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
Bazooka Tooth
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Diamond covered spine
Armadillo armor that bends around the blades
Bugs in the beard
Ebony in the lungpiece
Bricks in the Thames
Bazooka in the tooth that he's flashing at your friends
Know and sip the recipe
Not a single innocuous side up in the centerpiece
Oh my god
Journalists across the globe are officially critiquing my first eight bars
Piety for the fam, embargo piggybackers
Navigate sim-city backwards
Bazooka Tooth, baby!
Zephyrs less dextrimental expect to tone down terrordome for starter crews
Like jousting Pompeii with a garden hose
If you wake up to the sound of helicopters bumping Wagner
Bodycast the Palotti's class
Buckle in the Bronx back alley batting cage with bottle smacks
Drag them prophecies
Be them celestine or Mothman to the bumper boat monster mash
See, the pristine kittens fiddle with new yarn
Decrepit sickly dogs get shot behind the barn
One sham put in long hours like Tim Leary's lava lamps
To be second headlined under the boy born with lobster hands
Isolated, biological phenomenon
First nocturnally orchestrated car alarms
Ya'll sketch portraits of your neighbors, tack em up without fail
See a robored pitchforks and alligator tails [?]
official Max Fischer bloom break cable clipper (Def)
Picket train buffer, the riverboat, and the switcher (Jux)
Pipe-dreaming that so fresh and so clean plummage
Is an appleseed of bore that resorts to Bazooka Tooth shit
You don't want me smiling at your cameras
The lyrics to Aesop Rock's song Bazooka Tooth contain a barrage of vivid and intricate imagery that, upon a closer look, reveals a commentary on the hypocrisy of society and the pressure to conform to certain lifestyles. The opening lines, "That jackhammer is so real, Diamond-covered spine, Armadillo armor that bends around the blades," depict a character who is tough and resilient, armed with all the physical armor necessary to withstand life's blows. Yet, they are not invincible, as indicated by the bugs in their beard and the ebony in their lung piece. This theme of vulnerability is emphasized by the seemingly contradictory line, "Bazooka in the tooth that he's flashing at your friends," which suggests that the character is trying to compensate for their weaknesses by projecting a tough, intimidating facade. This idea of projecting a certain image for social acceptance is further explored in the lines, "This is the lifestyle, baby, Know and sip the recipe, Not a single innocuous side up in the centerpiece," which suggest that conforming to certain societal trends and expectations requires not only adherence to a certain lifestyle but also a constant justification of one's choices.
As the song progresses, Aesop Rock introduces a multitude of seemingly disjointed images that converge to create a surreal, disorienting atmosphere where reality and fantasy blend. The line, "Journalists across the globe are officially critiquing my first eight bars," paints a picture of a tongue-in-cheek critique of the music industry and its obsession with sensationalism and hype. This is followed by a commentary on the state of politics and economics with the lines, "Piety for the fam, embargo piggybackers, Navigate sim-city backwards," which suggest a distrust of those in power and the duplicitous ways in which they exploit their positions for their own gain. The song's title, "Bazooka Tooth," serves as a metaphor for the idea of standing out from the crowd and forging one's own path, even if it means being criticized or ostracized. Aesop Rock's cryptic yet evocative lyrics create a powerful message that invites the listener to look beyond the surface of things and question the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
That jackhammer is so real
The intensity and power of the situation is palpable and undeniable
Diamond covered spine
A strong and unbreakable backbone or foundation
Armadillo armor that bends around the blades
An impenetrable layer of protection that can withstand even the sharpest attacks
Bugs in the beard
The dirt and grime of everyday life that lingers and accumulates
Ebony in the lungpiece
The darkness and negativity that permeate and suffocate one's being
Bricks in the Thames
Obstacles and challenges that seem insurmountable and weigh one down
Bazooka in the tooth that he's flashing at your friends
A symbol of aggression and intimidation, warning others not to cross him
This is the lifestyle, baby
The harsh reality of the world and the way one must navigate it to survive
Know and sip the recipe
Understand the method and strategy for success, and implement it carefully
Not a single innocuous side up in the centerpiece
No part of the situation is without danger or risk, and every aspect must be carefully considered
Oh my god
An expression of surprise or shock at the gravity of the situation or the intensity of one's own abilities
Journalists across the globe are officially critiquing my first eight bars
The scrutiny and criticism that comes with fame and success, even at the beginning stages
Piety for the fam, embargo piggybackers
Devotion and loyalty to one's family, and a refusal to allow opportunists to take advantage
Navigate sim-city backwards
Backtracking and reconsidering past decisions to try and improve the present or future
Bazooka Tooth, baby!
An assertion of power and dominance, even in the face of danger
Zephyrs less dextrimental expect to tone down terrordome for starter crews
Lesser opponents cannot handle the full extent of his abilities, and he must hold back to avoid overwhelming them
Like jousting Pompeii with a garden hose
Attempting to fight a losing battle with insufficient weapons or resources
If you wake up to the sound of helicopters bumping Wagner
Living in a world where even the sounds of everyday life are harsh and threatening
Bodycast the Palotti's class
Taking down even the most powerful or respected opponents with ease
Buckle in the Bronx back alley batting cage with bottle smacks
Fighting in the most dangerous and brutal of settings, using whatever is available as a weapon
Drag them prophecies
Defying or denying preconceived notions or expectations of oneself or one's actions
Be them celestine or Mothman to the bumper boat monster mash
Regardless of whether one is viewed as holy or demonic, they will fight fiercely in any situation
See, the pristine kittens fiddle with new yarn
The innocent or naive are unaware of the true dangers of the world, and indulge in trivialities
Decrepit sickly dogs get shot behind the barn
Weak or vulnerable individuals are quickly taken out of the picture, as they pose a threat to the strength and power of others
One sham put in long hours like Tim Leary's lava lamps
Putting in substantial effort and dedication towards achievement or success, even if it means sacrificing comfort or ease
To be second headlined under the boy born with lobster hands
Attempting to stand out or gain recognition in a world where even the most unusual or outlandish traits are commonplace
Isolated, biological phenomenon
Being singled out or ostracized for one's uniqueness or abnormality, whether physical or otherwise
First nocturnally orchestrated car alarms
Taking control of even the most mundane and harmless of situations, and turning them into something wild or chaotic
Ya'll sketch portraits of your neighbors, tack em up without fail
Living life without truly understanding or connecting with those around you, instead relying on superficial views and judgments
See a robored pitchforks and alligator tails [?]
Encountering strange or unsettling things that defy explanation or understanding
official Max Fischer bloom break cable clipper (Def)
A tool or weapon that can be used to cut through or overcome obstacles and problems
Picket train buffer, the riverboat, and the switcher (Jux)
Utilizing different methods and strategies to overcome different challenges, depending on the situation
Pipe-dreaming that so fresh and so clean plummage
Hoping for or dreaming of an idealized or perfect state of being, without taking into account the harsh realities of the world
Is an appleseed of bore that resorts to Bazooka Tooth shit
Even the most mundane or unassuming things can turn into something dangerous or threatening when under the right circumstances
You don't want me smiling at your cameras
A warning to others not to underestimate or cross him, especially when the stakes are high
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind