Search - Esg :: Sailin Da South

Stellar example of southern rap.

Steven R. Reeves | Lansdale, Pa USA | 05/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first got interested in ESG after hearing soem guest work he did on Big Moe's City of Syrup, so I decided to pick this album up. It's a really good album, an example of southern rap as it should be.
The standout song to me is the screwed mix of Swanging and Banging. I've always had a liking for screwed mixes of songs, and this one seems particularly good. They also have a normal speed version on the CD which just doesn't seem as good for some reason.If you like southern rap, this is definately something to listen to."

Swangin n' Bangin

nuttzo | SA,Texas | 05/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a down south classic from beginning to end if you dont have this you need to pick it up by far his best album ever every track is great but the standouts are #'s 6,11 and 12"

A Houston classic...embarrassingly slept-on

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 12/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"E.S.G.'s 1995 album "Sailin' da South" is one of my favorite southern hip hop albums and it is maybe the most underrated and slept-on album in my collection. E.S.G. is one of the Houston MCs who helped pioneer rap in that city, and this album is amazing. It's easy to see where a lot of the rappers in Houston, even today, got their style from. Ever since E.S.G., guys from Texas have been using the same syrupy drawl and slow rolling production style that is so great on this album. E.S.G. is a good lyricist, always speaking proudly of his hometown. He also tells stories of crime, death, and regular gangster rap topics in a better, elevated fashion. Mostly though, he just lays back and lets the beats do the talking. The production on this album is outstanding. The producers are masters on the mixing boards. They take a lot of cues from west coast G-funk, utilizing the same slow, heavy rolling bass, whiny synthesizers, and chorus breaks but still makes a style strictly his own. The beats are so funky and every track shines musically. "Sailin' da South" is one of my favorite southern rap albums, it just has such a great feel and is very consistent. It's out of print and very hard to find today, but I still recommend "Sailin' da South" highly as I can.



After a great intro that speaks of murder and crime in Houston, E.S.G.'s album begins with "187 Skillz," which has a winding synthesizer-looped beat and tells stories of tough experiences in Houston. "Crooked Streets" has a laidback, rolling beat like most of the songs here do, the lyrics speak sadly of corruption in the ghetto. "R.I.P." deals with death over crime and unworthy reasons, and like always the beat is extraordinary. My favorite song is definitely "Swangin' and Bangin,'" a song that lyrically and musically is one of my favorites ever. The beat is the best, with a great whining synth line and heavy bass with some happy strings in the chorus, and the hook has a call and response that always makes me want to yell. The lyrics are a laidback representation of the city of Houston, and, in E.S.G.'s words, "how they do it down south." This song is just so good, a chopped and screwed version also appears on the disc. "Let `Em Know" has a nice chorus and light, head-nodding production with real lyrics. Another one of my favorites is "Beauty and the Beast," where E.S.G. speaks of the troubles of trying to survive over a musical backing that is one of the best. "G-Ride" is just that, perfect for the car at any time. "Baller of the Year" is as good as any on the album, and "Smoke On" is a collaboration with a competent female MC that has an electronic-sounding chorus. The album ends with the aptly-titled "Murder Outro," a great end to a classic album.



"Sailin' da South" is a nearly perfect, often beautiful album of amazing hip hop. This album is a really underrated classic that should be spoken of in the same breath as UGK and Geto Boys albums in terms of Houston rap, but sadly is not. In any event, this album is full of remarkable, laidback g-funk style music from beginning to end and it's perfect to listen to at any time. These beats are insane! I recommend "Sailin' da South" to everybody, if it comes your way it'd be a crime not to pick it up."