Avg Rating: 
2.3 ( 17 total votes )
ESSO - New York, New York
Artist: ESSO
Producer: Rena1ssance
Album: The Anti-Socialite
Label: Unsigned
After the ‘09 ubiquity of Jay-Z‘s Empire State of Mind, I have a feeling that most of us would be in favor of a moratorium on NYC tribute tracks. With that said, don’t let the title of Harlem emcee ESSO‘s latest feature fool you – inaugural mixtape leak New York, New York contains nary a sweeping soul sample or soaring chorus. The overall mood of this cut is more ambivalent than anthemic, with producer Rena1ssance serving up a left-of-center mix of acoustic guitar and queasy synths as ESSO shares his feelings on his hometown, acknowledging the Big Apple as a key influence on his character (“No matter where I go in the world, they immediately know as soon as I touch down where I’m from…”) but refusing to force his music into the Northeastern mold. Fans will undoubtedly appreciate the emcee’s commitment to nonconformity, but does the unconventional approach he takes here pay off? I’ll leave that for you to decide. In any case, fans will be able to hear more fresh new material from the man who brought us exclusive freestyle Thinkin’ Out Loud Again on April 26, when The Anti-Socialite hits the ‘net for free download.
Listen to More: ESSO Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 272 |
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typical djbooth feature...i really like the booth please stop featuring the same sound over and over i know this is a hip-hop site but lets not that hip-hop is bigger than you and i and that is what is important but let me go back to the song...its not great but its not bad its just in between...the beat is pretty bland and its not exciting ive heard slower beats that were more exciting...and thats a sorry excuse for a hook...cmon dog lets spend a few more hours in the booth i know its a recession but you may need to find a recorder thats willing to work with you...and it was short a waste of a feature to me...but it wasn't a bad song it was just forgettable...of course he had some bars but is that all we want these days...what happened to just good music...times like these make me want to move to the UK where they play good music...which i am a big fan of...this is ok again not exciting
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2919 |
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Rena1ssance did pretty good on the track but that fading in-out electro is just kinda annoying, other than that it's top notch stuff, ESSO coulda done a lil more too..
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 116 |
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@DjKidd: I heard through the Booth forum grapevine that you have skills. If that's the case, consider submitting a track with a style that you feel will mix things up a bit. I'm being serious, by the way.
Anyway, this track has its strengths and weaknesses - it doesn't exactly have the most attention-grabbing sound, but it's solid. |
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Sub par in my opinion. I have heard better from ESSO
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2065 |
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For a song about my hometown, it sure lacks a whole lot of energy. New York is the city that never sleeps, if they heard this, it would knock them out.
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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I'll agree that this isn't Esso's best, but I was feeling it. Like most of us, I suspect, he's got a bit of a love/hate relationship with his hometown, and he's able to lyrically convey it here. Props.
Also, in all seriousness DJ Kidd, we're always trying to expand our horizons. Who are five artists you'd like to hear on these pages but haven't? Hit me up with a list (comments below or nathan@djbooth.net) and we'll see what we can do. 
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 83 |
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#epicfail almost pulled it off... Z I prefer to stick to J Chery and K Sparks these other guys don't be doin it for me... smh
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11662 |
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ESSO is a favorite of mine - no lie. His works are always well thought out and executed. However, I too feel like this song came up a bit short. It's not bad at all, its just not as great as it could have been.
@DJKidd - I greatly appreciate your daily feedback in the Booth, but what does a comment like "typical djbooth feature" even mean?
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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Not my favorite ESSO record. The Concept/Lyricism is on point, but I prefer him over more uptempo production. Sidenote: What's that Drake quote? "Diss me and you'll never hear a reply for it"
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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I have heard better beats from Rena1ssance. Checkout his work on ESSO's "Lifestyles of the Young & Ignorant EP".
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Downtown doodoo brown, trash.
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 904 |
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I think this track is better than people are giving it credit for. Might need a remix tho, the beat could use a bit more to it.
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 197 |
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I remember when Esso "had" a buzz. This track seems like it would be an "OK" Mixtape track.
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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this was pretty alright .... like what he was tryin to do here .... but didn't realy light up anythin ... but i would put this on rotation ...
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| Posted on Apr 01, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jan 01, 2013 |
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