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
The Greatest Pac-Man Victory Ever
Aesop Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get up to get down now
Get up to get down now (like this)
Get up to get down now (like this)
Get up to get down now (alright)
I don't want to do it anymore
Couldn't do it if I tried, wouldn't do it if I wanted it
I don't want to do it anymore
Couldn't do it if I tried...
[Verse 1]
Okay
The moments were subtle but unstolen and guess who owns them
No friendly, non-threatening corporate lacky mucks in the totem
Lucy was in the sky with diamonds
Five dollars to hold them
The summer beneath these Pac-Man's with acid behind his molars
Little white tab hollering, little white flag waggling
Inorganic pat on back, trim the panic flat on backer
Back to back like Mad Hatter magic
Rabid mastif collaborative
Splatter bachelor fabric fatter with Cabbage Patch lit
(Dark days)
Banded Louie-Louie
(Park blades)
Chemically bent-up but eager to crash for that one, two, three repeater
Good morning Vietnam
Whose couch is this, whose house is this, who are you down with bitch?
I'm sorry, dog, I dreamt the foulest shit
There was this rabid foot talismen drowning out of my armspan
What's fouler was the other farmhands growing gills and shark fangs
What's fouler was my torso stripped to ribbons in the marshlands
But I'm up now
Let's get this window pane and shut the fuck down
Down by the river where the litter sits
And lionheart critters smoke dope and act like illiterates
I ran with a brat pack of loose bolts and high social maladjusties
Sacred, numb, and boundless went to same proto called cookie
Well, I was dummy to some when my tongue was cradled and my skin looks crazy
Pocketbook mirror, courtesy Amy
Spiders in the mattress, paisley sunglasses, dialing eyes green
Ice grill that could burn through your picture-in-picture widescreen
Poison late late show starring Aes and his jigsaw face
Twelve hour solid gold entertainment
Other shit to sell from other ships that sell they DD paper
(Space Invader)
This one's for the labor days worked for rent and rolling papers
Only the illest beats leak asbsurdly out the boombox
The daytripper anthem goes: "Wake. Drop. Walk to Aquarium."
Whistle while you work like a canary lung
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy to carry drugs
I sorta see it as my last flash summer
Skateboards and sloppy psychedelics and big numbers
Good times, good people
All airbrushed on a collapsible easel
Peace man, easy
[Bridge]
And I knew the permanancy would drift
And I knew the ph balance wasn't right
And I knew the crash and burn, how to caress it
L.S.D. flashed the message
And I knew the gash wasn't gonna stop bleeding
And I knew the ph balance wasn't right
And I knew how September would then affect it
L.S.D.
[Verse 2]
Lazy summer days
Like some decrepit landshark dumbluck squad dog lurks sicker, deluded
Last sturdy domino leans secluded
Don't let stupid delusions lesson super-duty labor students
Dragnet lifer solutions
Daddy loves sloppy dimensions like son-daughter links
Such determinated leopards, successfully disshelved
Little soldiers developed like serpents despite life sentence ducking
lemmings
Some don't like sobriety's dirty lenses
Some do let sleeping dogs lie still
Don't look so damn lackluster
Suck defeat
Love some damage, load sample delete
Late Show, Dave Letterman, shitty diner lip-slide dutch
Low self-discipline leader seek that lung self-destruct
Life sucks dickhead
Lost summer's display laminate showcasing divinity
Live system definitive
Liturgy soaked the pig lowly, spectactular delight
Why, what kind of L.S.D. you like?
Your lizard king has spoken (all hail)
You in the back, get them up, those trails are necessarily bumped
(Summertime)
Some'll try and recapture the same flag
But I played it smart and recognized the summertime passed
[Chorus]
The overall theme of Aesop Rock's The Greatest Pac-Man Victory Ever is nostalgia for the carefree days of youth, which were influenced by drugs and a feeling of being out of place in the world. This is conveyed through his vivid and poetic language, as well as through the repetitive chorus of "Get up to get down" which could be interpreted as a call to action to recapture this lost feeling. The verses are a stream-of-consciousness account of Aesop's experiences during these times, which he likens to playing Pac-Man as a metaphor for the carefree and innocent moments of pure enjoyment.
The lyrics are full of references to drug use, such as "Little white tab hollering, little white flag waggling/Inorganic pat on back, trim the panic flat on backer" and "Let's get this window pane and shut the fuck down". There are also allusions to the counterculture of the time, such as "good morning Vietnam" and "Park blades" which may refer to skateboarding. Aesop's vivid descriptions of his surroundings, such as "spiders in the mattress, paisley sunglasses, dialing eyes green" and "lionheart critters smoke dope and act like illiterates" paint a picture of a world that is simultaneously beautiful and surreal.
In the second verse, Aesop becomes more introspective and contemplative, reflecting on the impermanence of life and his sense of disillusionment with the world. He also touches on themes of fatherhood and generational cycles, as well as the destructive nature of addiction.
Overall, The Greatest Pac-Man Victory Ever is a haunting and introspective journey through Aesop Rock's memories of a bygone era, colored by vivid imagery and poetic language.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up to get down now
It's time to start moving and grooving
Get up to get down now (like this)
Start moving your body in response to the music
Get up to get down now (alright)
Let's do this, get ready to dance
I don't want to do it anymore
I'm tired of something in my life
Couldn't do it if I tried, wouldn't do it if I wanted it
Even if I tried, I couldn't do it and even if I wanted to, I wouldn't
The moments were subtle but unstolen and guess who owns them
The small moments in life are important and should be cherished
No friendly, non-threatening corporate lacky mucks in the totem
Individuality is important and should be preserved against conformity
Lucy was in the sky with diamonds
Referencing a famous Beatles song, possibly alluding to drug use or psychedelia
Five dollars to hold them
Possibly referencing buying something important for a small price
The summer beneath these Pac-Man's with acid behind his molars
Possibly a reference to drug use and enjoying summer days
Little white tab hollering, little white flag waggling
Possible drug references
Inorganic pat on back, trim the panic flat on backer
Possibly referencing the pressure to conform and fit in
Back to back like Mad Hatter magic
Working together to achieve something amazing
Rabid mastif collaborative
Working together to achieve something amazing
Splatter bachelor fabric fatter with Cabbage Patch lit
Using absurd and creative language to describe something
Banded Louie-Louie
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a song or a person
Chemically bent-up but eager to crash for that one, two, three repeater
Someone who is under the influence, ready to enjoy life and repeat certain experiences
Good morning Vietnam
Referencing a famous line from a movie, possibly alluding to the start of a new day
Whose couch is this, whose house is this, who are you down with bitch?
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing feeling lost or disconnected
I'm sorry, dog, I dreamt the foulest shit
Referencing a bad dream
There was this rabid foot talismen drowning out of my armspan
Describing an unsettling image from the dream
What's fouler was the other farmhands growing gills and shark fangs
More unsettling imagery from the dream
What's fouler was my torso stripped to ribbons in the marshlands
More unsettling imagery from the dream
But I'm up now
Awake and ready to face the day
Let's get this window pane and shut the fuck down
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing shutting something down
Down by the river where the litter sits
Describing a dirty location by the river
And lionheart critters smoke dope and act like illiterates
Describing people behaving recklessly and carelessly
I ran with a brat pack of loose bolts and high social maladjusties
Describing hanging out with a group of outcasts
Sacred, numb, and boundless went to same proto called cookie
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a drug or a place
Well, I was dummy to some when my tongue was cradled and my skin looks crazy
Feeling out of place and possibly judged by others
Pocketbook mirror, courtesy Amy
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a personal item
Spiders in the mattress, paisley sunglasses, dialing eyes green
Describing a strange and unsettling environment
Ice grill that could burn through your picture-in-picture widescreen
A very intense and serious expression
Poison late late show starring Aes and his jigsaw face
Possibly referencing a dangerous lifestyle or persona
Twelve hour solid gold entertainment
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a long and enjoyable time
Other shit to sell from other ships that sell they DD paper
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing capitalism or selling out
(Space Invader)
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a video game
This one's for the labor days worked for rent and rolling papers
Referencing hard work and struggling to get by
Only the illest beats leak asbsurdly out the boombox
Only the best and most creative music should be shared and enjoyed
The daytripper anthem goes: "Wake. Drop. Walk to Aquarium."
Possibly referencing a popular or well-known song
Whistle while you work like a canary lung
Working hard and staying positive despite difficulties
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy to carry drugs
Working too hard and not enjoying life can lead to negative behaviors
I sorta see it as my last flash summer
Possibly referencing nostalgia or remembering a meaningful summer
Skateboards and sloppy psychedelics and big numbers
Possibly referencing carefree and wild behavior
Good times, good people
Memories of good experiences and connections with others
All airbrushed on a collapsible easel
Memories that are idealized or not fully representative of reality
And I knew the permanancy would drift
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing the impermanence of things
And I knew the ph balance wasn't right
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing something being off or unbalanced
And I knew the crash and burn, how to caress it
Knowing how to deal with failure or difficult situations
L.S.D. flashed the message
Possibly referencing drug use or enlightenment
And I knew the gash wasn't gonna stop bleeding
Something painful or traumatic that won't go away
And I knew how September would then affect it
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a time of change or transition
Lazy summer days
Reminiscing about a slow and relaxed time
Like some decrepit landshark dumbluck squad dog lurks sicker, deluded
Describing something that is old, sick, and not attractive
Last sturdy domino leans secluded
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing something precarious or fragile
Don't let stupid delusions lesson super-duty labor students
Advocating for hard work and not being distracted by foolish ideas
Dragnet lifer solutions
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing something that is all-encompassing or thorough
Daddy loves sloppy dimensions like son-daughter links
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing relationships or connections
Such determinated leopards, successfully disshelved
Something or someone that is determined and able to break free from conformity
Little soldiers developed like serpents despite life sentence ducking lemmings
People who are able to develop themselves despite difficult circumstances
Some don't like sobriety's dirty lenses
Some people don't like to see things clearly
Some do let sleeping dogs lie still
Others prefer to leave things alone and not explore too deeply
Don't look so damn lackluster
Encouraging someone to be more energetic or enthusiastic
Suck defeat
Giving into defeat or negativity
Love some damage, load sample delete
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing destructive behavior or erasing memories
Late Show, Dave Letterman, shitty diner lip-slide dutch
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing specific TV shows or locations
Low self-discipline leader seek that lung self-destruct
Someone who lacks self-control may engage in destructive behavior
Life sucks dickhead
Life can be difficult and challenging
Lost summer's display laminate showcasing divinity
Possibly referencing a summer that was unforgettable or special
Live system definitive
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a certain lifestyle or mindset
Liturgy soaked the pig lowly, spectactular delight
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing indulgence or excess
Why, what kind of L.S.D. you like?
Possibly referencing the variability of different experiences or perspectives
Your lizard king has spoken (all hail)
Unclear meaning, possibly referencing a figure of authority or power
You in the back, get them up, those trails are necessarily bumped
Encouraging someone to participate or get involved
(Summertime)
Referencing the season of summer
Some'll try and recapture the same flag
People may try to relive past experiences or feelings
But I played it smart and recognized the summertime passed
Accepting that things change and can't be recaptured
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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