E.S.G., 1998
HOUSTON, TX PHOTO BY DERON NEBLETT E.S.G. is a voice that’s been around to see Southern Hip Hop go from slept-on to blown-up. He’s also a voice that was instrumental in showing the world that Houston Hip Hop extended beyond the Rap-A-Lot tree. But at the end of the day, he may be remembered as the Everyday Street Gangsta that never got as much national recognition as his peers. After dropping Ocean of Funk in 1995 E.S.G. got locked up and could only hear about how his second album Sailin’ The South was doing in the streets. When he got out three years later he hit the streets hard and helped birth the careers of both Lil Flip and Slim Thug; two rappers that he eventually would end up feuding with years later. True to the underground in every sense of the word, you probably won’t hear The Original Freestyle King complain about not getting major deals or nationwide commercial radio play, as he’s considered a living legend in Texas.
OZONE MAG // 67