Aesop Rock

Overview Biography Discography

293

History

Aesop Rock

Aesop Rock, born Ian Bavitz on June 5, 1976, is a prominent alternative hip hop artist and producer hailing from Long Island, New York. He is recognized for his intricate lyricism, distinctive vocal delivery, and prolific output, releasing numerous albums and contributing to various collaborative projects.

Early Career and Independent Releases

Bavitz began his recording career while attending college, self-financing and releasing his debut album, Music for Earthworms, in 1997. This early work featured underground artist Percee P and gained traction through grassroots online promotion. Following this, he released the Appleseed EP in 1999, which garnered critical acclaim within the underground hip hop scene. Both of these early projects were produced by his longtime friend Blockhead and producer Dub-L.

Signing with Labels and Breakthroughs

In 1999, Aesop Rock secured his first record deal with the Mush label. His first major release, Float, arrived in 2000, featuring guest appearances from artists such as Vast Aire, Slug, and Dose One, with production shared between Blockhead and Aesop himself. Shortly after Float, he signed with Definitive Jux (Def Jux), where he released Labor Days in 2001. This album, which explored themes of labor and "wage slaves," became well-known for its single "Daylight." The song's popularity led to a re-release of "Daylight" as an EP in 2002. Labor Days marked a significant milestone as it was the first album to chart on the Billboard charts, reaching number 15 on the United States Independent Charts.

Continued Artistic Development and Recognition

Aesop Rock's 2003 album, Bazooka Tooth, saw him taking on a more prominent role in production, alongside contributions from Blockhead and Def Jux label CEO El-P. The album spawned singles like "No Jumper Cables" and "Freeze," further increasing his visibility. In 2005, he released the EP Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives, which included a lyric booklet and a bonus track on later pressings. He also joined the group The Weathermen during this period.

In 2007, Aesop Rock contributed a 45-minute instrumental track titled "All Day" to the Nike+iPod running system. Later that year, his fifth full-length album, None Shall Pass, was released, featuring original artwork by Jeremy Fish, with whom he would collaborate on other projects.

Collaborations and Later Works

Aesop Rock has been an active collaborator throughout his career. In 2011, he formed Hail Mary Mallon with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, releasing their debut album in 2011. His sixth studio album, Skelethon, was released by Rhymesayers in 2012, preceded by singles "Zero Dark Thirty" and "ZZZ Top." In 2013, he formed The Uncluded with Kimya Dawson, releasing their debut album Hokey Fright. More recently, he teamed up with TOBACCO to form Malibu Ken.