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
Easy
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cameras or guns one of ya'll is gonna shoot me to death
Just know that shit
I take it...Easy
(That's how we doin' this)
(I like that)
I take it...Easy
I take it...Easy
(Where we goin' with this)
I take it... Easy
(Here it go)
Upside down
I pick wigs for beetles
Pry em out and pin em to the pole over the seesaw
Solar Coke'er shimmy out crater cradle my way in double wishbone suspension verse am clock radio bangers
Down side up in crippled acres and still the fountain that spittle's sliglets quicker than quditch seekers snatch golden snitches
(You can be a part of it)
Just park your bark at twenty paces, hold this target, while chorus picks apart your shit
(Man)
City bread the brittle cheap old little Lego people squeezing little like a Polaroid in key hole
Media breather needed mural to hide all while your friends 'n neighbors press stethoscopes to the dry wall
To the worm tongue tight (tongue), bitten behind a vamp chopper foaming, lamb chopping the sock puppet in fear and loathing
Who faulters ASAP to build careers out of misquoting sorry Aesop introducing a school of my own motives
This pocket full of nickels, like cool han-loop decapitating parking meters when the pigs blew the whistle like Winslow
I went to jail over night for putting a sticker on a phone booth, now by the time ya'll did that paperwork, how many new rapists float
Panicky banister Silver Surf over the wobbles where the potholes are a holster on the stomach of the God show
Blinded by the light, you might just plummet through the cosmos to see Apollo standing and function before a board hits a high note
I take it? Easy
The ice is thinning in the valley of the G Beats
And when the freaks come out I hug a TV (uh)
Some how a channel zero benders less...Creepy
's bliss, repeat with a twist
Easy
When every Martian in the market holler "Be me"
You're a sitting opinions bigot
Ya learn more when your mouthpiece...Retreat
's bliss now listen to this
Oh ok
All day every day
Oh alright
All night every night
Who's cat 'n tongue gonna spew stale venom (uh) not mine I hung my hammock in the bed room
But when the potentially lucrative race wars get steaded I wake up for a second and help the betters count their blessings
But instead I grab the clutch then at my knees are limps much longer
A plastic flimsy songbird plastic busy long turns for the long term
Got dragon all achy, torn between the lending of a helping five knuckles and a charge that won't escape me
(Tha's life)
Sufferin' suckatash buckle ducks in the trunk with belts-ten four on them-sting of operations-wingman-double packed
(Funky)
Let em roam to the home to the main crib in emaciated slave pancake children game-not all players feel the same
(Learning)
We don't learn shit my radio was on regardless
(Yes)
I tune out parties, I tune in starlets
Carbon and pre David-Goliath live Paleolithic bias who walks on all fours draggin' the cadaver of King Midas
Now this tort dwarf war hammer Elvan bow and arrow waivers documents preaching the rain of which narrow tappers
Hermit crab, honest cat, trying to raise the roof in my own tv room but still get the security deposit back
Pull with me Skippy (Hi) Motor head dope fixture what's up-go to bed-no dinner hold for the cold winter
Is it bad if the gas leaks, desert dozer clicks, stranded on cloud eight proud of the pogo stick
I stayed then along came a spider sprung and alert (I stay deaf)
He makes records with his tongue in the dirt
Suckin the dirty earth crisis with a license to flirt
Buffer the mighty tightly sequins with a price on the Murs covert
Mr. Blizzard shoulder (Cold) he always acts all pissy
Plus your friend said I was an asshole when he met me
No bad moves aloud when you're in the public eye
Kill it you are the weakest link goodbye
I take it? Easy
The ice is thinning in the valley of the G Beats
And when the freaks come out I hug a tv
Some how a channel zero benders less...Creepy
's bliss, repeat with a twist
Easy
When every Martian in the market holler "Be me"
You're a sitting opinions bigot
Ya learn more when your mouthpiece...Retreat
's bliss now listen a sip
(What)
(Huh)
(Sip one)
(Get busy)
Oh ok
All day every day
Oh alright
All night every night
Yea
Mutaeo
Murs
(Like dat)
El P
Mr. Lif
Def jux
TheBassHipOne
Nasa
The lyrics to "Easy" by Aesop Rock are complex and abstract, as is typical of his style. The song begins with a grim prediction - that someone will either shoot him with cameras or guns, and they should know it. This sets a somber tone that runs throughout the song. Aesop then delivers a series of seemingly unrelated phrases, reflecting his stream-of-consciousness style. He paints vivid images of upside-down seesaws, Solar Coke er, and crippled acres. He then moves on to describe city life, with "little Lego people squeezing little like a Polaroid in keyhole" and the media needing a mural to hide. His lyrics become more paranoid and political when he mentions the potential for race wars and his reluctance to engage in them. The song ends with a choppy, repetitive chorus of "I take it...Easy" that echoes the laid-back tone of his lyrics.
One interpretation of the song is that Aesop is expressing his anxieties about living in an increasingly tangled and oppressive society. He touches on themes of surveillance, media overload, and social control. The phrase "cameras or guns" reveals the sense of constant threat he feels, and the need to keep a low profile in order to "take it easy." Even though the lyrics jump from one idea to the next, there is an underlying sense of anxiety that permeates the entire song. Aesop is exploring the difficulties of living in a world that is both interconnected and fractured, where everyone is both monitored and invisible.
Line by Line Meaning
Cameras or guns one of ya'll is gonna shoot me to death
There is a constant threat of violence, either through surveillance or physical harm, that I face
Just know that shit
Be aware and acknowledge the dangers that exist
I take it...Easy
I handle these challenges with a calm and relaxed demeanor
(That's how we doin' this)
This is my approach to handling difficult situations
(I like that)
I appreciate and embrace this mindset
(Ya'll say that shit)
Others may recognize and acknowledge my ability to take things easy
(Where we goin' with this)
What is the ultimate goal or outcome of this mindset
(Here it go)
I am ready to proceed and face whatever challenges come my way
Upside down
In a state of disarray or chaos
I pick wigs for beetles
I engage in unconventional and insignificant activities
Pry em out and pin em to the pole over the seesaw
I take insignificant actions that have no real impact or significance
Solar Coke'er shimmy out crater cradle my way in double wishbone suspension verse am clock radio bangers
I navigate through difficult situations and challenges, adapting and finding solutions through my creativity and resilience
Down side up in crippled acres and still the fountain that spittle's sliglets quicker than quditch seekers snatch golden snitches
Even in challenging environments, I am able to maintain my strength and resilience, surpassing obstacles with ease
(You can be a part of it)
Others can join in and experience this resilience and strength
Just park your bark at twenty paces, hold this target, while chorus picks apart your shit
Put aside your ego and let others criticize and analyze your actions and words
(Man)
An exclamation or expression of frustration or disbelief
City bread the brittle cheap old little Lego people squeezing little like a Polaroid in key hole
The city environment breeds weak and insignificant individuals who try to fit into narrow roles and are easily manipulated
Media breather needed mural to hide all while your friends 'n neighbors press stethoscopes to the dry wall
Amidst the constant scrutiny and invasive nature of media, it is important to find solace and create a facade to protect oneself from judgment
To the worm tongue tight (tongue), bitten behind a vamp chopper foaming, lamb chopping the sock puppet in fear and loathing
Individuals who are easily influenced and manipulated by deceptive and manipulative language, acting aggressively while being controlled by hidden forces
Who faulters ASAP to build careers out of misquoting sorry Aesop introducing a school of my own motives
Those who quickly seize opportunities to create their own careers by distorting and misrepresenting my words and intentions
This pocket full of nickels, like cool han-loop decapitating parking meters when the pigs blew the whistle like Winslow
Having an abundance of small and insignificant resources, like successfully destroying parking meters while authorities attempt to intervene
I went to jail over night for putting a sticker on a phone booth, now by the time ya'll did that paperwork, how many new rapists float
I experienced an excessive punishment for a minor offense, highlighting the inefficiency and lack of priorities in the justice system
Panicky banister Silver Surf over the wobbles where the potholes are a holster on the stomach of the God show
Navigating through difficult and unstable situations, where danger lurks everywhere, demonstrating the fragility of the world
Blinded by the light, you might just plummet through the cosmos to see Apollo standing and function before a board hits a high note
Being blinded by distractions and losing focus, risking a fall from grace before realizing the true power and potential within oneself
The ice is thinning in the valley of the G Beats
The music industry is becoming less stable and predictable
And when the freaks come out I hug a TV (uh)
When unconventional and unique individuals emerge, I seek comfort and solace in escapism through television
Some how a channel zero benders less...Creepy
Watching a channel with no content feels less unsettling and disturbing
's bliss, repeat with a twist
These moments of temporary escape provide a sense of joy and satisfaction, but with slight variations each time
When every Martian in the market holler 'Be me'
When individuals in the music industry try to imitate and emulate my style and success
You're a sitting opinions bigot
You are narrow-minded and stubborn in your beliefs and opinions
Ya learn more when your mouthpiece...Retreat
One can gain more knowledge and understanding by listening and reflecting rather than constantly expressing their own opinions
's bliss now listen to this
Reaching a state of contentment and peace by paying attention to the present moment
Mutaeo
A reference to a musical collaborator or artist
Murs
Another reference to a musical collaborator or artist
(Like dat)
An expression of agreement or approval
El P
Yet another reference to a musical collaborator or artist
Mr. Lif
Yet another reference to a musical collaborator or artist
Def jux
A reference to a record label or music collective
TheBassHipOne
An unknown reference, possibly a nickname or alter ego
Nasa
Another unknown reference, possibly a nickname or alter ego
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ian Bavitz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind