Essa - The Misadventures of a Middle Man (Deluxe) (2026)

First Word Records is releasing an expanded deluxe edition of Essa’s album "The Misadventures Of A Middle Man," featuring previously unreleased tracks and instrumentals. The project documents the artist's return to the music industry following a legal career and his transition from the moniker Yungun. Drawing inspiration from travels to Brazil and Nigeria, the work expands traditional soulful hip-hop with elements of afrobeat, jazz, and electronica. Produced with contributions from global talents like Inspectah Deck and Waajeed, the album explores complex themes of racial identity, social class, and religion, reflecting the unique perspective of a creator navigating a multicultural heritage.

Tracklist:
1-1 Essa - The Middle Man (Demo Version) [3:10]
1-2 Essa - Down to Business [3:42]
1-3 Essa - Right on Time [3:18]
1-4 Essa;Inspectah Deck;Skinny Man - Let's Start Living [4:13]
1-5 Essa;devise - Still Life [4:16]
1-6 Essa - Panache [4:01]
1-7 Essa;Kashmere;fLako - LeLeLe [3:26]
1-8 Essa;Jessica Greenfield - A Walk in the Park [3:09]
1-9 Essa - Something New [3:52]
2-10 Essa - A View from the Middle [1:08]
2-11 Essa - The Middle Man (Album Version) [3:35]
2-12 Essa - Easy [3:51]
2-13 Essa - The World Belongs to You [4:08]
2-14 Essa;Doc Brown;D.Ablo - Man Enough [3:31]
2-15 Essa - Harder [4:23]
2-16 Essa;D.Ablo - Prayers of a Non-Believer [4:16]
2-17 Essa;Brotherman - Evade and Seek [3:47]
2-18 Essa - Well Spoken [2:35]
2-19 Essa - Nothing to Say [1:57]
2-20 Essa - Invisible Man [4:36]
2-21 Essa - Sorry [5:26]
3-22 Essa - A View from the Middle (Instrumental) [1:09]
3-23 Essa - The Middle Man (Instrumental) [3:42]
3-24 Essa - Easy (Instrumental) [3:56]
3-25 Essa - The World Belongs to You (Instrumental) [4:18]
3-26 Essa - Man Enough (Instrumental) [3:48]
3-27 Essa - Harder (Instrumental) [4:26]
3-28 Essa - Prayers of a Non-Believer (Instrumental) [4:35]
3-29 Essa - Evade and Seek (Instrumental) [3:46]
3-30 Essa - Well Spoken (Instrumental) [2:40]
3-31 Essa - Nothing to Say (Instrumental) [2:17]
3-32 Essa - Invisible Man (Instrumental) [4:42]
3-33 Essa - Sorry (Instrumental) [5:21]