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
Junkyard
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tug an orphan assortment of bell and three-alarm fire
Beautiful loser maneuver the goofy cubicle future alert
Big brother super-community burn
OK shoppers, tickets won't last
For the straight-to-video "Dog-Boy eats glass"
To be a mess match rotate a role a Babylon (?)
Darwin on a peg taking his innervate to tag along
One over the mask with …(?)
And it was home depot for the five finger lazy lift
Ironically the same five measure the spray radius
Spray gradient, baiting for city tetris
Double-breasted hecklers barking picket fences
Now mobile roads develop a special network
Which further upsets the rich to rubberneckers double-check us
Tonight the scum dance and I got all my money on the one with the lung cramps
Little rat in the maze, they score another's (?) escape
Sorta likes the attention so he says check-in and stays
Answer: how do we record a documentary and suffering while ushering the public hands in
Or transfer greedy bruisers to user-friendly stanzas?
I guess it's like a junkwad full of dondy's candice
Product, now, I tamper with a contaminated shrink-wrapped baryon of the process, wow
It's written by a messenger pigeon to hell's kitchen
Thank you for the dollar, hope you dig it
Clap once for the junkyard punks
Good, clap twice for the junkyard knights
Good, pay attention 'cause part three of the lesson
Can fiddle with your direction, clap at every sentence
Heroes are never forgotten, legends never die
This is what I sound like alive
Two milligrams later, hits the stage
With Big Whiz on the fader, gravy aviators tipped low on the nose
And we ogle over the frame with a pine-box channel pioneer eye aim
We azaki makeover the bk sky
So when the jungle hits the city every insect is alive
Poison for the town square and by the stinger needle
And if I sound scared, it's 'cause I pay rent with the little people
Dumb it down for none but none dumber
The dumb-out posse is off broadway for the summer, bummer
And stiller's in her loch ness clock fresh and official the missiles
Rock bells, no bells or whistles
Shell-shocked with a flock of hell's wolves or minstrels
Shell-tone ghosts or nostalgia signals
Grassroots schools always kept it simple
Pour the water in the dirt then observe the impulse
Dixie cup telephoner animate part door and port wars …(?)
Swarms formula: please hit snooze, keep a civil tongue in your teeth
You will need it to lick wounds
And he wrote his own laws, claws and cougars
On a fire in the sky sorta steers the stupider luke drums, dummy
Never off-base, with a resume of b-boyisms and pause tapes
The lyrics to Aesop Rock's "Junkyard" are a non-linear collection of surreal and abstract images that are not easy to decipher. The song starts with a sense of violence and danger, with the "same hand that snuggled the barbed wire" being juxtaposed with an "orphan assortment of bell and three-alarm fire." This tension between beauty and danger continues throughout the song, with references to a "goofy cubicle future," "big brother super-community burn," and a video called "Dog-Boy eats glass."
The lyrics also touch on themes of capitalism, consumerism, and social inequality, with references to "OK shoppers" and "double-breasted hecklers barking picket fences." Aesop Rock seems to be critical of the system that produces these inequalities, but he also seems to suggest that there's something inherently beautiful in the chaos of the junkyard.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become even more surreal, with references to "a special network" and "jungle hits the city." The final lines seem to suggest that there's something heroic in the chaos of the junkyard, that "heroes are never forgotten, legends never die." In the end, it's an enigmatic and thought-provoking meditation on the beauty and danger of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
Same hand that snuggled the barbed wire
The recognition of the skilled capabilities of an individual in handling treacherous situations.
Tug an orphan assortment of bell and three-alarm fire
The need to manage a seemingly chaotic set of events, much like the metaphorical fire that needs to be doused.
Beautiful loser maneuver the goofy cubicle future alert
The realization of the flawed and repetitive nature of our corporate lives.
Big brother super-community burn
The observation of the failure of a totalitarian state in achieving progress and equality for its citizens.
OK shoppers, tickets won't last
The capitalizing strategies of companies in creating fleeting demand.
For the straight-to-video 'Dog-Boy eats glass'
The absurdity of the entertainment industry and its tendency to sell cheap thrills.
To be a mess match rotate a role a Babylon (?)
The desire to break free from societal norms and stereotypes by being unconventional.
Darwin on a peg taking his innervate to tag along
The evolution of humans and their ability to adapt to changing times.
Ape escape gravitron, surly with two caps
The idea of taking an unorthodox approach to problem-solving, much like the escape of an ape from a gravitron ride.
One over the mask with …(?)
The need to obscure one's true persona in order to fit in with societal expectations.
And it was home depot for the five finger lazy lift
The availability of tools and resources for people who are looking for opportunities to cheat or take a shortcut.
Ironically the same five measure the spray radius
The use of technology and tools to measure and analyze the outcomes of one's actions.
Spray gradient, baiting for city tetris
The planning and execution strategies required to achieve desired outcomes, like a tetris game.
Double-breasted hecklers barking picket fences
The presence of individuals who try to impose their opinions and beliefs on others.
Now mobile roads develop a special network
The advancements in technology and communication that have led to a more connected world.
Which further upsets the rich to rubberneckers double-check us
The resentment of wealthy individuals towards those who they perceive as being beneath them, and the power dynamic that exists in such a scenario.
Tonight the scum dance and I got all my money on the one with the lung cramps
The celebration of people who are not necessarily perfect, yet have a unique quality that makes them stand out.
Little rat in the maze, they score another's (?) escape
The tendency of people to imitate others in order to achieve success or escape difficult situations.
Sorta likes the attention so he says check-in and stays
The desire of individuals to be recognized and appreciated, even for superficial reasons.
Answer: how do we record a documentary and suffering while ushering the public hands in
The challenge of creating meaningful art that accurately portrays the struggles and hardships of people, while also making it accessible and easily relatable to the masses.
Or transfer greedy bruisers to user-friendly stanzas?
The debate surrounding whether to use inclusive language and simplified concepts to make art more accessible, or keep the original intent and risk alienating a larger audience.
I guess it's like a junkwad full of dondy's candice
The idea of finding value in things that others might consider junk, and the ability to turn those things into something meaningful.
Product, now, I tamper with a contaminated shrink-wrapped baryon of the process, wow
The recognition of the negative impact that capitalism and consumerism have on people's lives, and the desire to challenge those systems in any way possible.
It's written by a messenger pigeon to hell's kitchen
The portrayal of a difficult and bleak environment, where the challenges and struggles of everyday life are magnified.
Thank you for the dollar, hope you dig it
The appreciation of those who support and appreciate the art of the artist.
Clap once for the junkyard punks
The celebration of individuals who are unconventional and do not conform to societal expectations.
Good, clap twice for the junkyard knights
The recognition of individuals who have fought to break free from societal norms and stereotypes.
Good, pay attention 'cause part three of the lesson
The importance of staying engaged and focused on the message being conveyed.
Can fiddle with your direction, clap at every sentence
The ability of the artist to impact and influence the direction of the listener's thoughts and actions.
Heroes are never forgotten, legends never die
The idea of legacy and the fact that those who make a positive impact in the world will always be remembered and celebrated.
Two milligrams later, hits the stage
The anticipation and excitement associated with live performance.
With Big Whiz on the fader, gravy aviators tipped low on the nose
The use of technology and style to create a unique experience for the audience.
And we ogle over the frame with a pine-box channel pioneer eye aim
The fascination with the visuals and aesthetics of performance, and the ability of the artist to control the audience's perception of the art.
We azaki makeover the bk sky
The impact of art and creativity on the environment, and the power of the artist to transform and inspire those around them.
So when the jungle hits the city every insect is alive
The idea of finding inspiration and vitality in the midst of chaos and decay.
Poison for the town square and by the stinger needle
The negative impact of corruption and greed on society, and the need to address and challenge these issues in order to create positive change.
And if I sound scared, it's 'cause I pay rent with the little people
The fear and anxiety that comes with living day-to-day as a working class individual, and the constant struggle to make ends meet in a system that is not necessarily designed to benefit them.
Dumb it down for none but none dumber
The refusal to cater to a dumbed-down audience, and the desire to create meaningful and thought-provoking art, regardless of its accessibility.
The dumb-out posse is off broadway for the summer, bummer
The recognition that even the most meaningful and impactful art is not always recognized or appreciated by the masses.
And stiller's in her loch ness clock fresh and official the missiles
The use of surreal and abstract language to convey complex and layered concepts.
Rock bells, no bells or whistles
The desire to create art that is genuine and authentic, without relying on gimmicks or trends.
Shell-shocked with a flock of hell's wolves or minstrels
The recognition of the negative impact that societal norms and expectations can have on individuals, and the need to break free from these constraints in order to thrive and grow.
Shell-tone ghosts or nostalgia signals
The use of nostalgia and memory to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for the listener.
Grassroots schools always kept it simple
The belief in the power of simplicity, and the recognition that sometimes the most impactful solutions are the most straightforward.
Pour the water in the dirt then observe the impulse
The importance of being patient and observant in order to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Dixie cup telephoner animate part door and port wars …(?)
The use of abstract language and imagery to create a complex and layered message.
Swarms formula: please hit snooze, keep a civil tongue in your teeth
The call to action for individuals to take care of themselves, both physically and emotionally, in order to create a more harmonious society.
You will need it to lick wounds
The recognition that emotional strength and resilience are necessary in order to overcome hardship and adversity.
And he wrote his own laws, claws and cougars
The ability of individuals to create their own path in life, and the need to be self-sufficient and independent.
On a fire in the sky sorta steers the stupider luke drums, dummy
The use of abstract language and imagery to convey a complex and layered message.
Never off-base, with a resume of b-boyisms and pause tapes
The reliance on past experiences and successes in order to navigate the present and future.
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.