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
Home Again
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's my miracle meridian,
Boundaries lined with my minute men,
Slipping in,
S-O-S Messages float cold, captive in glass bottles,
While timidly crash-test authors spawn mountains of trash novels,
Diminished,
Bone Crush,
Sportin' super-fresh caffeinated-hate,
Raise amalgamated shakes for the shield (yeah),
Yield to the mood slopes,
With blue notes the silent launch lifted but I think the ground shifted when I walked,
Yeah I'm the very model of a modern major general,
Lip-twisted,
You're pitiful,
Sink,
I think it was the tragedies of science versus the world's technical marvels
When Thermo-Nuclear Ace left the planet chemically startled
(Startled)
(I'm very effective I might add)
In his song 'Home Again', Aesop Rock talks about being in a "red zone," which he refers to as his "miracle meridian." This zone appears to be a mental state where he is constrained by boundaries, represented by his "minute men," who serve as protectors and guards. He feels isolated and alone in this zone, as evidenced by his SOS messages that remain unheard, captured in glass bottles. Aesop compares the acts of more timid writers who produce "mountains of trash novels" to his own skeletal blemish, sporting "super-fresh caffeinated-hate."
However, he does not yield to this negative mood, and instead raises "amalgamated shakes for the shield" and follows the "blue notes." Aesop Rock sees himself as a modern major general, an effective leader who can navigate through any situation. He seems to harbor some disdain for those who are pitiful and sink under the pressure of tragedy, such as the world's technical marvels and their destructive potential. The Thermo-Nuclear Ace mentioned in the closing lines could represent a destructive force that has left him feeling chemically startled and lost.
Overall, 'Home Again' is a complex and introspective track that touches on themes of isolation, self-doubt, and triumph over adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in a red zone,
I find myself in a danger zone,
That's my miracle meridian,
It's my miraculous boundary line,
Boundaries lined with my minute men,
This area is guarded by my small army,
Slipping in,
Trying to infiltrate,
S-O-S Messages float cold, captive in glass bottles,
Urgent messages pleading for help are trapped, helpless inside bottles,
While timidly crash-test authors spawn mountains of trash novels,
Authors who write garbage that isn't well-received are too afraid to improve their writing,
Diminished, Bone Crush, Skeletal Blemish,
My spirit is broken, my body is wrecked, and my soul is damaged,
Sportin' super-fresh caffeinated-hate,
Feeling a strong, fresh hatred for something,
Raise amalgamated shakes for the shield (yeah),
Raise a toast to the protective barriers we use to shield ourselves,
Yield to the mood slopes,
Give in to the emotional ups and downs in life without resistance,
With blue notes the silent launch lifted but I think the ground shifted when I walked,
Using music to lift myself up, but feeling like the world is constantly changing beneath me,
Yeah I'm the very model of a modern major general,
I'm very good at my job,
Lip-twisted, You're pitiful, Sink,
Looking down on someone pitiful, letting them fall into a low point,
I think it was the tragedies of science versus the world's technical marvels
The negativity surrounding the scientific discoveries versus the innovation and progress it brings to the world,
When Thermo-Nuclear Ace left the planet chemically startled
When a powerful, explosive weapon left the Earth, it created turmoil and panic,
(Startled)
Surprised and scared,
(I'm very effective I might add)
I'm very good at what I do,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djdomcorn1
I'm in a red zone
That's my miracle miridian
Boundaries lined with my minute men
Slipping in
S.O.S. Messages float cold, captive in glass bottles
While timidly crash-test authors spawn mountains of trash novels
Diminished
Bone Crush
Skeletal Blemish
Sportin' super-fresh caffeinated-hate
Raise amalgamated shakes for the shield (yeah)
Yield to the mood slopes
With blue notes the silent launch lifted but I think the ground shifted when I walked
Yeah I'm the very model of a modern major general
Lip-twisted
You're pitiful
Sink
I think it was the tragedies of science versus the world's technical marvels when Thermo-Nuclear Ace left the planet chemically startled
(Startled)
(I'm very effective I might add)
So dope yo
@djdomcorn1
I'm in a red zone
That's my miracle miridian
Boundaries lined with my minute men
Slipping in
S.O.S. Messages float cold, captive in glass bottles
While timidly crash-test authors spawn mountains of trash novels
Diminished
Bone Crush
Skeletal Blemish
Sportin' super-fresh caffeinated-hate
Raise amalgamated shakes for the shield (yeah)
Yield to the mood slopes
With blue notes the silent launch lifted but I think the ground shifted when I walked
Yeah I'm the very model of a modern major general
Lip-twisted
You're pitiful
Sink
I think it was the tragedies of science versus the world's technical marvels when Thermo-Nuclear Ace left the planet chemically startled
(Startled)
(I'm very effective I might add)
So dope yo
@OracleTheRonin
ill as fuck, untouchable I might add
@NSXTACY420
Beautifully done by both Aesop & The Controls
@Drawcandy
His 30 second verse is better than 90% of rap imo
@williamp7278
This couldn't be further from the truth...nice 👏
@OracleTheRonin
literally 99% imo only a handful of artists can touch this
@Phocu5is
You've probably found this out in the last 3 months but Aesop is not a member of Felt. Felt is just Slug and Murs. They use a different producer for each album. Their last one, Felt 3, was produced by Aesop. But Aes was part of another crew back in the day. They were called The Weathermen. The members were Cage, Aesop Rock, El-P, Yak Ballz, Tame One and Breeze Brewin, as well as a handful more that left before anything was released. Including Camu Tao who died of lung cancer in 2008.
@hellochickenfry
Yea, I think Earthworms, Appleseed, and Float are his most lyrically dense albums
@howabout.no.
Appleseed is the only album I haven't been obsessed with at some point or another over the last 14 years. Not sure why. I love all his singles and side projects and every album but I've never given Appleseed a chance to fully soak into my brain, I guess.
@thegrimmreefer1311
anybody else feel like a magic genie with an Aladdin vest on when that Beat drops?? let's go steal some bread at the bazaar while sporting pointy shoes!!! yeah boi!!!