This is the twenty fourth studio LP from Detroit emcee/producer & Reel Life Productions founder Esham. Widely acknowledged because the godfather of horrorcore alongside his former Natas cohorts Mastamind & the late TNT, his run from 1989-2005 (notably the albums KKKill the Fetus, Closed Casket & Doubelievengod?) would go on to put out the groundwork for subsequent horrorcore acts resembling the Insane Clown Posse & even Eminem. His output from Sacrificial Lambz onwards (basically after his 2-album cope with Psychopathic Records from 02-05) has been a bit of hit and miss although I really like the only “S.S.M.D. (Stop Selling Me Drugs)” & Dichotomy respectively. Psyops nonetheless was inventive detour for Esham as he self-produced the entire thing for the primary time shortly conceptually revolving round what it was like for him residing in Minneapolis in the course of the George Floyd protests & a extra rap rock impressed sound. He escaped Purgatory & preluded The Golden Age by serving up his eighth EP Amuse-Bouche, ushering the brand new period in 17 months later.
“The Golden Hour” units up store speaking about rappers with no hope needing to cleanse their souls whereas “Power of Love” incorporates a classic self-produced instrumental explaining that you simply don’t actually need battle with him. “CEO Killer” talks about hating liars & thieves greater than being on welfare when he was rising up main into “30 Gucci Purses” admitting he has no regrets of the amount of money he’s spent.
Meanwhile on “Rain Drop”, we have now Esham bringing again the increase bap vibes speaking concerning the hate coming with the best way he places it down for the town since he does it so massive whereas “F.I.L.A. (Fall In Love Again)” blends lure & pop rap tackling themes of romance. “Run It Back” goes for a smoother strategy to the beat telling his lover there ain’t no slowing down since he has lots pace whereas “Sexy” experiments with hip home interpolating “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred.
“Omg” begins the 2nd half of The Golden Age returning to the increase bap due to Dead Heat speaking about being extra insane than the depraved clowns themselves whereas “Narcissist” retains issues within the basement instrumentally talking to himself exhibiting y’all what wealth actually is. “Slush” meshes a piano with kicks & snares speaking about his coronary heart being method too chilly whereas the title observe flexing that his paper’s too tall to fold.
Nearing the conclusion of The Golden Age, the track “Killing Time” finds himself ready for a illness to take him away whereas “A.M.F.D. (All My Friends are Dead)” combines dubstep manufacturing with horrorcore lyricism that winds up leaving me considerably torn about it personally. “I Miss You” talks concerning the voices that he was listening to in his head was the cash this complete whole time & “The Truth” finishes us off with a 2 minute rock outro exhibiting off The Unholy’s singing chops.
Looking again at how reckless he was along with his phrases when he was youthful & cringing at it as a result of the godfather of the depraved shit has clearly gotten a lot older, The Golden Age thematically opens up with reference to chasing what Esham thought success regarded like whether or not or not it’s trade recognition or respect from his personal friends. Him persevering with to do his personal manufacturing once more brings a smile to my face since that’s the place a number of his post-Psychopathic materials till currently has lacked, recalling every thing from the anxiousness & melancholy to conquering Hell.
Score: 8/10