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Aesop Rock




  Img Aesop Rock livejpg
  Img Capt Aesop Rock live in concert
  Background solo_singer
  Birth Name Ian Matthias Bavitz
  Origin &nbsp Long Island , New York City , United States
  Born 1976
  Genre Hip Hop
  Occupation Rapper , Producer
  Years Active 1997&ndashPresent
  Label Definitive Jux <br> Mush Records <br>Nike Sport Music
  Associated Acts The Weathermen <br /> The Orphanage <br /> Blockhead (music)
  URL Official Homepage (Under Construction) <br> Definitive Jux Biography


Aesop Rock (born '''Ian Matthias Bavitz''', 1976) is an American Hip Hop artist. He was in the forefront of the new wave of Underground acts that emerged during the late 1990s/early 2000s. He is signed to El-P 's Definitive Jux label and remains one of the most popular and critically acclaimed Independent hip hop artists today.


MUSIC

A Long Island, New York -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. These two independent releases are widely sought after in the underground scene.

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 (commonly shortened to 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 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.

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, ''.

Aesop Rock was commissioned to create a 45-minute instrumental track for the Nike+iPod running system, entitled ''All Day''. It was released in February 2007. Distributed via the ITunes Music Store and featuring Allyson Baker on guitar and Scratches from DJ Big Wiz, Aesop has described the release as "something that evolved enough that the sound was constantly fresh and attractive, as though the runner were moving through a set of differing cities or landscapes."
1

''All Day'' was followed in August of the same year by Bavitz's fifth full-length album, '' None Shall Pass '' (2007).


PERSONAL LIFE

Bavitz grew up in Northport, New York and attended Northport High School. He married Allyson Baker, guitarist of San Francisco rock band Parchman Farm in 2005. 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," and the right says "Must Warn Others," quoting the line "Must not sleep; must warn others/ Trust blocks creep where the dust storm hovers."

The Daylight EP contains a secret track at the end of the disk where Aesop discusses a bout of severe depression. According to the song, "In August of 2001 my seemingly splinter-proof brain bone, scaffolding imploded I kept it on the hush, but nearly tumbling to the cold hard concrete on near bodega trips for cigaretes and soda, shook me to casper. Dizzy with a northern chaser, motor sensory eraser agorophobe tunnel vision, guilt, self loathing arrangements."...
"And, I'd be lying if I said all of this made even the slightest fragment of sense to me. That's real... Simply put: I don't know what happened, or what's still happening, but I literally feel like I'm teetering on the blunt edge of my sanity." The song is written in dedication to four people who helped him with his problem.

Bavitz is a graduate of Boston University where he studied painting. 2


SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

For complete discography, see



Albums



EPs



Singles

  • ''Boombox 12"'' (2001)

  • ''Daylight 12"'' (2001)

  • ''Coma / Maintenance 12"'' (2001)

  • ''Easy / No Jumper Cables 12"'' (2003)

  • ''Freeze / The Greatest Pac-Man Victory In History 12"'' (2003)

  • ''Limelighters 12"'' (2003)

  • ''Fishtales 7"'' (2006)

  • ''Coffee 12"'' (2007)

  • ''None Shall Pass 7"'' (2007)



Guest appearances & Misc tracks



Production Credits



Appearances on compilations



MUSIC SAMPLE

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REFERENCES



EXTERNAL LINKS




  title Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass"
  description Song from upcomming CD None Shall Pass