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Esham Smith

@eshamsmith

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CEO, Content Curator, 𝓁𝓎𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒾𝓈𝓉, producer, inventor of 🅰🅲🅸🅳🆁🅰🅿, and indie pioneer hailing from the east side of 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱.

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THE GREAT DEBATE: WHO STARTED HORROR MUSIC?

Before horrorcore had a name, horror was already making noise. From monster songs and cinematic nightmares to underground rap’s darkest corners, the evolution of horror music spans decades. But who really started it? THE MURDER ZONE breaks down the timeline.

THE TIMELINE

1956 – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put a Spell on You
1958 – Sheb Wooley – Purple People Eater
1962 – Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash
1977 – Goblin – Suspiria
1980 – The Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
1982 – Michael Jackson – Thriller
1988 – Fat Boys – Are You Ready for Freddy
1988 – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – A Nightmare on My Street
1990 – Esham – Boomin’ Words from Hell
1991 – Geto Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped
1991 – Sunken Heights – Blast Blast
1992 – Bushwick Bill – Little Big Man
1992 – Insane Poetry – Grim Reality
1992 – Insane Clown Posse – Carnival of Carnage
1993 – Ganksta N-I-P – South Park Psycho
1993 – Brotha Lynch Hung – 24 Deep
1993 – House of Krazees – Home Sweet Home
1993 – Big L – The Devil’s Son
1994 – Gravediggaz – 6 Feet Deep
1994 – Flatlinerz – U.S.A.
1995 – Kool Keith / Lex Luger – Cenobites
1996 – Triple Six – Hustlin’ 4 My Paper
1996 – KGP – Necrology
1997 – J RZ Tha Supahuman – The Arrival
1997 – Q Strange – Murder Kill
1998 – LU Cipha – Witchez Brew
1998 – Mars – S.I.D.S.
1999 – Kung Fu Vampire – Spacebar
1999 – Bedlam – Chemical Imbalance

THE VERDICT

Horror music didn’t appear overnight. It evolved from novelty monsters and theatrical shock rock into horror soundtracks, pop culture, and eventually rap’s underground. By the 1990s, artists were turning disturbing imagery, sinister production, and violent storytelling into a distinct movement.

But there’s a difference between making horror-themed music and building horrorcore as a genre. Esham, Gravediggaz, Insane Clown Posse, Brotha Lynch Hung, and countless underground pioneers each helped shape the sound in different ways.

So who deserves the crown? The first to make horror music, the first to bring horror into rap, or the artists who turned it into a movement?

THE MURDER ZONE wants to hear your verdict.

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@eshamsmith 😈 #eshamsdopehoe #natas ##reellifeproductions #esham

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👻Happy Halloween🎃
🎥🚨 New music video dropping tomorrow night by :
GKTV Yikers - ‘Chiroptera Out Ov Hades’
@midnight on Rondean Ent YouTube

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This list ranks the 50 greatest Midwest Hip-Hop Artists of all time (our opinion), based on their songs, catalog, influence, innovation, cultural impact, sales, and other factors.

Tough list to make because you’re pulling from so many different cities with so many distinct sounds and styles. From Detroit to Chicago, St. Louis to Cleveland, we chose what we believe are the 50 greatest of all time from the Midwest.

*correction - Sage Francis is from Rhode Island, that name was pulled on accident. That spot should belong to Natas

What do y’all think? Did we come close? Who’d we miss? Sound off.

#midwesthiphop #rappers #top50 #midwest #list

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Monstah showed up at my door today #violentj #esham #ouijamacc #vinyl

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🔞 The Human Hip-Hop Head’s Top 10 Most Controversial Hip-Hop Albums of All-Time:

From lyrics that triggered moral outrage, censorship, legal action and prosecution, to artists who took wholly unpopular or controversial stances in their music, this list ranks the 10 most controversial albums of all-time. *Keep in mind, the most shocking, violent, or explicit album doesn’t necessarily make it the most controversial*

Which y’all got? Did we get it right? Let’s see y’all list. This is a def a hot topic.

#top10 #controversial #hiphopalbum #rapmusic #list

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Remember when esham tapes was like 19.99
@eshamsmith
#detroit #explore #follow #shorts #feed

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Detroit rap pioneer Esham shares his thoughts on Eminem’s iconic 8 Mile movie and questions what the film actually did for the city of Detroit. @eshamsmith

Esham argues that while the movie became a worldwide success, it didn’t necessarily benefit the Detroit hip-hop community or the artists who helped build the city’s rap scene.

Do you agree with Esham, or do you think 8 Mile helped put Detroit hip-hop on the map? 👀

🎙️ Kid L Podcast

#Esham #Eminem #8Mile #DetroitHipHop #KidLPodcast

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True story...
I didn't really take pictures on my phone for shit at the last event I performed last week, but 1 photo most definitely made the cut and it's got a backstory in a million that I cherish at heart as a musician and a fan of Horrorcore. I was patiently waiting to see the live performance from the pioneer of horrorcore and the legend himself @eshamsmith when all of a sudden I took notice of a lonely golf cart sitting parked in front of me and so I hopped in and noticed the key was in the ignition. Im pretty sure my friends were watching me and thinking one of 2 things, 1. Ruckus is a champion and a hero, take that bitch for a spin cause he's the coolest guy ever! Or 2. Ruckus just jacked another golf cart. So I did what any man in my shoes would have done and I hijacked it expeditiously, mind you it was the 7th golf cart that I hijacked at this event, joy rides on stolen golf carts are fun. But anyways I started driving it towards the backstage because the one thing that I had was a backstage vip pass and with that I could go pretty much anywhere I wanted pretty much. so I got to ride up that behind the stage and seconds before Esham hit that stage I rolled right up on him and I let him know that I pretty much hijacked a golf cart just to get one photo with him before he blessed that mic. And bam, the rest is history. I have plenty of photos with plenty of true funny back stories to go with them, but this one to me was legendary and I felt I had to tell it because by the end of the day if it wasn't for this man we would not have the horrorcore culture that we know, cherish, and love. He may or may not see this but Thank you Esham for everything you ever did for the culture and for giving us the inspiration and admiration to be who we are today.
#horrorcore #esham #wickedshit #underground

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It’s Leathal Weekend 9-9-9-9!

LEATHAL WEEKEND 9 is officially loaded. 🔥 November 28th & 29th, 2026 at Jewel Music Venue in Manchester, NH. Two nights bringing together legends, underground icons, horror, hip-hop and metal under one roof. Onyx, Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Esham, Lil Eazy-E, King Gordy, First Jason, Fury, Lyte, Tre LB, & Melodic — and we’re not done yet. This is the comeback. This is LEATHAL WEEKEND 9. 🎤🔥

Jewel Music Venue Manchester NH
TICKETS ON SALE NOW ON EVENTBRITE!

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No more hate 💀 I’m gonna luv you to death 🩵 #postivequotes

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@krenshaw_thedeadone and chef P @replicon_radio opening up for the Unholy himself @eshamsmith live @popsrocksstl in #stlouismo

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