Esg, also known as Emerald Sapphire and Gold, is a rap artist from Houston, Texas. Known for their influential and pioneering contributions to the development of Southern hip hop, they have been active since the 1980s and continue to perform and release music to this day. Esg has been cited as an influence by a number of prominent artists in hip hop and beyond, including Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Missy Elliott.