Bavitz was born in Syosset, New York and grew up in Northport, New York. While attending college, Bavitz initially recorded and released two self-financed efforts, Music for Earthworms (1997), a full-length featuring underground artist Percee P on two tracks. Bavitz also released a music video to "Abandon All Hope", which was one of the tracks on the CD. The album sold over 300 copies, largely from a grassroots internet-based promotion at his website AesopRock.com and then-popular web portal, MP3.Com. It was a success. With the money he made from his previous release, he then released his Appleseed EP in 1999 which received critical acclaim in the underground hip hop circuit.[citation needed] Both of his early records were produced by long-time friend Blockhead, and underground producer Dub-L. He completed these albums while also working as a waiter.
After his breakthrough success in the underground hip hop and indie rap community, he was eventually noticed by the Mush label and obtained his first record deal in 1999, just a year after he graduated from college. 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. During this time, Aesop worked at a photography gallery. In August 2001 tragedy struck when Bavitz had a nervous breakdown. The song "One of Four" on his Daylight EP documents his struggles.
Shortly after releasing Float, Aesop Rock signed to Manhattan-based label Definitive Jux (commonly shortened to Def Jux), where he released Labor Days (2001), 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 seven-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. The song "Labor" (from Labor Days) was featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4; it also was the first album in his catalog to break through the Billboard charts, peaking at number 15 at the United States Independent Charts, giving Aesop Rock more recognition.
Labor Days was followed by Bazooka Tooth in 2003. For the first time, production was mostly handled by Rock 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. A remix of "No Jumper Cables" was featured on Tony Hawk's Underground 2, furthering Aesop's recognition. In 2004, He released Build Your Own Bazooka Tooth and created a contest in which you had to create a remix of an Aesop Rock song using the a cappellas and instrumentals.
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, "Facemelter". 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, Rock did less production on the EP: three songs are produced by Blockhead, three produced by Aesop, and one by Rob Sonic. During this time he was asked to join The Weathermen to replace Vast Aire.
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 his wife 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."
All Day was followed in August of the same year by Bavitz's fifth full-length album, None Shall Pass released in 2007. The album also contained original artwork by Jeremy Fish. About Jeremy Fish, Aesop Rock said: "Man that guy is my hero. We have a friend in common who hit me up a while back saying that this guy Jeremy Fish had an opportunity to pitch a cartoon to Disney and wanted me to be involved in the music side. I flipped out cuz I was also a fan of his, and owned some of his work." Aesop Rock also teamed up with Jeremy Fish again in a project called Ghosts of the Barbary Coast. Aesop Rock made a song called "Tomorrow Morning", to go along with a slideshow of drawings that Jeremy Fish drew. This was displayed in San Francisco, but was also made available for download online. None Shall Pass had positive reviews from critics and fans, applauding Aesop for his change in sound.
In 2011, Rhymesayers released "Are You Going to Eat That?", the debut album from Hail Mary Mallon, a collaboration between Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, and DJ Big Wiz.
On July 10, 2012, Rhymesayers released Aesop Rock's sixth studio album, "Skelethon". Its first single, "Zero Dark Thirty", was released four months earlier on April 10. A second single, "ZZZ Top", was released on June 29.
In 2011, Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson of The Moldy Peaches formed the duo The Uncluded. The duo's debut album, "Hokey Fright" was released on May 7, 2013.
In 2018, Aesop Rock teamed up with TOBACCO to form Malibu Ken
None Shall Pass
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jittery zeitgeist, wither by the watering hole, what a patrol
What are we to Heart Huckabee, art fuckery suddenly
Not enough young in his lung for the water wings
Colorfully vulgar poacher, out of mulch
Like, "I'ma pull the pulse out a soldier and bolt"
Fine, sign of the time we elapse
When a primate climb up a spine and attach
Eye for an eye, but the bog life swamps and vines
They get a rise out of frogs and flies
So when a dogfight's hog-tied prize sort of costs a life
The mouths water on a fork and knife
And the allure isn't right
No score on a war-torn beach
Where the cash cow's actually beef
Blood turns wine when it leak for police
Like, "That's not a riot, it's a feast, let's eat"
And I will remember your name and face
On the day you are judged by the funhouse cast
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
With a cane to the sky, like, "None shall pass"
None shall pass
None shall pass
Now, if you never had a day a snow cone couldn't fix
You wouldn't relate to the rogue vocoder blitz
How he spoke through a NoDoz motor on the fritz
'Cause he wouldn't play rollover fetch like a bitch
And express no regrets, though he isn't worth a homeowner's piss
To the jokers who pose by the glitz
Fine, sign of the swine in the swarm
When a king is a whore who comply and conform
Miles outside of the eye of the storm
With a siphon to lure out a prize and award
While avoiding the vile and bizarre that is violence and war
True blue triumph is more
Like, "Wait, let him snake up out of the centerfold
Let it break the walls of Jericho, ready, go"
Sat where the old, cardboard city folk
Swap tales with heads, like every other penny throw
And I will remember your name and face
On the day you are judged by the funhouse cast
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
With a cane to the sky, like, "None shall pass"
None shall pass
None shall pass
You tried, you tried, you tried to trick me
You've got a, you've, you've got a, a lot of nerve
I'm, I'm not, I'm not, trying to trick you
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
Okay, woke to a grocery list, goes like this
Duty and death, anyone object, come stand in the way
You could be my little Snake River Canyon today
And I ran with a chain of commands
And a jetpack strapped where the backstab lands if it can
Fine, sign of the vibe in the crowd
When I cut a belly open to find what climb out
That's quite a bit of gusto he muster up
To make a dark horse rush, like, "Enough's enough"
It must've struck a nerve so they huff and puff
'Til all the king's men fluster and clusterfuck
And it's a beautiful thing
To my people who keep an impressive wingspan
Even when the cubicle shrink
You got to pull up the intruder by the root of the weed
N.Y. Chew through the machine
And I will remember your name and face
On the day you are judged by the funhouse cast
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
With a cane to the sky, like, "None shall pass"
None shall pass
None shall pass
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
Help, help, help, help, help, help, help
The song "None Shall Pass" by Aesop Rock is a powerful commentary on modern society and its inherent flaws. The first verse speaks to the corrupting influence of power, as Heart Huckabee is portrayed as an artist who compromises his integrity for fame. The line "Not enough young in his lung for the water wings" adds a darkly humorous twist, suggesting that he is too old and too out of touch to stay afloat in the ever-changing zeitgeist. The next lines describe a character who takes pleasure in violence and destruction--a vulgar poacher who delights in killing and pillaging. The imagery is visceral and disturbing, with the suggestion that this character gets pleasure from watching the suffering of others. The line "No score on a war-torn beach / Where the cash cow's actually beef" plays with the idea of war and its impact on commerce, suggesting that even human lives are reduced to mere commodities in certain contexts.
The chorus is particularly notable for its haunting melody and powerful lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "None shall pass" creates a sense of inevitability and doom, suggesting that the characters described in the song are ultimately doomed to fail. The final verse is perhaps the most cryptic, as Aesop Rock speaks to a "grocery list" of duties and responsibilities that he must address. The line "Duty and death, anyone object, come stand in the way" suggests that he is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, even if that means risking his life. The song ends on a note of cautious optimism, however, with the repeated refrain "I'm trying to help" suggesting that change is possible if only people are willing to work together.
Line by Line Meaning
Flash that buttery gold
Show off your wealth and status
Jittery zeitgeist, wither by the watering hole, what a patrol
Nervous spirit of the times, weakened by conformity and surveillance
What are we to Heart Huckabee, art fuckery suddenly
What do we mean to a politician who uses religion to manipulate art?
Not enough young in his lung for the water wings
Not enough air left in his lungs to keep going
Colorfully vulgar poacher, out of mulch
Criminal who steals from nature
Like, "I'ma pull the pulse out a soldier and bolt"
I will kill a military person in cold blood
Fine, sign of the time we elapse
Okay, this is a symptom of our current era
When a primate climb up a spine and attach
When someone takes advantage of a vulnerable person
Eye for an eye, but the bog life swamps and vines
Retaliation, but nature is still more powerful
They get a rise out of frogs and flies
Predators get pleasure from killing their prey
So when a dogfight's hog-tied prize sort of costs a life
When the winner of a dogfight kills the loser
The mouths water on a fork and knife
People are willing to indulge in violence and cruelty
And the allure isn't right
This attraction to violence is not healthy or natural
No score on a war-torn beach
No clear winner in a brutal conflict
Where the cash cow's actually beef
Where the source of money is actually blood and death
Blood turns wine when it leak for police
Police brutality leads to bloodshed and abuse of power
Like, "That's not a riot, it's a feast, let's eat"
Some people see violence as a spectacle and celebration
And I will remember your name and face
I will not forget those who perpetrate violence and cruelty
On the day you are judged by the funhouse cast
The day you face consequences for your actions
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
I will find satisfaction in your downfall
With a cane to the sky, like, "None shall pass"
I will stand my ground and not allow you to harm me
Now, if you never had a day a snow cone couldn't fix
If you've never experienced hardship or suffering
You wouldn't relate to the rogue vocoder blitz
You wouldn't understand the rebellious spirit of the voice distorter
How he spoke through a NoDoz motor on the fritz
How he powered through exhaustion and adversity
'Cause he wouldn't play rollover fetch like a bitch
Because he refused to submit to authority like a weakling
And express no regrets, though he isn't worth a homeowner's piss
And show no remorse, even though he's considered worthless
To the jokers who pose by the glitz
To the false and shallow people who show off their wealth
Fine, sign of the swine in the swarm
This behavior is a symptom of greedy and selfish humans
When a king is a whore who comply and conform
When even those in power submit to corrupt systems
Miles outside of the eye of the storm
Far removed from the chaos and danger
With a siphon to lure out a prize and award
Using deceptive tactics to gain recognition and reward
While avoiding the vile and bizarre that is violence and war
While ignoring the horrific reality of war and aggression
True blue triumph is more
Real success comes from more than just external recognition
Like, "Wait, let him snake up out of the centerfold
Let the underdog rise to the surface and surprise us
Let it break the walls of Jericho, ready, go"
Let it shatter oppressive systems and structures
Sat where the old, cardboard city folk
Sat among the poor and marginalized
Swap tales with heads, like every other penny throw
Share experiences with fellow outcasts, like tossing coins in a fountain
You tried, you tried, you tried to trick me
You attempted to deceive me
You've got a, you've, you've got a, a lot of nerve
You have a lot of audacity to try and fool me
I'm, I'm not, I'm not, trying to trick you
I'm not attempting to deceive you
I'm try, I'm try, I'm trying to help
I'm making an effort to assist you
Okay, woke to a grocery list, goes like this
Okay, started the day with a mundane task
Duty and death, anyone object, come stand in the way
Be prepared for duty and sacrifice, no room for objection
You could be my little Snake River Canyon today
You could face a dangerous and challenging situation
And I ran with a chain of commands
Followed orders from those in higher authority
And a jetpack strapped where the backstab lands if it can
And prepared for betrayal, ready to escape if necessary
Fine, sign of the vibe in the crowd
This behavior is a reflection of the collective feeling
When I cut a belly open to find what climb out
When I investigate and reveal hidden truths
That's quite a bit of gusto he muster up
He mustered up a lot of courage and determination
To make a dark horse rush, like, "Enough's enough"
To create a surprising and successful outcome, saying 'stop' to the oppressive regime
It must've struck a nerve so they huff and puff
It must have made the oppressors uneasy and angry
'Til all the king's men fluster and clusterfuck
Until the entire system is in chaos and disorder
And it's a beautiful thing
This upheaval and resistance is a beautiful sight
To my people who keep an impressive wingspan
To my fellow revolutionaries who spread their influence far and wide
Even when the cubicle shrink
Even when the oppressive systems try to crush us
You got to pull up the intruder by the root of the weed
You must eliminate the problem at the source
N.Y. Chew through the machine
New York City will overcome and destroy the oppressive system
Help, help, help, help, help, help, help
An appeal for assistance and support in the fight against oppression
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ian Bavitz, James Anthony Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind