Aesop Rock
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| Aesop Rock | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Ian Matthias Bavitz | |
| Born | 1976 | |
| Origin | New York City, New York | |
| Genre(s) | Alternative hip hop | |
| Years active | 1997–present | |
| Label(s) | Mush Records Definitive Jux |
|
Aesop Rock (born Ian Matthias Bavitz in 1976) is a hip hop musician (rapper and producer). Aesop's style blends a varying tone and delivery with lyrics that contain intricate sequences of widely varying imagery, metaphors, puns, absurdism, and pop culture references, while including the occasional touchstones of traditional hip hop storytelling and self-promotion. As a result of this unorthodox style, Aesop has become a controversial rapper among hip hop enthusiasts.
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[edit] Music
A New York City-born MC, Aesop initially recorded and released two self-financed records, Music for Earthworms (1997), featuring underground legend Percee P on two tracks, and the Appleseed EP (1999), while also working as a waiter. Although they are no longer available except as bootlegs, these two independent releases are widely sought after in the underground scene, and are considered some of Aesop's best work by some. [citation needed]
After moving to the Mush label, Aesop released his first major album, Float (2000), with guest appearances from Vast Aire, Slug, and Dose One. Production was split between Blockhead and Aesop himself, with one track by Omega One.
Shortly after releasing Float, Aesop Rock signed to Manhattan-based label Definitive Jux (usually called Def Jux), where he released Labor Days, an album dedicated to the discussion of labor in American society and the concept of "wage slaves". This album was most well known for its single "Daylight." Because of its popularity, Daylight was re-released in 2002 as a 7-track EP, including an "alternative" new version of the song, "Night Light," whose paraphrased lyrics simultaneously refer back to, and stand in stark opposition to, the original's.
Labor Days was followed up by Bazooka Tooth in 2003. For the first time, production was mostly handled by Aesop himself, with three tracks from longtime collaborator Blockhead and one from close friend and Definitive Jux label CEO El-P. Guest appearances include Party Fun Action Committee, El-P, and Mr. Lif (all Definitive Jux labelmates) and Camp Lo. With this release Aesop hit a higher level of recognition, releasing "No Jumper Cables" as a single and music video, then another single, "Freeze," shortly after.
The album presented a change in Aesop's sound, displaying for the most part a messy, discordant production style similar to that of El-P. It retained Aesop's intense and inventive lyrical style: one track, the acid-themed "The Greatest Pac-Man Victory in History", features an extended section comprised entirely of words beginning "L", "S" or "D", in that order, to continually spell out the initials of the drug. Notable lyrical phrases from "Freeze" include: "you should have shot yourself in the foot while it was in your mouth" and "before you kick your feet up, I married and divorced Mother Nature after sweet-talking that old hag out of a pre-nup". At another point, Aesop interrupts the song "11:35" with a sudden minute-long rap, performed almost a cappella over a minimal beat: "I got one - Jack for Jill, Jill won't, Jack will. Jill didn't, then did, Jack fell".
Bazooka Tooth was criticized by fans of Labor Days and Float for abandoning the compassion found in those earlier albums in favour of a more confrontational and traditional style; this seems to be reflected in the more intense production, which lost a lot of its jazzy, abstract sound from Float and Labor Days. [citation needed]
In the summer of 2004, Aesop Rock appeared on the Evil Nine Single "Crooked" from the Album You Can Be Special Too, on Marine Parade records.
In February 2005, Aesop Rock released a new EP, Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives. The first pressing of the EP included an 88 page booklet with lyrics from every release from Float until this EP (the lyric booklet is titled The Living Human Curiosity Sideshow); later pressings of the album come without the booklet, but with an additional bonus track. In addition, a limited number of albums were available direct from Def Jux with Aesop Rock's graffiti tag on them. In response to demands from his fans, Aesop did less production on the EP: three songs are produced by Blockhead, three produced by Aesop, and one by Rob Sonic.
In April of 2006, it was announced that Aesop Rock is working on a new album. The album, tentatively titled None Shall Pass, is said to feature Blockhead and DJ Big Wiz so far. The album is expected to be released sometime in the first half of 2007.[1] The new album will also feature traditional instrumentation by Parchman Farm, the band of Allyson Baker, whom he recently married.
[edit] Personal life
Aesop Rock married Allyson Baker, guitarist of San Francisco rock band "Parchman Farm", in 2006. They reside in San Francisco together. His move was a highly discussed topic in the internet community, as he was well known for representing New York City in his work and his life.
He has tattoos on each forearm referring to the chorus of his song "Commencement at the Obedience Academy". His Left arm says the words "Must Not Sleep", as the right says "Must Warn Others", quoting the line "Must not sleep, must warn others, trust blocks creep where the dust storm hovers". Bavitz is a graduate of Boston University.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Independent releases
- Music For Earthworms (1997)
- Appleseed (1999)
[edit] Mush releases
- Float (2000)
[edit] Definitive Jux releases
- Labor Days (2001)
- Boombox 12" (2001)
- Daylight 12" (2001)
- Coma / Maintenance 12" (2001)
- Daylight (2002)
- Bazooka Tooth (2003)
- Easy / No Jumper Cables 12" (2003)
- Freeze / The Greatest Pac-Man Victory In History 12" (2003)
- Limelighters 12" (2003)
- Build Your Own Bazooka Tooth (2004)
- Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives (2005)
- Fishtales (2006)
- None Shall Pass (2007)
[edit] Music sample
- No Jumper Cables (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Short sample of No Jumper Cables, from 2003's Bazooka Tooth album - harsh language advisory
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] References
- ^ Aesop Rock mentions new album. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
