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
1000 Deaths
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw the rod-eye cross and murder circle above my turret
Slither spiraling banister down a hide
My ruby glass glazed specs staple to trade the market thieves
Where vendors cop the stolen citrus out they pyramids
Merry without a slapstick mavericks plugged directly to 3rd rail surges
Piss on electric mayhem through city commuter circuits
Pertinent to the slide show, the wino's leak but I won't speak
Infected projection hung thicken the air
Punching is burning plastics upon whiffing the nasal cringes
Pucker another 60-second lapse while 60 stars collapse the suckers
And I'm reborn every time the wine metamorphs back to water, my god
Sweet Christ crucify me with rail road spikes
Use my skull to bash them all in, gather sit and grin, weave
All fair the most serene communication's pageant
Where sitting with a stranger and living awards the badges
I spell Marry with my name stitched on my heritage
Incinerate arrogant simpletons to feed my cherished wind
Buried in leagues a please, thank you, pardon, excuse me
Your welcome, may I? ohh, I'd like to nod but no you may not
Let's take a deep breath, naw let's take a breath
Naw let's take, naw let's aaah shit, well I guess that about says it
Maybe I'll craft the sycamore canoe and paddle upstream
Where the luck seems to reflect precious lovely interventions
Chorus:
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for you and yours
For kicking your fantasies overboard
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for them and theirs
For breaking down their ropes, ladders and stairs
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
Verse Two:
You ever died a thousand deaths? I have
And in the morrow stood a thousand steps from where my nourish laughed
And made a boat at, nomad, I roam in a social coma
Jones and behome alone days sink how my poems I
Dig in the dirt I bring up the earth like pulley systems
Thereby painting the perfect metaphor for hung juries
Strung along a song of spawning thorns of fury
Numb the anti-add-alarm before he recognized this worries me
Carpet by my spearheading fink-eye beretta
Walk my line, now what? Now strut that little poison combine
Y'all call natural, in honesty promise me twenty thousand salami links
And dive and finding my thriving ivy leaves climbing up the pit fall
Lack of most lords aboard, heroes unsung heroes unbrung rewards
Yo if I flutter in a trouble clutch then I dance fancy forward
Like park children double dutching ropes in burning city summers
My wing span can and will employ full expansion
Unfolding while lamping at home with my hands spanning for gold
Told them the roof was on fire, when that structure burned to ashes
All y'all saw was Aesop Rock holding an empty book of matches
Maybe I'll sit until the spilling motors clear
Maybe I'll sit and stroke my billie goat beard
And rethink the time angels appear, maybe I won't
Bundled in my humble little plummet
Numb enough to die those thousand deaths under the sun it makes me sick
Chorus:
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for you and yours
For kicking your fantasies overboard
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for them and theirs
For breaking down their ropes, ladders and stairs
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for you and yours
For kicking your fantasies overboard
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for them and theirs
For breaking down their ropes, ladders and stairs
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
The lyrics to Aesop Rock's "1000 Deaths" are complex and intricate, reflecting the artist's skillful use of language and imagery to evoke a sense of existential anxiety and disillusionment. The song is divided into two verses, each of which explores different aspects of the singer's psyche and experiences.
In the first verse, the singer describes a series of surreal and disturbing images, including "rod-eye cross and murder circle," "stolen citrus out they pyramids," and "burning plastics." These images suggest a world that is at once familiar and alien, where the boundaries between reality and illusion are blurred. The singer also speaks of his own rebirth, and of the need to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems bent on destruction.
The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizes the theme of mortality and the need to accept the inevitability of death. The singer apologizes for the ways in which he has failed to live up to his own ideals, and acknowledges the pain and suffering he has caused to others. Yet he also insists on his own individuality and the importance of his own struggles, even as he recognizes the limitations of his own power and influence.
The second verse is even more abstract and inward-looking than the first, focusing on the singer's inner turmoil and sense of alienation from the world around him. He speaks of "roaming in a social coma" and feeling "numb enough to die those thousand deaths." Yet even in the midst of this despair, he finds moments of hope and beauty, as when he speaks of "finding my thriving ivy leaves climbing up the pit fall" and of "park children double dutching ropes in burning city summers." Ultimately, he accepts the uncertainty and impermanence of life, recognizing that the struggle itself is what gives life meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the rod-eye cross and murder circle above my turret
I witnessed danger and violence surrounding me.
Slither spiraling banister down a hide
I cautiously descend a steep and dangerous path.
My ruby glass glazed specs staple to trade the market thieves
I wear my glasses to see through deceit and transactional trickery.
Where vendors cop the stolen citrus out they pyramids
Merchants sell stolen goods and wares in a way that reflects ancient Egyptian pyramids, building wealth on the backs of others.
Merry without a slapstick mavericks plugged directly to 3rd rail surges
People are happy or carefree without fully realizing the potential danger of their actions.
Piss on electric mayhem through city commuter circuits
People are recklessly disregarding the risks associated with their actions.
Oooh child, raises oddity, son of a circus side show freak
I am unique and different, perhaps due to my strange upbringing.
Pertinent to the slide show, the wino's leak but I won't speak
I see things that are relevant, but I choose to keep silent like a drunk person's overlooked spill.
Infected projection hung thicken the air
There is a sense of suffocation and unhealthy influence in the atmosphere.
Punching is burning plastics upon whiffing the nasal cringes
The stench is so strong that I can almost feel it physically punch me, like burning plastic.
Pucker another 60-second lapse while 60 stars collapse the suckers
I pause for a moment while observing a significant event or collapse.
And I'm reborn every time the wine metamorphs back to water, my god
I experience a sort of rebirth or renewal whenever something changes drastically, like wine turning back into water.
Sweet Christ crucify me with rail road spikes
I am willing to suffer greatly.
Use my skull to bash them all in, gather sit and grin, weave
I am willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good.
All fair the most serene communication's pageant
The most peaceful way to communicate is through non-verbal actions.
Where sitting with a stranger and living awards the badges
Being open to new experiences and people can lead to great rewards and personal growth.
I spell Marry with my name stitched on my heritage
I take pride in my family heritage and history.
Incinerate arrogant simpletons to feed my cherished wind
I have no patience for those who are arrogant or foolish.
Buried in leagues a please, thank you, pardon, excuse me
Common courtesy is often overlooked and undervalued.
Your welcome, may I? ohh, I'd like to nod but no you may not
Sometimes we say one thing but mean another.
Let's take a deep breath, naw let's take a breath
We need to pause and take a moment to collect ourselves.
Naw let's take, naw let's aaah shit, well I guess that about says it
We often hesitate and second-guess ourselves, even when we know what needs to be done.
Maybe I'll craft the sycamore canoe and paddle upstream
I will take matters into my own hands and do what needs to be done, even if it's difficult.
Where the luck seems to reflect precious lovely interventions
There is a sense of divine intervention or luck when things fall into place.
I have died a thousand deaths, and I apologize for you and yours
I have experienced great suffering, and I am sorry that others are going through similar struggles.
For kicking your fantasies overboard
I apologize for harshly dismissing or rejecting someone's dreams or hopes.
I mean I'm only one servant, ayo one hell of a diversion
I am just one person, trying to do what I can to help or distract from difficult circumstances.
And if the masses have agreed to split the sea then let it bleed
If people have come together to make major changes or create something new, then let it happen, even if it is a painful process.
You ever died a thousand deaths? I have
I have experienced immense pain and suffering many times over.
And in the morrow stood a thousand steps from where my nourish laughed
In the morning, I find myself far away from where I last felt truly happy or fulfilled.
And made a boat at, nomad, I roam in a social coma
I feel lost and disconnected from others, like a wanderer adrift at sea.
Jones and behome alone days sink how my poems I
The days when I am on my own can be heavy and sink into my writing.
Dig in the dirt I bring up the earth like pulley systems
I work hard and dig deep to find meaning and purpose in life.
Thereby painting the perfect metaphor for hung juries
My life experiences and writing serve as a metaphor for unfair or undecided court cases.
Strung along a song of spawning thorns of fury
I am singing a painful and angry song that resonates with others.
Numb the anti-add-alarm before he recognized this worries me
I am afraid that others are not aware of the dangers or problems they are facing.
Carpet by my spearheading fink-eye beretta
I am aggressively taking charge and leading others, using my weapon or skills to inspire fear.
Walk my line, now what? Now strut that little poison combine
I am confidently walking my own path and encouraging others to do the same.
Y'all call natural, in honesty promise me twenty thousand salami links
I am skeptical of what others consider 'natural' or normal, and need to see strong evidence to believe it.
And dive and finding my thriving ivy leaves climbing up the pit fall
I am taking risks and finding success, even in difficult or dangerous situations.
Lack of most lords aboard, heroes unsung heroes unbrung rewards
Those who are most deserving of praise or recognition often go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Yo if I flutter in a trouble clutch then I dance fancy forward
Even when faced with trouble or danger, I keep moving forward with style and confidence.
Like park children double dutching ropes in burning city summers
Despite living in harsh or dangerous circumstances, children still find joy and creativity in play.
My wing span can and will employ full expansion
I have great potential and am capable of achieving great things.
Unfolding while lamping at home with my hands spanning for gold
I am working hard to find or achieve something valuable, even while at home or in my comfort zone.
Told them the roof was on fire, when that structure burned to ashes
I warned others of impending danger, but they failed to take action and now must face the consequences.
All y'all saw was Aesop Rock holding an empty book of matches
Others only see me as the bearer of bad news or the cause of problems, rather than recognizing my attempts to help or warn.
Maybe I'll sit until the spilling motors clear
I will wait patiently until a tumultuous situation has calmed down and become more manageable.
Maybe I'll sit and stroke my billie goat beard
I will take a moment to relax and reflect before taking action again.
And rethink the time angels appear, maybe I won't
I am questioning my belief in divine intervention or miracles, while still remaining open to the possibility.
Bundled in my humble little plummet
I am content with my modest lifestyle and personal values.
Numb enough to die those thousand deaths under the sun it makes me sick
I have become desensitized to suffering and pain, but it still weighs heavily on me.
Contributed by Eva K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@McArRuIzO
Aesop Rock was ahead of his time, and still is. He's been riding a wave somewhere out there in front of everyone else, for ages.
@stephenconner5761
The rogue wave
@McArRuIzO
@@stephenconner5761 That's the one
@princejohnson4695
Tesla of these bars
@eas115115
Straight up. We can only hope wordsmith rap is the underground future. With Earl Sweatshirts, Dumiles, and Aesop Rocks on every corner.
@mrvenito2045
@@eas115115 , me
@djbucksd
Old Aes is more provocative, but having related to his older stuff so much I also love his newer stuff because you can tell how far his worldview and mental health have really matured. Makes me happy for the guy, as well as myself and I imagine a lot of other people who have really felt him all these years.
@eliquate
Yeah man, I don’t why but it makes me think of how the younger me LOVED Batman, because he was dark and brooding and gritty. Older me, with a family and all that, relates more to Superman, because he is hopeful and kind, and wants to help those less fortunate. Does that make sense why this comment makes me think of this?
@p.o.d9410
This is my favourite Aesop Rock song, along with the rest of his music I guess
@stephtastic4515
Great comment