Esoteric and Stu Bangas: Machete Mode

For The Fan Presents:

Esoteric and Stu Bangas “Machete Mode” (2013) Review

Artist: Esoteric and Stu Bangas

Album: “Machete Mode”

Release: 2013

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

A lot of the best music isn’t heard, or even seen. If you read independent hip hop media, however, you may hear about some of the better options. However, while mainstream media talks about only the artists that are signed to big labels or friends and family of Dr. Dre, Eminem, or any number of established stars from the past, there are some that are just working hard to come together and create rhymes that are just eclectic to say the least.


I was the first person that I know, maybe there’s more of you out there, but I said Eminem was a hack. I still feel the same way, especially after hearing Esoteric drop serious bombs on the notion of washed out rappers. Esoteric and Stu Bangas team up on here for the album “Machete Mode” and completely tears through the thesaurus and any rhyming dictionary you could ever come up with. This is not just talked about because I’m a fan, but from a writing stand point, it’s incredible.

Stu Bangas takes beats, rhymes, samples and more from the world of pop culture from “Ronin”, “Breaking Bad” to professional wrestling interviews and so much more. He’s put out some instrumental records that are incredibly resilient and sound like a 1980s Cannon horror film. Esoteric sounds like a much harder Jay Z, rhyming with fury that punches you in the face. He is a battle rapper at heart, talking about others with authority and calling out anyone that has said a word in the past. From Bill O’Reilly to the people on facebook that want to post stupid pictures of themselves.

One line in the record Esoteric calls out “B Real” of Cypress Hill, saying that the famous rapper should stop talking about carrying 45’s because the only thing he has is a record (45mm gun vs 45” record, get it?) Whatever the case is, “Machete Mode” cuts through a lot of the trivial rhymes and stupidity that you’re going to hear in mainstream rap to an audience that hasn’t bought a record in a long time.

Stu Bangas on production and Esoteric on the mic is a balance that you aren’t going to find with any other release from 2013. After listening to record after record, this is truly the best release from the hip hop world, and yet no one seems to remember it. Sure, Macklemore rapped hypocritical about going to the thrift store (he got caught in an airport with tons of high end bags), and Kendrick Lamar waxed poetic about dealing drugs and drinking alcohol, but Esoteric threw down the best album that should get more credit. Don’t believe it? Listen for yourself, and you too will be impressed with the way the East Coast Avenger member puts together thoughts and ideas in a fashion that is organic, and unrepentant.

Pros: Incredible Production, Hard Rhymes

Cons: It’s heavily underrated

Rating: 5/5

Links:

Mp3 download: http://amzn.to/1i0XAZj

Compact Disc: http://amzn.to/1lvxPoM

Vinyl (rare): http://amzn.to/1i0XFwf