Esham

Esham Attica Smith, born on September 20, 1973, in Long Island, New York, is an American rapper known for his contributions to the horrorcore subgenre, often incorporating elements of rock music and covered themes such as death, drug use, and paranoia. Growing up between Detroit and Long Island, Esham began writing original lyrics and was encouraged by his older brother James H. Smith to pursue a career in hip hop. At age 16, he released his debut album Boomin' Words from Hell (1989). That year, Esham and his brother founded Reel Life Productions. He met Joseph Bruce of Inner City Posse in 1991, leading to collaborations on albums like Judgement Day (1992). Notable works include KKKill the Fetus (1993), Closed Casket (1994), and Dead Flowerz (1996), which peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Over the following decades, Esham remained at the forefront of underground rap through releases like Repentance (2003), Venus Flytrap (2012), Psyops (2021), and Purgatory (2023). In 2024, he dropped the mixtape Amuse-Bouche, featuring contributions from Stretch Money, Jack Frost, and Mastamind.