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
Bring Back Pluto
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then there were eight (then there were eight).
Just like that.
(Bring back Pluto, bring back, bring back Pluto).
Like:
You ain't shit. This ain't ill.
This is little Russian dolls that get smaller and smaller still.
Cause eight planets bullied number nine until he fell.
In the first two lines, Aesop Rock refers to the demotion of Pluto as a planet in 2006. He states that it quickly happened, as if it was abrupt and without much consideration. The repetition of "bring back Pluto" in the next line emphasizes his belief that Pluto should be reclassified as a planet.
In the following lines, Aesop Rock criticizes those who believe that the removal of Pluto as a planet is insignificant. He uses the metaphor of Russian dolls to explain how the significance of things can become smaller and smaller until they seem meaningless. He then contrasts this notion by referencing the idea of building and progress. He wants people to acknowledge the value in things that may seem insignificant.
The last line is perhaps the most powerful, where Aesop Rock personifies Pluto as a victim of bullying. He describes the other eight planets as the bullies who "bullied number nine until he fell." This creates a powerful image of the ruthless nature of those who decide what is valuable or not.
Line by Line Meaning
And then there were eight (then there were eight).
It's a sudden realization that the solar system has only eight planets now, as Pluto was removed from the list.
Just like that.
The removal of Pluto as a planet happened so abruptly, without any consideration of people's respect for it.
(Bring back Pluto, bring back, bring back Pluto).
The singer is requesting to bring back Pluto as a planet because they believe it deserves its rightful place and recognition.
You ain't shit. This ain't ill.
The artist is saying that whatever the issue is, it's not impressive or awe-inspiring to them.
This is little Russian dolls that get smaller and smaller still.
The problem is like a set of Russian dolls that get increasingly smaller as you open them, in which removing Pluto from the planet list was just the beginning.
This is a corpus full of pills, trying to sit still and build.
It's like trying to focus and work while being under the influence of medication, as everyone tries to accept Pluto's removal as the final decision.
Cause eight planets bullied number nine until he fell.
It's a metaphorical representation of how the eight planets acted together to eliminate Pluto's status as a planet, without respecting its uniqueness and worthiness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ScienceofSpeed
And then they were eight
Just like that, just like that...
(Bring back Pluto, back-back Pluto)
(Back-back Pluto, Plu-Plu-Pluto)
(Verse 1)
In the beginning it was Large Marge sent me, I'm bent
Empty the rent if you can double park the garbage barge gently
The moon took a second mortgage on the seventh house
And Jupiter ain't talk to Mars, he felt the host of rovers sold him out
Close your mouth, poke your snout over the cloaked aroma clouds
Solar boy elope with couch ogling older Polaroids
Motor mouth, chauffeur the golden molar toy
Gophers yoke a fish out of water, he grows lungs and multiplies
Idle when soldering a perfect union
It is vital to calculate any ornery loose ends
So if mutiny ensues the aloof is assumed nuisance
The clue is in his vacancy, the proof is in his goosebumps
Maroon the traitors expecting acres of edelweiss
Who later learn it may actually be safer to play with knives
I show up late looking project grizzly
Two bowies, a third for throwing and accomplish dickweed
Nothing, nada, nill, I stuff a lot of pill to gut
What's the proper rules on stuffing hostages in trucks?
I'll be numb enough to chill before the choppers spill the blood
But if I'm not!
Fuck it, plug him, warpy got his goddamned groove back
Jet-setting on spec with a dead yeti on the roof rack
And miscreants will rubberneck jalopy euthanasia
Which will later be regretted when it's your turn for cremation
And I walk like early man, freak a little witch hunt
Gathering the carnies and exploiting every stigma
The malformed oddities among sovereignty's normal
Shall abuse every vice you can imagine right before you
(Hook)
All I thought of was the cloven-hooved
And how they clip-clip-clop over the woven roofs
With a nose for commotion and stolen goods
Now tell me, what the fuck am I supposed to do?
In the mean time (nine) minus (one) left (eight)
In the mean time (nine) minus (one) left (eight)
In the mean time (nine) minus (one) left (eight)
We were busy putting barbs on a large iron gate
(Interlude)
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
(Bring back Pluto, back-back Pluto)
(Back-back Pluto, Plu-Plu-Pluto)
They're all-they're gonna want his milk money next
(Verse 2)
Stare into the glowing eye of Cerberus and crow
Authoritative laminates will not repel the quarantined alone
All the town sickly know the Coke machine as home
Where they sit and hope the Ovaltine that noble's drink is strong
Couples only roller rink with soul to kiss your chicken noodle
Before they wiggle mittens through the pillory to ridicule
And you can hear the iron maidens lock
Or see the town criers ankle stock chained up to the tanker truck
A is up early, ring and run thank you much
Document a little of that underbelly bang for buck
Hey I walk as the hype of the city gossip
Meaning every dumpster diver's gotta vomit up a comment like
Um you ain't shit, this ain't ill
This is little Russian dolls that get smaller and smaller still
This a corpse full of pills trying to sit still and build
Cause eight planets bullied number nine until he fell
Babylon goggles, gawk for the galvatron coppers
Tugboat salvage all fossils
I'll be shepherd when the whirlybirds deny the lepers doctors
If I'm not, fuck it
The terrible metal hacking seasons's as American as ski up off a plastic d-cup
You'd think Charlie Brown was Weathermen
How I zig-zag around these yellow backs for peanuts
In the baggy stomach lining attached to the bums in hiding sits the morals
Every outing would slide to refine his grinding
When the freakishly disfigured have been triggered to surround you
You will live inside the actual second they let the hounds loose
(Hook)
(Outro)
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
(Bring back Pluto, back, back, back)
(Pluto-Pluto, bring back Pluto)
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
(Bring back Pluto, back-back Pluto)
(Back-back Pluto, Plu-Plu-Pluto)
Aesop Rock feat. Blockhead
-Bring Back Pluto (lyrics)
ladyattis
This is one the strangest songs about bullying I've ever heard.
Ben Gilbert
You will live inside the actual second they let the hounds loose. Man I love Aesop his couplets and lyrical density are second to no one
Titus James
When the freakishly disfigured have been triggered to surround you.
Ronark
This dude.... one of the only artists along with Tool, Isis and DOOM where every song is a masterpiece. I can't get over how good this shit is.
Luke Salazar
@Henchlock Weakling nah. She's in prison. So prison garbage. Close tho
Henchlock Weakling
@Luke Salazar just like ur mom;)
Luke Salazar
Tool is garbage
I h a v e N o M o u t h B u t I M u s t M e m e
>tool
Eyefytdraginz
the words Bring back pluto suddenly came to me, then i remembered this song existed. today will be a good day.
ogg future
you did it, aes, good job!