Esvee: The Best Kept Secret

Ballarat hiphop artist Esvee is back and has just dropped his third solo release in June of 2014, titled The Best kept Secret. The title is very applicable, in that a lot of you reading this may not have heard of Esvee, however, he is a veteran and much loved figure of the Australian hip hop landscape. This is, as with all his other releases, a very personal journey littered with sparks of ‘brag rap’ throughout. Esvee is not one for tongue flips and incredibly complex rhyme schemes.
However, what Esvee lacks in lyrical complexity, he makes up for with honesty and content, which is clearly the element of his music he prides himself on. ‘Shadows’ jumps straight into it, with Esvee mixing punches and references related to his other passion, martial arts. The title track ‘Best Kept Secret’ is a heartfelt number and sits nicely over a deep piano sample. It’s an ode to his passion for writing, and is delivered with remarkable sincerity in the form of a letter addressed to his sister. The stand out beat and track on the album is ‘My pen’, the beat is a gem, the track is stirring and well constructed.
The album features Angus Younga, R.S, Big Sid, A.I, Class A and Murphs One with outstanding cuts provided by long time best mate and associate, DJ Bogues. All in all, this is not the pinnacle of high complexity cutting edge hip hop and lyricism, but it is an honest and endearing LP, minus the bravado and bullshit you may have come to expect.
By Patrick Johnson