First Word Records is incredibly proud to bring you new music from Essa, accompanied by Pitch 92. ‘Heavyweight’ is the first track taken from a new full-length project from the duo, to be released in 2024. Essa last released a track on Juneteenth 2020 entitled ‘Justice’, as a powerful reaction to George Floyd and the BLM movement. It saw support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, and raised money for an assortment of access-to-justice organisations. This was his first material for several years prior to that, and the beginning of a new chapter in his recording career. A lyricist, lawyer and a Londoner, Essa initially released music under the name Yungun in the early noughties, in the midst of UK hip hop’s own “golden era”. He earned praise from artists such as Nas and Mark Ronson, and performed and recorded with such luminaries as De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, Guru, Slum Village and Pharoahe Monch. His classic debut album ‘The Essance’ dropped whilst he was at law school, 20 years ago next year. This was followed with a collaborative album with DJ Mr Thing (‘Grown Man Business’), then some years later on First Word with ‘The Misadventures of a Middle Man’ in 2014. Joining Essa on the boards throughout this new project, and a delight to welcome him to First Word, is acclaimed producer and DJ… more credits released November 17, 2023
