Esko Essentials

Inspired by Eminem and 50 Cent, Esko started rapping at just nine and was recording by 13. He still draws on the experiences of his formative years, mining a troubled childhood to create tough, raw hip-hop: the intricate flow of “Probleemkind" is backed by insistent, discordant piano, and the trap-inspired “Knowledge” is punctuated by stuttering hi-hat rolls. He’s also gone on to become a sought-after producer, label-founder and collaborator—tracks with Josylvio and Sevn Alias show a loyalty to those who helped him explore different genres as he delves into ‘90s R&B, low-hop and grime.