It hurts me to say this. And When I say it, you are going to say, "Duh we already knew that homie lol". CD's are pretty much dead. And You know what, so are complete albums. Now we are in the age of streaming and playlist. Artists are not really focused on putting together a full body of work. As a lover of music and hip hop this really bothers me. I guess I'm old school.
When It comes to an album, I look for Clear and crisp mixing and mastering, dope production and Solid meaningful bars of substance. My "Album of The Year" Eshon Burgundy’s “For the Love of Money” checks every box.
"For the Love of Money (FTLOM) is Eshon Burgundy’s [fifth official project]. The record examines American culture and economics through the lens of Scripture, continually pushing back on the idolatry of riches and encouraging listeners who feel they lack wealth. Eshon argues that reliance on God is a much greater treasure than financial certainty about tomorrow." (Ezydu). Source
STREAM THE FULL ALBUM HERE
I have songs I like more than others but this album is pretty much unskippable. And that is rare for an album 20 songs deep nowadays.
“...you know why it's hard for a rich man to go to heaven, cause in his mind he already there, that's the deception, For the Love of Money.”
— Eshon Burgundy
I was in love from the first track. The production, by Rising Son , had me hooked. And the emcee work he laid on type of the instrumentation took it to the next level.
I used to want a chain, not for nothing
But to let the head of Jesus hang from it
And be stylish
But doesn’t it seem like somebody just said
Off with His head
Like a symbol of defeat that we wear
Isn’t it clear
Decapitation is to prove your opponent is dead
So what’s our fascination with these golden souvenirs
None of us can identify the face of the Messiah
So we took the head of Cesare Borgia and severed his
And wear it like a pendant independent of fear
Complete lack of conviction
Let the truth enter our ears
He said to never make an image but we made an image
Turned the living God into a false idol
And praised Him with it
Deep!
“Let Them Fall” featuring Jeremiah Bligen get's into how it's important for men to vent and "release" or "cry like a man", even though Society says that's not manly. But we don't have to keep our emotions and pain locked inside. Yahweh wants us to cry unto him. This song really had me thinking about everything i went through growing up. From racism while I was in elementary school to issues with my dad, I always felt so alone, but Yahweh was always there for me to cry out to him.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Matthew 5:43-46 NIV
Another song that really forced me to look at myself is "Ghostface"
The song Ghostface is about deciding to address your enemies according to Elohim’s Spirit and not your own flesh.
The smooth jazzy production puts you at ease while you take in Eshon's fire bars about how to deal with your enemies. This song, like every other song on the album really makes you think.
This prayer for whomever despitefully
Use me
Fear me not you ain't gotta sleep at
Night with a uzi
I don't do enemies, that ain't my energy
Pay respect to the old me, let us remember him in infamy
OG told me the block wars wasn't meant for me
Low key I know G but it still happened eventually
Hatred in my heart, He replaced it with Noah's ark
The world flooded with bloody water
His grace'll take me across
I adopt every philosophy
That Jesus ever taught
Every opposing view lies on the track of my train of thought
A blend of dope production, deep thought provoking lyrics, and an assist from artist like Steven Malcom, Jeremiah Bligen, and S.O. make this twenty track work of art my album of the year for 2019.
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