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
One Brick
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I start my city with a brick (one brick)
Then add another brick (two bricks)
Brick by brick, I manufacture homes for fallen angels
I ain't no great Samaritan, that's just the way the game goes
Respect the polars but acknowlege middle-value rainbows
My snout turned up from dream factory eyelids
Slingin bottled prosperity for the kamikaze colonels
And plottin verticals amidst blatantlly horizontal
Models then swallowed by famished potholes
And I'm tired
Tied up on these functions
Killer cottoncandy clouds and huckleberry justice league
Another knuckle-dragger dungeon breed
Run, breathe, sit, bellow
Wild Aes scream through your style to hear the echo
Aight then, flinch for the great granddaddy payback
When Little Billy bought a Tugboat
Now he thinks he's Captain Ahab
Facist takes for the pegleg's birds and eyepatches
Learn that lesson, you'll be swashbuckling with the best of them
Wonder why you wept over spilled milk
And got your crayons wet, the room reaks of a thousand bayonettes
I'll fision vision with a lie longer than your most walked meridian
Connecting life with that little species of midians
We've now officially scraped barrel bottom
Aesop Rock an Apple to the core but ya'll ignored him
I know a planet made of porcelain
And once I get tired of holding this gavel up
Ya'll prayer circles met him up born again
I ain't too good for tap water
Play 'Taps' out of order
For a ballad, corpse a dead man walkin
You can lead a man to a city but that don't assure civility
You can beat a man to death with Aesop Rock bootleg cd's
(That's more fun anyway)
Some cats Float, some cats don't
I speak in Fahrenheit and burn off colon lyric
Diss blatant harassment, spit honor, whistle fearless
Don't dismiss the billygoat appearance for that common sheep
Chorus*Aesop overlapping Illogic, fading in and out of each other*
[Aesop Rock]
Platforms have been erected
Effigies built
Slogans coined, songs have been written
Rumors have been circulated
Autographs faked
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
Moving boxes have been worn out
Mantlepieces dusted
Idols idolized, the sands have been shifted
Curtains have been closed
Sleepers all waked
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
[Illogic] *overlapping Aesop, fading in and out*
Now with my trusty paperclip
I picked locks of thoughts vault
Finding the God in barren
The harvest fruitless
Only the Tree of Life flourishing
Wanting to take a bite but I'm toothless
Is that, predestination or is it by design?
That I'm trapped in time sand
Show radio mission control but for my rhymes
Man 'cause I can like aluminum
And I recycle my consciousness
This is just a note
For any action or lack thereof as a consequence
[Illogic]
Wingless angels
Stroll a top shapeless cottonballs
With halos in your syringe
Celestial ground is found broken
Exposing a bottomless depth
Where heartless spines awake to devour
The small piece of your soul that's left
You're immersed in sound floating
Aimless destination
Drop anchor to gain stability
Stare out potions, restrain fertility
Pedestal talk is a token
Soaked in pockets with lives, topics, lack conceptual, ridicule
The night breathes but light's choking
Darkness occupies the throne
Where poems are persecuted
The purity at times dilluted
Rhymes are executed
For genre I'm told when has-beens attempt
To cause heat to rise and wonder why they're trapped in cold
Life's an oragmi box and I'm hidden within the fold
So when the yarn unravels, I won't be caught by surprise
And as society's fabric of orthodoxes dismantle
I'll see you embracing the pentagram within this crucifix disguise
See when the canvas stands before me
I'm compelled to spill a vision
For the sinners that listen, I got three spikes and a thorned crowns
It seems I need a new soul 'cause mine is worn down
But from the pregance of my hardship was born style
Still my pen bleeds and stains the paper with thought
Finding me lost among statues and mainstream idols
Browning in melted ice to reinforce that breath is vital
If your father and his father were fish out of water
You must break the cycle
How many times must a plant be uprooted for it to die?
When it's smothered with lies that abolish the potency of the sky
So when the stars burn out and God replaces the bulbs
With a million watts
And throws the switch, sparks filament
Hurting new giants and flocks
I stand my own two aura illuminated in red
Showcasing the agony held within this welded spirit
Sacrificing itself for the health of a masocistic culture
Yearning for the truth that we speak but refuse to hear it
Chorus
The song "One Brick" by Aesop Rock is a commentary on the current state of society, and the idea that change can only happen brick by brick. The opening verse talks about how he starts building his city with just one brick, and then he adds another, so on and so forth. Each brick represents a small step towards making a better world. The chorus goes on to describe how much effort has been put into trying to effect positive change - platforms have been erected, slogans coined, and songs have been written - but there is always more work to be done.
The rest of the song explores a number of topics relating to society and its institutions. Aesop touches on issues like poverty, injustice, and the corrupt nature of power. He talks about the way that the media shapes our perceptions of reality, and how we are often blind to the agendas of those in power. The line "you can lead a man to a city but that don't assure civility" speaks to the idea that simply building a great city or society does not guarantee that people will behave in a civilized manner.
Overall, "One Brick" is a thoughtful and provocative song that encourages listeners to think critically about the world around them. Aesop lays bare the flaws of our society, but he also offers a hopeful message - change is possible, but it requires hard work and dedication. We can build a better world, one brick at a time.
Line by Line Meaning
I start my city with a brick (one brick)
I begin building my city starting with just one brick.
Then add another brick (two bricks)
Slowly, brick by brick, I continue to build the city.
Brick by brick, I manufacture homes for fallen angels
I create and provide shelter for those who have lost their way.
I ain't no great Samaritan, that's just the way the game goes
I'm not a hero, it's just the reality of life.
Respect the polars but acknowledge middle-value rainbows
Recognize extremes, but also appreciate the diversity in between.
My snout turned up from dream factory eyelids
I wake up from my dreamlike state.
Slingin bottled prosperity for the kamikaze colonels
I'm selling fake promises to desperate individuals.
Yeah rocks the match that burned the Nazi journals
I am the catalyst for change, even if it means destroying oppressive ideologies.
And plottin verticals amidst blatantly horizontal
I strategize and navigate through obstacles in a world full of conformity.
Models then swallowed by famished potholes
Promising advancements are hindered and lost in a society lacking progress.
And I'm tired
I am exhausted by the struggles and challenges I face.
Tied up on these functions
Restrained by the expectations and responsibilities imposed on me.
Killer cottoncandy clouds and huckleberry justice league
The colorful illusions and false sense of righteousness in society.
Another knuckle-dragger dungeon breed
Another person succumbing to ignorance and conformity.
Run, breathe, sit, bellow
I am constantly on the move, trying to find my place.
Wild Aes scream through your style to hear the echo
I express myself boldly to make my voice heard and acknowledged.
Aight then, flinch for the great granddaddy payback
Prepare yourself for the deserved consequences of your actions.
When Little Billy bought a Tugboat
When someone overestimates their abilities and achievements.
Now he thinks he's Captain Ahab
Now he believes he is in control, just like the famous fictional character.
Fascist takes for the pegleg's birds and eyepatches
Authoritarian figures exploit and manipulate the vulnerable.
Learn that lesson, you'll be swashbuckling with the best of them
If you understand this truth, you can join the fight against oppression.
Wonder why you wept over spilled milk
Question why you wasted so much emotion over something insignificant.
And got your crayons wet, the room reeks of a thousand bayonets
You ruined your chances and now face the consequences, surrounded by danger.
I'll fission vision with a lie longer than your most walked meridian
I will create illusions and deceive you more than you can comprehend.
Connecting life with that little species of midians
Bringing together different aspects of existence in a complex way.
We've now officially scraped barrel bottom
We have reached the lowest point, with no further depths to explore.
Aesop Rock an Apple to the core but ya'll ignored him
I am a deeply insightful artist, yet society disregards my message.
I know a planet made of porcelain
I am aware of a fragile and delicate world.
And once I get tired of holding this gavel up
When I grow weary of maintaining control and authority.
Ya'll prayer circles met him up born again
You all gather in prayer, seeking a rebirth or salvation.
I ain't too good for tap water
I am humble and don't consider myself above the basics.
Play 'Taps' out of order
Disrupting the expected order and norms.
For a ballad, corpse a dead man walkin
This song is a tribute to those who are lost and hopeless.
You can lead a man to a city but that don't assure civility
You can provide opportunities, but it doesn't guarantee decency.
You can beat a man to death with Aesop Rock bootleg CDs
I have the power to influence and impact others with my music.
Some cats Float, some cats don't
Some people rise above, while others remain stuck.
I speak in Fahrenheit and burn off colon lyric
I express myself boldly and passionately through my lyrics.
Diss blatant harassment, spit honor, whistle fearless
I confront and challenge those who oppress and bully.
Don't dismiss the billygoat appearance for that common sheep
Don't judge someone based on their unconventional or different appearance.
Platforms have been erected
Platforms for expression and communication have been established.
Effigies built
Symbols and representations have been constructed.
Slogans coined, songs have been written
Phrases and lyrics have been created to convey messages.
Rumors have been circulated
Gossip and false information have been spread.
Autographs faked
Signatures have been forged.
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
Time has run out and there is no way to avoid the consequences.
Moving boxes have been worn out
Boxes used for packing and moving have been used excessively.
Mantlepieces dusted
Decorative surfaces have been neglected and covered in dust.
Idols idolized, the sands have been shifted
Heroes and idols have been celebrated, but times have changed.
Curtains have been closed
The end or closure has been reached.
Sleepers all waked
People sleeping or unaware have been awakened.
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
Time has run out and there is no way to avoid the consequences.
Now with my trusty paperclip
Using a simple tool, I unlock and reveal hidden thoughts.
I picked locks of thoughts vault
I access and explore the depths of my mind and subconscious.
Finding the God in barren
Discovering spirituality and meaning in seemingly empty or hopeless situations.
The harvest fruitless
The results or rewards of our efforts are unsatisfactory.
Only the Tree of Life flourishing
Despite the challenges, the essence of life continues to grow.
Wanting to take a bite but I'm toothless
Desiring to experience or understand, but lacking the means or ability.
Is that predestination or is it by design?
Is this predetermined or a result of deliberate choices?
That I'm trapped in time sand
Feeling stuck and confined in the passing of time.
Show radio mission control but for my rhymes
Expressing that my words and music have a significant impact.
Man 'cause I can like aluminum
Asserting my capabilities and talent, just like aluminum.
And I recycle my consciousness
I continuously explore and evolve my thoughts and ideas.
This is just a note
This message or expression is just a small part of a larger whole.
For any action or lack thereof as a consequence
Our actions or lack of action always have consequences.
Wingless angels
People who aspire to be great, but lack the means.
Stroll atop shapeless cottonballs
Moving through life with a sense of uncertainty and instability.
With halos in your syringe
Holding onto dreams and aspirations despite the challenges.
Celestial ground is found broken
The idea of something divine or sacred is shattered or corrupted.
Exposing a bottomless depth
Revealing a seemingly limitless source of darkness and despair.
Where heartless spines awake to devour
Cold and ruthless individuals emerge to consume the weak.
The small piece of your soul that's left
The remaining essence of your true self.
You're immersed in sound floating
Being absorbed and carried away by the power of music.
Aimless destination
Traveling without a clear purpose or direction.
Drop anchor to gain stability
Finding stability and grounding amidst the chaos.
Stare out potions, restrain fertility
Reflecting on the consequences and limitations of our actions.
Pedestal talk is a token
Speaking highly of oneself is empty and meaningless.
Soaked in pockets with lives, topics, lack conceptual, ridicule
Engaging in shallow conversations without depth or significance.
The night breathes but light's choking
The darkness prevails, hindering the light and progress.
Darkness occupies the throne
Negative and oppressive forces have taken control.
Where poems are persecuted
Expressions of creativity and art are suppressed.
The purity at times diluted
The essence of goodness and truth is often corrupted.
Rhymes are executed
Musical verses and lyrics are delivered and performed.
For genre I'm told when has-beens attempt
Critics limit and define my work based on outdated expectations.
To cause heat to rise and wonder why they're trapped in cold
Trying to provoke a reaction and then being surprised by the consequences.
Life's an origami box and I'm hidden within the fold
Life is complex and intricate, and I navigate through its challenges.
So when the yarn unravels, I won't be caught by surprise
When everything falls apart, I am prepared and won't be shocked.
And as society's fabric of orthodoxes dismantle
As the traditional and rigid beliefs of society break down.
I'll see you embracing the pentagram within this crucifix disguise
I will witness people accepting and engaging in ideologies that may seem contradictory.
See when the canvas stands before me
When I am faced with a blank canvas or an opportunity.
I'm compelled to spill a vision
I am inspired to share my artistic vision and message.
For the sinners that listen, I got three spikes and a thorned crown
I have a message for those who are open to it, even if it's uncomfortable.
It seems I need a new soul 'cause mine is worn down
I feel the need for a fresh perspective or renewed energy.
But from the pregance of my hardship was born style
My unique style and artistry have emerged from the challenges I've faced.
Still my pen bleeds and stains the paper with thought
My creative expression continues to flow, leaving its mark on the world.
Finding me lost among statues and mainstream idols
Feeling disconnected and out of place among societal norms and figures.
Browning in melted ice to reinforce that breath is vital
Facing the fragility of life and reminding myself of its importance.
If your father and his father were fish out of water
If your predecessors were out of place or unfamiliar in their environment.
You must break the cycle
You have the responsibility to change your circumstances.
How many times must a plant be uprooted for it to die?
How many times can one be disconnected from their roots before they lose their essence?
When it's smothered with lies that abolish the potency of the sky
When falsehoods and deception overshadow the potential of truth.
So when the stars burn out and God replaces the bulbs
When hope is lost and a higher power intervenes.
With a million watts and throws the switch, sparks filament
With a sudden burst of energy and illumination.
Hurting new giants and flocks
Affecting and challenging those who hold power and influence.
I stand my own two aura illuminated in red
I confidently stand my ground, radiating a passionate and powerful energy.
Showcasing the agony held within this welded spirit
Displaying the pain and struggles that shape my inner self.
Sacrificing itself for the health of a masocistic culture
Enduring and sacrificing for the well-being of a society that thrives on suffering.
Yearning for the truth that we speak but refuse to hear it
Longing for people to acknowledge and accept the harsh reality we express.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ScienceofSpeed
a brick (one brick)
Then add another brick (two bricks)
Brick by brick, I manufacture homes for fallen angels
I ain't no great Samaritan, that's just the way the game goes
Respect the polars but acknowlege middle-value rainbows
My snout turned up from dream factory eyelids
Slingin bottled prosperity for the kamikaze colonels
Yeah rocks the match that burned the Nazi journals
And plottin verticals amidst blatantlly horizontal
Models then swallowed by famished potholes
And I'm tired
Tied up on these functions
Killer cottoncandy clouds and huckleberry justice league
Another knuckle-dragger dungeon breed
Run, breathe, sit, bellow
Wild Aes scream through your style to hear the echo
Aight then, flinch for the great granddaddy payback
When Little Billy bought a Tugboat
Now he thinks he's Captain Ahab
Facist takes for the pegleg's birds and eyepatches
Learn that lesson, you'll be swashbuckling with the best of them
Wonder why you wept over spilled milk
And got your crayons wet, the room reaks of a thousand bayonettes
I'll fision vision with a lie longer than your most walked meridian
Connecting life with that little species of midians
We've now officially scraped barrel bottom
Aesop Rock an Apple to the core but ya'll ignored him
I know a planet made of porcelain
And once I get tired of holding this gavel up
Ya'll prayer circles met him up born again
I ain't too good for tap water
Play "Taps" out of order
For a ballad, corpse a dead man walkin
You can lead a man to a city but that don't assure civility
You can beat a man to death with Aesop Rock bootleg cd's
(That's more fun anyway)
Some cats Float, some cats don't
I speak in Farenheit and burn off colon lyric
Diss blatant harassment, spit honor, whistle fearless
Don't dismiss the billygoat appearance for that common sheep
[Chorus - Aesop overlapping Illogic, fading in and out of each other]
Platforms have been erected
Effigies built
Slogans coined, songs have been written
Rumors have been circulated
Autographs faked
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
Moving boxes have been worn out
Mantlepieces dusted
Idols idolized, the sands have been shifted
Curtains have been closed
Sleepers all waked
The hourglass smashed and didn't leave me an escape
[Illogic - overlapping Aesop, fading in and out]
Now with my trusty paperclip
I picked locks of thoughts vault
Finding the God in barren
The harvest fruitless
Only the Tree of Life flourishing
Wanting to take a bite but I'm toothless
Is that, predestination or is it by design?
That I'm trapped in time sand
Show radio mission control but for my rhymes
Man cuz I can like aluminum
And I recycle my consciousness
This is just a note
For any action or lack thereof as a consequence
[Illogic]
Wingless angels
Stroll a top shapeless cottonballs
With halos in your syringe
Celestial ground is found broken
Exposing a bottomless depth
Where heartless spines awake to devour
The small piece of your soul that's left
You're immersed in sound floating
Aimless destination
Drop anchor to gain stability
Stare out potions, restrain fertility
Pedestal talk is a token
Soaked in pockets with lives, topics, lack conceptual, ridicule
The night breathes but light's choking
Darkness occupies the throne
Where poems are persecuted
The purity at times dilluted
Rhymes are executed
For genre I'm told when has-beens attempt
To cause heat to rise and wonder why they're trapped in cold
Life's an oragmi box and I'm hidden within the fold
So when the yarn unravels, I won't be caught by surprise
And as society's fabric of orthodoxes dismantle
I'll see you embracing the pentagram within this crucifix disguise
See when the canvas stands before me
I'm compelled to spill a vision
For the sinners that listen, I got three spikes and a thorned crowns
It seems I need a new soul cuz mine is worn down
But from the pregance of my hardship was born style
Still my pen bleeds and stains the paper with thought
Finding me lost among statues and mainstream idols
Browning in melted ice to reinforce that breath is vital
If your father and his father were fish out of water
You must break the cycle
How many times must a plant be uprooted for it to die?
When it's smothered with lies that abolish the potency of the sky
So when the stars burn out and God replaces the bulbs
With a million watts
And throws the switch, sparks filament
Hurting new giants and flocks
I stand my own two aura illuminated in red
Showcasing the agony held within this welded spirit
Sacrificing itself for the health of a masocistic culture
Yearning for the truth that we speak but refuse to hear it
Aesop Rock Illogic
WakeWorkRepeat
Best Aesop Rock album.
Gotcha Botch
@riffquantum It's the comment that didn't age well. Have you heard Spirit World Field Guide yet?
riffquantum
@Sean Duggins Interesting. What about it do you think didn't age well?
Sean Duggins
It’s dope for sure.
But uh…
This didn’t age well
GSun103
@tobtob180 His lyrics are so intricately detailed that after the first line is spit it is not uncommon to be completely lost. And his abstract use of language doesn’t help either, he alway does away with placing words in linear order, and often times uses words as he intends for them to mean, not how it was originally intended to be heard. And it would take all of the internet’s resources to follow each one of his references, whether it be an ancient Greek tragedy or an episode of Dragon Ball Z.
W3bHe4dXXIII
I wish I could listen to this in my dreams, it'd certainly be a break from the nightmares!!
Joe Baumgart
Play this song while you sleep on repeat. It works.
Alex Webb
The lyrics in this are fucking unreal.
DJKryptonok
This album is still priceless and a true classic. 👍
Nick Carter
Such a sick beat