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
Garbage
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Float or plummet 20,000 cold leagues
My nourishment's provided in the summer
So I wonder how y'all chasing dreams when what's tangible still outruns you!
Hail dirty doll immaculate performance
Warm as the march of a billion torches forward to burn what I'm born in
Cut and paste alertness to current settings provided quick
Shimmy the pirate ship mass, spot the island, sound the siren
Let's salute the embraced pertinent generals
Who turned innocent hermits to burning spectacles
Flirtin' with a serpent working overtime, drain the battery
Siphon the poison to flood his majesty's hatchery
I was riding on a yellow bus to where the brush thickens
And it ain't exactly plush pickings
I'd rather take the time to burn every last bridge
I've ever crossed beneath the sun
Then live my life knowing you may one day follow me over one
Snake bite, breath to heavy to hold
Caught up in the wake of the red witch trying to swim it
Ran for the snake of dead eliques stripped of idyllic image
Steal a sloppy earth meal
Feed my pottery wheel to model colossal vision
Thrill, trucking with a bucket of pennies
I'm 'a drag my sneakers through the dirt like alligator bellies 'til the cloud burst
Honor and a loud thirst submersed in a trap
Little drummer boy vs. thunderclap
[CHORUS]
In a city of garbage trying to reap the harvest
Adaptation is the trap in which the artist meets the forest
Swing you're little ax, or be an oak tree if you can
Either way, adapt to circumstance or play your final hand
You don't know enigma
An attempt to bury the hatchet rendered me victim of deviltry
Plus wounded like stigmatics
Something's huffing hazardous
I smell an inch of difference in this morning's pollution pistons
And how the loose ends drifted
My sour patch institution slipped in amidst the invaders and pardon my tone
But this garden's grown fucking acres since my last visit
Itching to count the layers in the blizzard
'Til that chapter where my family inserts the dagger and twisted
It's a carnival
Have you any sweets for my weary kin? It's a carnival
Have you any feed for my cheery grin? It's a carnival
Welcome, play our games, you'll never win
'cause it's that carnival where every freak show spectacle's your friend
And I'm a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas
Anti-freeze to glacier, cook in a look of fiery nature
It's the ceiling feeling to heavy to bliss the I-beams for a fraction more
Collapsed and left 'I'm sorry' tacked to you door
Pitching my back to hell's kitchen
Back burner murder machinery released regardless of the pardons
Hitching my life to the lease of one minstrel
Sick of same window different visual
Same agnostic hostage different ritual
Plague, cooperative super colony clash
I heard you got a dust collection, lemmme see it
I duel as underdog vs. forced adaptation to the marvels of the now
Since then, my knuckles haven't once dragged on the ground
CHORUS
[OUTRO]
The ritual goes, same window different visual
The lyrics of Aesop Rock's "Garbage" are complex and thought-provoking, with the rapper exploring themes of adaptation, perseverance, and resilience in the face of difficult circumstances. The opening lines of "Wing of wax? Or wing of gold leaf? Choose one Float or plummet 20,000 cold leagues" is a reference to the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with wings made of wax and fell to his death. Aesop is questioning whether it's better to play it safe or take risks in pursuit of success.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more abstract, with references to a "dirty doll immaculate performance" and "flirting with a serpent working overtime, drain the battery." These lines are likely metaphors for the challenges of navigating the music industry, where artists must carefully manage their public image while dealing with pressure from record labels and other industry professionals.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of adaptation and resilience, with the repeated refrain "adapt to circumstance or play your final hand." Aesop seems to be urging listeners to embrace change and find a way to thrive in difficult or unfamiliar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Wing of wax? Or wing of gold leaf? Choose one
Choose wisely between something that is fragile and something that is valuable.
Float or plummet 20,000 cold leagues
Either succeed or fail spectacularly.
My nourishment's provided in the summer
I only thrive in easy, abundant times.
So I wonder how y'all chasing dreams when what's tangible still outruns you!
How can you strive for the intangible when you haven't even achieved the tangible?
Hail dirty doll immaculate performance
Praise a person who performs well despite their flaws.
Warm as the march of a billion torches forward to burn what I'm born in
Being born into a negative environment takes a great deal of strength to overcome.
Cut and paste alertness to current settings provided quick
Adapt quickly to your surroundings.
Shimmy the pirate ship mass, spot the island, sound the siren
Navigate through obstacles to achieve your goals.
And about face
Change direction.
Let's salute the embraced pertinent generals
Praise those who are relevant to your situation.
Who turned innocent hermits to burning spectacles
Some leaders can turn peaceful people into harmful ones.
Flirtin' with a serpent working overtime, drain the battery
Dealing with dangerous people can be exhausting and draining.
Siphon the poison to flood his majesty's hatchery
Extinguish the source of negativity.
I was riding on a yellow bus to where the brush thickens
Going into challenging situations.
And it ain't exactly plush pickings
It's not the easiest situation.
I'd rather take the time to burn every last bridge I've ever crossed beneath the sun
There are some relationships that are better off left behind.
Then live my life knowing you may one day follow me over one
Don't live with the fear that your past will someday catch up to you.
Snake bite, breath to heavy to hold
Being overwhelmed by a difficult situation.
Caught up in the wake of the red witch trying to swim it
Trying to survive in the wake of something detrimental.
Ran for the snake of dead eliques stripped of idyllic image
Retreating from a once idealistic plan that didn't work out.
Steal a sloppy earth meal
Make the most of what's available to you.
Feed my pottery wheel to model colossal vision
Create something great.
Thrill, trucking with a bucket of pennies
Finding joy in small successes.
I'm 'a drag my sneakers through the dirt like alligator bellies 'til the cloud burst
Enduring hardship until it's resolved.
Honor and a loud thirst submersed in a trap
Being trapped in a situation despite your high aspirations.
Little drummer boy vs. thunderclap
Being up against a huge challenge.
In a city of garbage trying to reap the harvest
Trying to make the best out of a bad situation.
Adaptation is the trap in which the artist meets the forest
Being an artist is about adapting to your environment.
Swing you're little ax, or be an oak tree if you can
Either fight back or stand strong.
Either way, adapt to circumstance or play your final hand
Adapt or perish.
You don't know enigma
You don't understand the mystery.
An attempt to bury the hatchet rendered me victim of deviltry
An attempt to make peace turned out to be harmful.
Plus wounded like stigmatics
Feeling deep emotional pain.
Something's huffing hazardous
Something is dangerous.
I smell an inch of difference in this morning's pollution pistons
Something feels off about the environment.
And how the loose ends drifted
Things didn't end up the way they should have.
My sour patch institution slipped in amidst the invaders and pardon my tone
Someone bitter and judgmental may have entered an unstable situation.
But this garden's grown fucking acres since my last visit
Things have changed dramatically in my absence.
Itching to count the layers in the blizzard
The desire to understand a difficult situation.
'Til that chapter where my family inserts the dagger and twisted
A pivotal and traumatic moment.
It's a carnival
Life is a festival with good and bad aspects.
Have you any sweets for my weary kin? It's a carnival
Asking for joy and happiness in life.
Have you any feed for my cheery grin? It's a carnival
Asking for the energy to continue enjoying life.
Welcome, play our games, you'll never win
Life is unpredictable and unfair. You can't always win.
'cause it's that carnival where every freak show spectacle's your friend
Everyone is a little weird and that's okay.
And I'm a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas
Feeling lost and alone.
Anti-freeze to glacier, cook in a look of fiery nature
Using extremes of temperature to create something new.
It's the ceiling feeling to heavy to bliss the I-beams for a fraction more
The feeling of being stuck and unable to progress.
Collapsed and left 'I'm sorry' tacked to you door
Being responsible for a failing situation.
Pitching my back to hell's kitchen
Facing a difficult challenge head-on.
Back burner murder machinery released regardless of the pardons
Letting something bad happen despite the consequences.
Hitching my life to the lease of one minstrel
Putting your fate in someone else's hands.
Sick of same window different visual
Tired of the same old thing.
Same agnostic hostage different ritual
Being trapped in the same situation over and over again.
Plague, cooperative super colony clash
A catastrophic event.
I heard you got a dust collection, lemmme see it
Asking to see someone's collection of regrets.
I duel as underdog vs. forced adaptation to the marvels of the now
Fighting through adversity even if it's not ideal.
Since then, my knuckles haven't once dragged on the ground
Feeling a sense of accomplishment and growth.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind