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
Rings
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What'cha gotta do, do, what'cha gotta do, do, do, do
Used to draw
Hard to admit that I used to draw
Portraiture in a human form
Doodle of a two-headed unicorn, it was soothing
Moving his arm in a fusion of man made tools
And a muse from beyond
It was tangible truth for a youth who refused to belong
No-name nuisance
Stools in a bedroom
Oozed in a brand new cuneiform
Barely commune with the horde
Got a whole grey scale ungluing his world
Might zone out to the yap of the magpie
Unseen hand dragging his graphite
Cross-contour, little bit of back light
Black ink after a Bristol to baptize
You can imagine a rush that ensue
When you get three dimensions stuffed into two
Then it's off to a school where it's all that you do
Being trained and observed by a capable few
Back in New York, five peeps and a dog
In a two bedroom doing menial jobs
Plus, rhyming and stealing and being a clod
Distractions free to maraud
I left some years a deer in the light
I left some will to spirit away
I let my fears materialize
I let my skills deteriorate
Haunted by the thought of what I should have been continuing
A mission that was rooted in a twenty year affinity and rickety condition with an ID crisis
Nap on the front lawn, look up in the sky, it's
Shapes falling out of the fringe
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings
They will chop you down just to count your rings
Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
And there were
Colors pouring out of the fringe
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings
They will chop you down just to count your rings
Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
Used to paint
Hard to admit that I used to paint
Natural light on a human face
Stenciled fire on his roommate's bass
It was blooming addiction
A miss and a push and a pigment
Book like a tattooed pigskin, look
Pinhead kids intermittent
Drank Kool-Aid from a tube of acrylic
And I grew up in a linseed oil over linen
Joy to the poison, voice in the resin
Capture a map of the gesture
Back up, add a little accurate fat to the figure
Redo that, move that inwards
Zinc-white lightning shoots from his fingers
Studios drone with allusions of tinctures
Stay tuned for the spooky adventures
You can imagine the stars that align
When a forearm starts foreshortening right
Or a torso hung on a warping spine
Of proportion reads as warm and alive
Routine day with a dirt cheap brush
Then a week goes by and it goes untouched
Then two, then three, then a month
Then the rest of your life, you beat yourself up
I left some seasons eager to fall
I left some work to bury alive
I let my means of being dissolve
I let my person curl up and die
Eating up his innards in unfeasible anxiety
Is brutally committed to relinquishing his privacy aligning with the trials of the anti-Midas
Nap on the back lawn, look up at the sky, it's
Shapes falling out of the fringe
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings
They will chop you down just to count your rings
Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
And there were
Colors pouring out of the fringe
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings
They will chop you down just to count your rings
Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
I'm getting sick and tired of never understanding
Where is the truth you promised?
The lyrics to Aesop Rock's song "Rings" delve into themes of self-identity, artistic expression, and the struggle to reconcile past passions and present realities. The first verse details Aesop Rock's former artistic pursuits, describing his interest in drawing and painting in evocative language. He notes the cathartic and meditative qualities of these activities and how they offered a sense of tangible truth during his formative years. However, the following verses reveal a sense of regret and frustration as he describes how he allowed these skills to deteriorate and his fears to materialize, leaving him haunted by a sense of lost potential.
The chorus of the song, "Just to count your rings," suggests a cyclical pattern of growth and decay, where one's accomplishments and skills are ultimately reduced to mere numerical quantification. The second verse continues the theme of artistic expression but moves into a discussion of Aesop Rock's former interest in painting. He again highlights the addictive and immersive nature of this practice, as well as the technical precision it requires. However, like his previous artistic pursuits, he allowed his passion for painting to fade away, leaving him with a sense of unfulfilled potential and lost ambition. The final lines of the song express frustration and disillusionment with a world that seems devoid of truth or authenticity.
Overall, "Rings" is a poignant meditation on the struggle to reconcile past passions and present realities, as well as a lamentation of the limitations and pressures of contemporary society.
Line by Line Meaning
What'cha gotta do, what'cha gotta do, what'cha gotta, what'cha gotta, what'cha gotta do
The singer is questioning what is required of him to achieve his goals.
Used to draw
The singer is reminiscing about a past hobby.
Hard to admit that I used to draw
The singer feels embarrassed to admit that he used to draw.
Portraiture in a human form
The artist used to draw portraits of people.
Doodle of a two-headed unicorn, it was soothing
The artist found drawing a two-headed unicorn to be calming.
Moving his arm in a fusion of man made tools And a muse from beyond
The singer is describing the process of drawing, which involves using both artistic tools and inspiration.
Even if it went beautifully wrong It was tangible truth for a youth who refused to belong
Even if the drawing didn't turn out perfectly, it was still an important creative expression for the singer as a young person who felt like an outsider.
No-name nuisance Stools in a bedroom Oozed in a brand new cuneiform
The artist was a nobody who spent a lot of time alone in his room, but he was still able to develop his own unique style.
Barely commune with the horde Got a whole grey scale ungluing his world
The artist didn't fit in well with others, but he was able to explore and expand his artistic abilities.
Might zone out to the yap of the magpie Unseen hand dragging his graphite Cross-contour, little bit of back light Black ink after a Bristol to baptize
The artist is emphasizing how immersed he would become in drawing, completely focused on the process and materials.
You can imagine a rush that ensue When you get three dimensions stuffed into two Then it's off to a school where it's all that you do Being trained and observed by a capable few
The singer is describing the excitement of learning how to bring his artwork to life, and the experience of being taught by skilled instructors.
Back in New York, five peeps and a dog In a two bedroom doing menial jobs Plus, rhyming and stealing and being a clod Distractions free to maraud
The artist is describing his current situation, living with a few friends in a small apartment, working unfulfilling jobs, and indulging in other hobbies (like rapping and stealing) without many responsibilities.
I left some years a deer in the light I left some will to spirit away I let my fears materialize I let my skills deteriorate
The singer is reflecting on how he wasted some of his youth, giving into fear and neglecting his artistic abilities.
Haunted by the thought of what I should have been continuing A mission that was rooted in a twenty year affinity and rickety condition with an ID crisis
The singer is feeling regretful that he didn't continue to nurture his artistic talents, as they were a fundamental part of his identity.
Nap on the front lawn, look up in the sky, it's
The singer is describing a moment of relaxation and introspection.
Shapes falling out of the fringe All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings They will chop you down just to count your rings Just to count your rings, just to count your rings And there were Colors pouring out of the fringe All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings They will chop you down just to count your rings Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
The artist is exploring the idea that people will take advantage of others in order to benefit themselves (chop you down just to count your rings).
Used to paint
The artist is now reflecting on a different artistic passion.
Hard to admit that I used to paint
The singer is once again embarrassed to admit his artistic past.
Natural light on a human face Stenciled fire on his roommate's bass
The singer used to paint both portraits and decorative designs on various surfaces.
It was blooming addiction A miss and a push and a pigment Book like a tattooed pigskin, look Pinhead kids intermittent Drank Kool-Aid from a tube of acrylic And I grew up in a linseed oil over linen Joy to the poison, voice in the resin
The artist is describing his passion for painting, which had become an addiction. He also references the different materials and techniques he used.
Capture a map of the gesture Back up, add a little accurate fat to the figure Redo that, move that inwards Zinc-white lightning shoots from his fingers Studios drone with allusions of tinctures Stay tuned for the spooky adventures
The artist is detailing the process of refining a painting, adding more detail and depth to the work until it is complete.
You can imagine the stars that align When a forearm starts foreshortening right Or a torso hung on a warping spine Of proportion reads as warm and alive
The artist is describing the satisfaction and excitement he felt when his paintings came together perfectly, the different elements working together harmoniously.
Routine day with a dirt cheap brush Then a week goes by and it goes untouched Then two, then three, then a month Then the rest of your life, you beat yourself up
The singer is describing how it can be easy to lose motivation and abandon an artistic pursuit, but then regret it later on.
I left some seasons eager to fall I left some work to bury alive I let my means of being dissolve I let my person curl up and die Eating up his innards in unfeasible anxiety Is brutally committed to relinquishing his privacy aligning with the trials of the anti-Midas Nap on the back lawn, look up at the sky, it's
The artist is describing how he has let his artistic passions fade away, and that he is struggling with anxiety and fear of judgement. He is feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Shapes falling out of the fringe All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings They will chop you down just to count your rings Just to count your rings, just to count your rings And there were Colors pouring out of the fringe All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings They will chop you down just to count your rings Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
The singer repeats this refrain, emphasizing that people will use others for their own gain at any cost.
I'm getting sick and tired of never understanding Where is the truth you promised?
The singer is expressing frustration with feeling like he has been misled or forgotten by someone, and is now seeking answers and clarity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: IAN MATTHIAS BAVITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NymPSeudo
Aesop Rock is a legend. I love this song, so I added a 3rd verse.
Used to write
Hard to admit that I used to write
Thought distilled in a crystal state
Mind immortal on a sandstone slate
It was pneuma affirming
A new inner meaning emerging
Passage for all that needs purging
Conjure a world with the flick of a wrist
Ending a sesh in the mid-morning mist
Dialogue darting about like its ping pong
Drawing some shifty eyed looks with the sing song
Sidewalk lost to the mental projection
Lidless manholes beyond your perception
Half of a day sacrificed to a sentence
Only to nix it as lyric repentance
A Jenga of notebooks and crumpled up post-its
Diet abandoned, subsisting on Hostess
You can’t imagine the thrill in your chest
When your storybook hero’s pursuing their quest
It all comes together, those phantoms made real
The second draft printed, the wild-eyed zeal
But out of the murk the quotas encroach
Your cubicle life, your boss’s reproach
Those radiant vistas get set to one side
And all that remains is to say that you tried
I left some timers ticking to nil
I left some promise thumbing a lift
I let my fiction dry on the quill
I let my sonnet cease and desist
Bungling the war with doubt, imposter syndrome setting in
He’s wondering if every kindly word he got was counterfeit
Now navigate the future like a no-wing pilot
Nap in the photons, look up in the sky, it’s—
Words falling out of the fringe
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings
They will chop you down just to count your rings
Just to count your rings, just to count your rings
@chrismoore7895
My therapist showed me this ...
I'm one to learn lyrics quickly
And yet this isn't that easy.
I'm quite impressed with his lyrics, his flow, and how this was presented.
The poetry and rhythm.
The R.hythm A.nd P.oetry.
Notice R.A.P. is an ACRONYM?
Not just simply a genre?
@AdolfHitler-xp1nx
Kris Nance
i did creative consulting for AAA organizations
i literally smoked weed and was creative
that's a good way to retire
most of the stuff ive done has NDA's
but i can mention, for example, the 15m i made by telling ESPN execs to buy the television rights for professional drone racing
and i can mention early next week ill be going to europe to buy a jet (hopefully a 767)
@sweefspusswau6289
it's fascinating as hell to hear a great artist describe the remorse of abandoning a previously loved art form.
@dongiv196
Amen
@Meccanico208
It's hella accurate, I know because I used to draw....
@stephanierauschenii3162
it came out when I stopped studying in art school so it was kind of odd to hear it
@elcamello1980
Aand not just that; it easily applies to anything you've ever done, and used to love doing, that has faded away into obscurity and oblivion due to your life branching in an unexpected path that sterrs you clear of what was once your passion...
I think I went to deep, there. I know music is powerful, but I gotta be straight with all you: just there, I was pourong my heart out.
Goddamn... I miss doing shit...
@corebite
@@elcamello1980bro, do shit again, I'm a stranger telling you to pick whatever you did up again. I'm doing it too. Used to be a pianist, left that to the side for a while because learning pieces was just shit. I wanted to make my own. So one day I was like fuck it I'll start writing even though it had been years. Then I started rapping again because of fucking aes and el. I'm loving it so much again. I don't know what it is that you used to do do, but pick it up again. Make whatever that shit is part of you.
@Joseph-R
"Used to draw, hard to admit that I "used" to draw. Used to paint, hard to admit that I "used" to paint." Those are some powerful lines. So simple but sends such a strong message. Automatically gets you thinking about all the things you used to love and why you may have stopped working on them.
@skyguy713
@Mark s he lost the passion for it, the motivation.
@skyguy713
The hard part I'd that it is in the past, and not something that stayed. He 'used' to draw, he doesn't draw now. The hard part is admitting that.
@brokenwave6125
@Mark s Wow...you're fucking dumb.
Its hard for him to admit that he used to because that means he doesnt anymore... he gave up on one of his passions.
You totally misinterpreted it in like the stupidist most fragile masculinity way possible. Says alot about you.