Closed Casket
Encyclopedia
Closed Casket is the fourth studio album by Esham A. Smith
, released on November 22, 1994 and distributed by Reel Life Productions
/Warlock Records
.
ic themes of his earlier work, Smith had been accused of Satanism
. Feeling that the lyrical content of his albums was being taken too seriously, Smith decided that after producing one final album with such material, he would no longer rap about the Devil
.
Jason Birchmeier noted that "the production improves upon past albums, not as reliant on samples and obviously more crafted".
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
, released on November 22, 1994 and distributed by Reel Life Productions
Reel Life Productions
Reel Life Productions, also known as Gothom Records, is an independent record label based in Detroit, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1988 by James H. Smith and his younger brother, rapper Esham...
/Warlock Records
Warlock Records
Warlock Records is an independent record label based in New York City that was founded by Adam Levy in the late 1980s. Artists that once recorded for Warlock Records included C-Bo, the Jungle Brothers, and Todd Terry. In 1992, the label acquired the catalog of Sleeping Bag Records and its sub-label...
.
Lyrics and music
Because of the SatanSatan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
ic themes of his earlier work, Smith had been accused of Satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
. Feeling that the lyrical content of his albums was being taken too seriously, Smith decided that after producing one final album with such material, he would no longer rap about the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
.
Jason Birchmeier noted that "the production improves upon past albums, not as reliant on samples and obviously more crafted".
Reception
Allmusic wrote "most fans taking a chronological approach to his catalog should be fairly numb to Esham's exploitative shock attempts. Yet if this is one of your first experiences with Esham the Unholy, this album should pack a punch with its dark nature."Track listing
| # | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Eulogy" | 1:11 |
| 2 | "The Wicketshit Will Never Die" | 3:29 |
| 3 | "My Homie Got Shot" | 2:04 |
| 4 | "Mental Stress" | 4:31 |
| 5 | "Can't Take It Wit Cha" | 3:58 |
| 6 | "Brainwashed" | 2:46 |
| 7 | "Drive U2 Suicide" | 2:15 |
| 8 | "Chatty Ass Nigga" (feat. Mastamind Mastamind Mastamind is an American rapper from Detroit. A founding member of Natas, he was formerly signed with Reel Life Productions before forming his own label, Toxsic Records.-Biography:... & TNT) |
2:49 |
| 9 | "Slug Froma 45" | 2:48 |
| 10 | "Was It Sum'n I Said" | 0:49 |
| 11 | "Flatline" | 3:03 |
| 12 | "I Don't Owe U Shit" | 3:45 |
| 13 | "Therapy" | 3:28 |
| 14 | "Make Me Wanna Holla" | 5:10 |
| 15 | "Would You Die 4 Me" | 3:01 |
| 16 | "2 Dollahoe" | 1:53 |
| 17 | "24/7" | 4:46 |
| 18 | "Diggin on da D-L" | 3:29 |
| 19 | "Premature Ejaculation" | 4:42 |
| 20 | "I'll Be Glad When You Dead" | 2:51 |
| 21 | "Closed Casket" | 3:41 |
Personnel
- Esham - Performer
- TNT - Guest Performer
- Mastamind - Guest Performer
- Producer: Esham
- Executive Producer: James H. Smith
- Engineer: Esham
- Mastering: Esham
- Programming: Esham