41 pm
There was a reason it just seems super-coincidental. I even got approached by a couple people asking me to feature Esso in my 10 questions section a couple of days ago! If it was a coincidence then its cool but it just seemed/seems a little suspicious.
Altho it could lead to real post jackin you should check the site as it is on the rise. This industry is crazy.
ldn
Ldn said this on May 19, 2008 at 10:01 pm
and im supposed to know people approach you about features? lol come on dude. just move on.
Shake said this on May 19, 2008 at 10:08 pm
shake ur sooo racist
bananaclipse(3.0) said this on May 19, 2008 at 10:20 pm
i know. im sorry.
Shake said this on May 19, 2008 at 10:26 pm
lol
bananaclipse(3.0) said this on May 19, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I wasn’t claiming that you knew that. I was just sayin it to let you know how crazy this situation is.
ldn
ldnx10 said this on May 19, 2008 at 11:19 pm
but you came off on some bullshit. its one thing to be like “wow we did the same kind of feature - what a coincidence!” you came off like ‘You have to be f*ckin kiddin me. AND you ran a piece on “swagger jackin!!!!”
I see this as friendly competition but its still f*ucked up. ‘
that’s something completely different. fix up.
khal said this on May 20, 2008 at 1:44 am
But it seemed like TOO much of a coincidence. I know maybe it was crazy to even post that comment but at the time I was stressed as hell. I don’t wanna seem like this crazy angry dude, surely you can see the similarities.
ANYWAY, Shake says it was a coincidence and I cant prove they stole my idea so lets just move on. I will never win an argument like this over here anyway. Its like me standing in the middle of Compton screaming “London is better than this place” expecting everyone there to agree, they wont.
ldn
ldnx10 said this on May 20, 2008 at 2:06 am
lol, shake what up?
theshoelace said this on May 20, 2008 at 3:05 am
whats going on my man!?!
Shake said this on May 20, 2008 at 3:08 am
In the words of Riley Freeman “Y’all Niggas Is Gay”
hopps83 said this on May 20, 2008 at 11:10 am
‘But it seemed like TOO much of a coincidence. I know maybe it was crazy to even post that comment but at the time I was stressed as hell. I don’t wanna seem like this crazy angry dude, surely you can see the similarities.
ANYWAY, Shake says it was a coincidence and I cant prove they stole my idea so lets just move on. I will never win an argument like this over here anyway. Its like me standing in the middle of Compton screaming “London is better than this place” expecting everyone there to agree, they wont.
ldn
ldnx10 said this on May 20, 2008 at 2:06 am’
you reachin…
khal said this on May 20, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Esso’s a reflective dude. Seems like he’s been through it.
Madrugada Jones said this on May 20, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Also wanted to say that ‘London is better than this place’ is a hilarious line!
Cartoons here: http://spinachflame.wordpress.com/
Madrugada Jones said this on May 20, 2008 at 4:07 pm
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Muchr espect to the homie Esso … Check out the “Lisence 2 Kill” track
produced by myself and my partner E7 !
DJ Nice said this on May 22, 2008 at 11:23 pm
what up Esso i see ya good interview ILLSTRIPPPPPPPPPPPPP
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