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
6B Panorama
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sturdy bridges, decorated with dirty pigeons
A vagabond begging for three pennies and a princess
A junkie tourniquet surgeon urging the needle in
A batty senior citizen flashing that awful toothless grin
I saw a corner store merchant rest on a milk crate with a stog
A pierced nose, a model with a stalker, cheap hooker, jay walkers
A table on a sidewalk with four old men slappin' dominoes down
I saw vandals catching tags and Puerto Rican flags
I saw a pregnant woman on the verge of bursting (boom)
I saw a blind man with a dog screaming 'someday I'll see it all'
And then he sat down with his hammer and saw
Business men with multi-colored ties, cashmere checks
A Nazi with tattoos on his neck, a Vietnam war vet
A Caucasian man with a limp and a cane, a pimp with his names
A thug circus, a pack of shook tourists hugging their purses
I saw freaks with rainbow streaks in dayglo hair
A mother smackin' the grin off her child, replaced it with a stare
A pothole, a storefront with a broken open sign
A hole in the wall bar kicking drunks to the gutter, it's closing time
I see a fuck up, a bum knuckle up with a taxi driver
A squatter, a grandfather, an angry right-to-lifer
I can see the roof garden on the apartment across the street
And kick myself because somewhere along the way I lost my seeds
I see a rat, a roach, a bat approach, a happy student
A black man with a horn and a will to make you sit and listen to it
I see a little girl on the corner with bubbles, braids and barrettes
I see a teen mother with similar pacifier and regrets
Oh, a day turned stale, a hammer with a rusty nail, a failed marriage
A universe of brick buildings slightly off balance
A challenge, I see a chance to add real colors to my favorite palette
Raise my mighty mallet towards the gods and swing my talons
I see a crack in the sidewalk
A slide show of six civilians gripping bottles of Gideon
Sitting inside bent meridian
There's a fun house ooh, a sun spout
Spraying yellow beams above yellow back dreams
And children in the hydrants
Tyrants ?, I see sirens
The wall to the glamor standard
A dead bird, a bent curb
A bus stop of commuters waiting to have their souls towed off to work
I seen the slap dash habits of bike messengers paws
And hug that good leaf on the way to damaged packages, dependence
Oh my lord, I see bandwagons, all aboard
A carnival amusement park where a heart is a luxury
I see a gas galaxy huddled behind those pearly doors
Maybe I should sit up on my fire escape a little more
The lyrics to Aesop Rock's "6B Panorama" paint a vivid picture of urban life, as seen from the artist's perspective while sitting on his fire escape. The verses describe a range of characters and scenes, both positive and negative, that all coexist within the city. From beggars and drug addicts to businesspeople and tourists, Aesop captures the rich tapestry of humanity that can be found in any urban center.
One of the most striking aspects of the song is the juxtaposition of different individuals and groups. For instance, the line "A Nazi with tattoos on his neck, a Vietnam war vet" highlights the stark contrast between two people who might seem to have nothing in common. Similarly, the description of "sirens" alongside "children in the hydrants" presents a contrast between danger and innocence.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sitting on my fire escape and I saw
I observed my surroundings while sitting on my fire escape.
Sturdy bridges, decorated with dirty pigeons
I saw bridges that were strong and well-built, but were covered in unsanitary pigeons.
A vagabond begging for three pennies and a princess
I witnessed a homeless person begging for money alongside a person who appeared to be a wealthy member of royalty.
A junkie tourniquet surgeon urging the needle in
I saw a drug addict preparing to inject a substance into their body using a tourniquet.
A batty senior citizen flashing that awful toothless grin
I observed an elderly person acting erratic and displaying their toothless smile.
I saw a corner store merchant rest on a milk crate with a stog
I saw a shopkeeper sitting on a wooden crate while smoking a cigarette.
A pierced nose, a model with a stalker, cheap hooker, jay walkers
I observed a variety of people with different lifestyles and professions, including someone with a facial piercing, a model being followed by an unwanted admirer, a prostitute, and pedestrians crossing the street illegally.
A table on a sidewalk with four old men slappin' dominoes down
I witnessed four elderly men playing a game of dominoes on a table set up on the sidewalk.
A city, a village, a neighborhood, a ghost town
I saw various types of places, including a busy city, a small village, a residential neighborhood, and an abandoned ghost town.
I saw vandals catching tags and Puerto Rican flags
I witnessed graffiti artists spray-painting their tags and flags representing Puerto Rico.
I saw a pregnant woman on the verge of bursting (boom)
I observed a woman who was heavily pregnant and appeared to be close to giving birth.
I saw a blind man with a dog screaming 'someday I'll see it all'
I witnessed a visually impaired person with their guide dog shouting about their hope to someday experience everything visually.
And then he sat down with his hammer and saw
The blind man proceeded to sit down with his tools, including a hammer and a saw.
Business men with multi-colored ties, cashmere checks
I saw businessmen wearing suits with colorful ties and carrying checks made of expensive cashmere fabric.
A Nazi with tattoos on his neck, a Vietnam war vet
I witnessed a person with tattoos that appeared to be associated with Nazi symbolism alongside a veteran of the Vietnam War.
A Caucasian man with a limp and a cane, a pimp with his names
I observed a white man with a noticeable limp who was using a cane to walk, as well as a pimp who was advertising his services.
A thug circus, a pack of shook tourists hugging their purses
I saw a group of intimidating individuals alongside a group of fearful tourists clutching their belongings tightly.
I saw freaks with rainbow streaks in dayglo hair
I observed people who appeared to be unconventional or strange, but with brightly colored hair.
A mother smackin' the grin off her child, replaced it with a stare
I saw a mother hitting her child in the face, causing them to stop smiling and become expressionless.
A pothole, a storefront with a broken open sign
I witnessed a damaged road with a pothole, as well as a store with a broken open sign in the window.
A hole in the wall bar kicking drunks to the gutter, it's closing time
I observed a dive bar that was kicking intoxicated patrons out onto the street as it was closing for the night.
I see a fuck up, a bum knuckle up with a taxi driver
I witnessed a confrontation between a homeless person and a taxi driver.
A squatter, a grandfather, an angry right-to-lifer
I saw a person illegally occupying a building, an elderly man, and someone who was passionate about their beliefs regarding the right to life.
I can see the roof garden on the apartment across the street
I observed a garden on the roof of a nearby building.
And kick myself because somewhere along the way I lost my seeds
I regretted losing something significant at some point in my past.
I see a rat, a roach, a bat approach, a happy student
I witnessed a rodent, a pest, and a nocturnal flying animal come near a content student.
A black man with a horn and a will to make you sit and listen to it
I observed a man of African descent playing a musical instrument and desiring to captivate the attention of his audience.
I see a little girl on the corner with bubbles, braids and barrettes
I saw a young girl with hair styled in braids and colorful clips blowing bubbles on a street corner.
I see a teen mother with similar pacifier and regrets
I observed a teenage mother carrying a pacifier for her child and appearing to have feelings of remorse or guilt.
Oh, a day turned stale, a hammer with a rusty nail, a failed marriage
I experienced a day that felt mundane and uneventful, and saw a rusty tool and a marriage that had not succeeded.
A universe of brick buildings slightly off balance
I saw a large number of brick buildings that were not quite level with one another.
A challenge, I see a chance to add real colors to my favorite palette
I viewed a difficult situation as an opportunity to enhance my preferred way of living.
Raise my mighty mallet towards the gods and swing my talons
I felt empowered and prepared to take on anything.
I see a crack in the sidewalk
I witnessed a small break or fissure in the pavement on the ground.
A slide show of six civilians gripping bottles of Gideon
I saw six everyday people holding onto bottles of a drink called Gideon.
Sitting inside bent meridian
I observed people sitting within the curvature of what seemed to be a street called Meridian.
There's a fun house ooh, a sun spout
I saw a building that appeared to be a carnival fun house, and also observed a beam of sunlight shining down from a break in the clouds.
Spraying yellow beams above yellow back dreams
I observed light from street lamps casting a yellow hue on a background of nearby buildings and their windows.
And children in the hydrants
I witnessed kids playing in water that was shooting out from an open fire hydrant on the street.
Tyrants ?, I see sirens
I heard a word or phrase that made me think of oppressive leaders, and also heard the sounds of emergency vehicles.
The wall to the glamor standard
I saw a barrier that was indicative of what is considered to be stylish or fashionable.
A dead bird, a bent curb
I observed a bird that had died, as well as a damaged or crooked piece of the sidewalk's border.
A bus stop of commuters waiting to have their souls towed off to work
I witnessed a group of people waiting at a bus stop who were likely on their way to work and appeared unhappy about it.
I seen the slap dash habits of bike messengers paws
I observed bike messengers rushing and behaving recklessly with their bicycles.
And hug that good leaf on the way to damaged packages, dependence
I saw someone holding onto a plant leaf while carrying packages that appeared to be damaged, and recognized a possible addiction or reliance on something.
Oh my lord, I see bandwagons, all aboard
I recognized the phenomenon of people adopting popular trends, and feeling compelled to jump on the bandwagon.
A carnival amusement park where a heart is a luxury
I saw a place that was meant to be fun and entertaining, but where emotional connections were hard to come by.
I see a gas galaxy huddled behind those pearly doors
I observed a group of gas pumps arranged in a way that reminded me of a cluster of stars behind the doors of a gas station.
Maybe I should sit up on my fire escape a little more
I contemplated spending more time on my fire escape, in order to further observe my surroundings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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