Veteran duo 7L & Esoteric have long had experimental concepts on their albums. On 2002’s “Word Association” from sophomore full-length, the duo had “Word Association,” where deejay/producer 7L threw words to Esoteric to associate with in the form of rhyme. On the Boston, Massachusetts group’s latest album, October 12th’s 1212, they play on the popular slang phrase “No Shots” 
. The term, frequently used as a synonym for “no disrespect” often will follow a critical statement. For emcee Esoteric, this allowed him to reveal his honest opinions on some Hip Hop matters, similar to tracks in the past such as Skillz’ “Ghostwriter,” Kurupt’s “Callin’ Out Names” or Bumpy Knuckles’ “Industry Shakedown.”
The song’s opening verse explains its agenda in, “I air rappers out like flight school, B / Somebody gotta say it, might as well be me,” noting that he was raised on The D.O.C. and Tim Dog of the Ultramagnetic MC’s.
Overtop boom-bap production with a contemporary Pop vocal sample, the ensuing verses criticize contemporary Rap outfits such as DXnext alumni Wiz Khalifa and Nicki Minaj, as well as 3OH!3 and Waka Flocka Flame. Esoteric also takes umbrage with the Hip Hop media in saying, “You don’t know the pain, Guru passed, we were mournin’ / Then Travis Barker gets the cover of The Source and / I’d rather be a washed up rapper on a pacemaker / Than have to bow down and listen to these tastemakers / See, there’s new dudes that are dope like Freddie Gibbs and / Then the poser dudes that look like Debbie Gibson.”
1212 releases on October 12 on Fly Casual Records.
Good track but why can’t someone relevant get the balls to call out these wack ass frauds
7L & Eso made 10 more records than Waka or Nicki Minaj, how that not relevant?
FYI, I like Gibbs too. All us real ones do.
Not relevant? Get the fuck outta here. 7l and esoteric are the kings of boston hiphop.
yea this unaware fuck better recognize sum shit. do yourself a favor bauce, cop all the albums coming from boston cats this month: 7L & Esoteric – 1212, Slaine- A World With No Skies and Termanology & Statik Selektah- 1982. those are all gonna be straight bangers dude, research and recognize. oh and u should get celph titled and buckwild- Nineteen Ninety-Now that gon’ be heat. buy all those albums too ya cheap fuck, hip hop and especially these type of underground dudes need the shit. dont just download and bop your fake fuckin cheap ass head.
real talk boston got the illest scene in hip hop blowin the fuck up rite now, buncha dudes been holdin it down for years out there.
one more thing bauce check out 7L esoteric, speaking real words, the soul purpose, dangerous connection dc2 (maybe if you like wat u hear). and then follow up on some of eso’s solo shit he put out in the last three years. and the east coast avengers shit, that was hot
track is sick, these dudes are legends of the east coast underground
remember the Rebel Alliance album in 97- they were ono it with mr. lif wernt they?
dudes have a solid track record for having real hip hop integrtiy
hell yea gutter man, you the shit fool. i’m glad somebody else knows what the fuck they talking about shit makes me feel so much better. God Complex back in the ’90’s with that KARMA dude. i remember that cut with Virtuoso was always real sick to me back in the day. rebel alliance LP was the shiiit. uh son, we are not alone, there are people carrying the torch for true hip hop knowledge
esoteric is the shit. most hip hop motha fucka ever. speaks for the common man as far as media taste and views on life. illest flow and career catalog. much respect eso. and you too george its been awhile since i heard much from you, i’m excited.
my favorite album was “Word Association” by the way. wat the fuck hhdx nice double typo…….again
yea the album “Word Association” was off of is Dangerous Connection. That is again DANGEROUS CONNECTION. that is a certified hip hop banger, a classic. you even got a stoupe the enemy of mankind on there doing a track in the days between violent by design and visions of gandhi, he laced the beat btw. it’s a dope album and worth being properly promoted and recognized.
Dangerous Connection people, i recommend buying the shit if you haven’t yet or haven’t heard. it’s only ten bucks ya cheap fucks
well put. respect.
word association was real dope, i had that album. this is pretty dope
Damn Eddie your on Eso’s Dick, HARDBODY…It’s cool I been a fan of these guys since day one as well and Dangerous Connection is up there with the Illmatic album in my eyes. You seem like a knowlegable cat, what do you think of the beats on 1212 compared to DC1 and DC2?
JAKE LAME SHUT THE FUCK UP. YOU FLAT OUT FUCKIN SUCK
word. i credit Esoteric for puttin me onto Freddie Gibbs… dude is a fuckin monster.
Eso shouted him out in “No Shots” and i’m like “if Esoteric is feelin dude he’s gotta be dope, i’ll check him out.” …what do ya know? everything i’ve heard from Freddie Gibbs has been straight heat.
Eso is the shit, on and off the mic. Freddie Gibbs is a beast.
http://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/12433/spenden_sims_just_blowin_money.html
the new album is crazy , best shit i heard in a while