Any Love for Aesop Rock?

[BlackMastodon]

Not exactly guitar related but I thought I'd throw up a thread to see if there's any other fans of his on here, especially since he just put out a new album (which is awesome and a really cool watch if you pay attention to the video, I won't spoil it ):



I only started listening to his music last summer when I started getting into a bit more hip-hop (thank you Run the Jewels). I love how lyrically immense he is, and his music videos are always artistically interesting. Can't stop listening to his work in Hail Mary Mallon, either.

Honestly, I've liked his music more than almost any metal release in the past year or so.

So, anyone else a fan of alternative hip-hop on here? Throw out some suggestions, I'd love to listen to some new stuff.

 

[vilk]

Yeah, I like Aesop Rock, but I only ever find myself listening to one track called "I've died 1000 deaths" (?) or at least, those words are in the song as a refrain

Here, have you heard Dalek?



Also I know that Death Grips is pretty famous, but their discography has quite a bit of variety and I don't like all of it. So even if you think that you don't like Death Grips, you may still like this track which is one of my favorites!

 

[Ralyks]

I somehow end up listening to 9-5ers Anthem once a day. Aesop is the best.

 

[piggins411]

Trying to get more into hip hop. This guy is one my list to look into. Some of my favorite alternative hip hop acts are WHY?, Sage Francis (maybe not alt but still great), and Astronautilis. I'd check those out and see what you think.

 

[mrspacecat]

I am a huge fan of alternative hip hop. I’ll post some of my favorites, and I’ll try to not make it too long.
CunninLynguists

If you like Aesop Rock, you will LOVE these guys.

Del the Funky Homosapien (also Deltron 3030)


I just love Del’s lyrical delivery and his flow. I’m pretty pissed that I’ve missed him both times he was playing near me. Really anything Hieroglyphics and Del is guaranteed to be great.

MF Doom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRHyBwNtkLA


A Tribe Called Quest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIah18jcJko

RIP Phife.

Talib Kweli


Mos Def
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFL0e24GeYg
Def and Kweli have done a lot together, and are great to listen to if you are angry.

Blackstar (collaboration with Kweli and Def)


Earl Sweatshirt

I don’t really like Odd Future at all, but I really like this guy. His new album is also really, really good.

Gang Starr


Then there’s De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Eyedea, Blackstar, Digable Planets etc.. Sorry for the long post guys.

 

[kevdes93]

Love aesop rock, cool to see him mentioned here. None shall pass is probably my favorite and the new album is amazing too

 

[Mattykoda]

Still one of my favorite songs. Ever.

 

[mrspacecat]

I forgot Kool Keith/ Dr. Octagon.

I'll be seeing him in a few weeks. Then Psycroptic and Beyond Creation the week after that.

 

[rokket2005]

Yeah, Aesop is awesome. I haven't listened to the new one yet but Labor Days, Bazooka Tooth, None Shall Pass, and Skelethon are all great. Hail Mary Mallon with him and Rob Sonic has some really good stuff too, though their albums are more hit and miss than Aes' solo albums.

 

[BlackMastodon]

Oh man, I'm loving the suggestions in this thread. Gonna have lots more to listen to now.

 

[zappatton2]

Man, I love this thread!! I picked up Aesop's Float back when it came out as a totally blind purchase (I needed variety in my collection and wasn't quite yet internet savvy, so I took the plunge based on the hype stickers). Been addicted ever since, though I do gotta grab the new album. Love the whole album Shining video (though I doubt I'll be watching the whole thing, that's pretty damn cool).

Just got into the Death Grips about a year ago, they're pretty addictive as well. Was kinda ambivalent at first, but now I can't stop listening to them. I'm gonna be watching this thread and checking out suggestions. Been listening to some of the more laid back stuff like J-Live, stuff that reminds me of the hip-hop that was big when I was in high school (Tribe, De La Soul, etc.), and I've really been exploring the super-old stuff like Treacherous 3 and the Funky 4+1, but I haven't been keeping up with the modern alt rap thing, so I'll be checking out pretty much everything posted here

EDIT: Oh, and Dr. Octagon, another blind purchase I made back in the day and fell in love with. He kinda reminds me of Deltron 3030, I should take two seconds on Google to see if they're the same dude. Maybe later.

 

[zappatton2]

...and for the purposes of making suggestions, I've been a vinyl fan for years and this album has been living on my turntable for a number of them;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Dv7Aq2Fvs

 

[mrspacecat]

EDIT: Oh, and Dr. Octagon, another blind purchase I made back in the day and fell in love with. He kinda reminds me of Deltron 3030, I should take two seconds on Google to see if they're the same dude. Maybe later.

Dr. Octagon is a side project of Kool Keith. His spacey vibe is just so trippy. On a related note, I'll be seeing him in a few weeks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlYkKZsXGl0

 

[DLG]

I've been an Aesop Fan since Bazooka Tooth came out, and I have to say that he's probably the only rapper in the history of the genre who gets better with age.

His production has gotten so good, and he has such a pure artistic vision.

His rapping gets better with every album. His flow gets tighter, and his lyrics are always amazing.

The best thing about him is that he doesn't try to chase fans or do anything to follow any kind of trends or appease any critics. He writes about his life and writes stuff that appeals to him. Whether it's a song about his personal demons or about pirates and doughnuts, it's all executed with the same amount of conviction.

The new album is fantastic. I think his lyrics are a lot more streamlined on this album, much more direct.

Definitely a once in a generation type artist.

 

[coreysMonster]

I only know Aesop Rock because Finowa did covers of them.

 

[DLG]

I only know Aesop Rock because Finowa did covers of them.

aesop rock is one man, not a group

 

[bloc]

I tend to like the beats, but I am not a fan of his rhymes. His voice is annoying and I'm not into that abstract-ish brand of hip-hop all that much except for a few choice albums.

 

[BlackMastodon]

I've been an Aesop Fan since Bazooka Tooth came out, and I have to say that he's probably the only rapper in the history of the genre who gets better with age.

His production has gotten so good, and he has such a pure artistic vision.

His rapping gets better with every album. His flow gets tighter, and his lyrics are always amazing.

The best thing about him is that he doesn't try to chase fans or do anything to follow any kind of trends or appease any critics. He writes about his life and writes stuff that appeals to him. Whether it's a song about his personal demons or about pirates and doughnuts, it's all executed with the same amount of conviction.

The new album is fantastic. I think his lyrics are a lot more streamlined on this album, much more direct.

Definitely a once in a generation type artist.

I agree with all of this. He really does just get better and better. My favourite songs of his are when someone else produces for him but The Impossible Kid is incredible and really shows how much he's improved in producing. I still have to give props to DJ Big Wiz for his beats on Bestiary.

Some of my favourite tunes of his:







@bloc, I can see that, especially with his earlier work re: his voice.

 

[DLG]

I still have to give props to DJ Big Wiz for his beats on Bestiary.

Big Wiz doesn't do beats, all he does is cuts.

All of the beats are either Aesop or Rob. I think a majority are Ace's.

 

[JeffFromMtl]

The new album is sick. Way better than Skelethon.