Let me say right off the bat: If you’ve stopped by just to get all of Aesop Rock’s biggest numbers for free, then you’ve come to the wrong place. My role isn’t simply to dump free music into the Intertubes, clogging them up and shit. My role is to nudge and prod visitors in directions they might enjoy – especially if they’re not already enjoying them.
So, with that out of the way, I thought I’d backtrack to Aesop Rock, one of my favorite underground hip hop artists … who’s been buried under the piles of music I’m always wading through. The nudging and prodding part is achieved by sharing some tracks that give you a taste of what makes Aesop Rock and the Definitive Jux label so unique. (Def Jux is home to some of underground hip hop’s best known names, including C Rayz, Cage, Cannibal Ox, Mr. Lif, RJD2, and The Perceptionists, among others.)
Our man in question has been recording strange, obtuse, and interesting tracks since 1997 (check out Music For Earthworms), but really established himself as an underground name with Float (2000) and the classic Labor Days (2001). Aesop’s next full release, Bazooka Tooth (2003), received less acclaim, but, personally, I enjoy it just as much for different reasons. Between and around those releases are a number of quality EPs and albums I highly recommend picking up.
This write up doesn’t really do the man justice, as I need to rush off to work. But, you don’t really want to hear me describe him anyway. Do you? You want to describe him yourself. The following three samples should give you reason to dig up and buy more with your hard-earned cash.
And, of course, you can hear even more by finding Aesop Rock on MySpace.
From the 2005 Definitive Jux Presents Bucket Of B-Sides Vol 1:
Aesop Rock – Kill Em All (RJD2 Remix)
From the 2005 EP Fast Cars, Danger, Fire & Knives:
Aesop Rock – Rickety Rackety (ft CamuTao, El-P)
From the 2005 Cage album, Hell’s Winter:
Cage – Left It To Us (ft Aesop Rock)
