He began his career DJing at MJQ, a small night club in Atlanta, and then began working in commercial studios but soon branched out into his own music. Herren's first major release was under the "Delarosa and Asora" moniker in 1997 with "Sleep Method Suite", with his latest work currently being the Prefuse 73 full-length album, "The Only She Chapters".
In 2000, Herren released a CD/LP on Hefty/Warp titled "Folk Songs For Trains, Trees, And Honey". This was followed by a 2001 exclusive limited pressing (700 copies) of "Immediate Action #1 LP" on Hefty.
Herren first released music under the "Prefuse 73" moniker with 2001's commercially and critically successful "Vocal Studies & Uprock Narratives". In 2002 the 4-track EP "The 92 Vs. 02 Collection" was released, but this merely bridged the gap between his debut and the 2003 release - another full-length album, "One Word Extinguisher". A collection of outtakes, "Extinguished" was released after "One Word Extinguisher" showing off some of the production that was omitted from the initial full-length. Some argue that it is an improvement on the original release. 2005 saw the release of "Surrounded By Silence", Herren's third album as "Prefuse 73". The album features more collaborations with a variety of musicians, including many rappers, both underground and mainstream. An out-takes album based upon "Surrounded By Silence" is expected to be released in the future. 2007 has brought 2 more releases under "Prefuse 73", one being a full length album, and the other a 4 track EP. "Preparations" and "The Class Of 73 Bells" are the titles respectively, and both were released under Warp Records.
Herren is particularly known for his unique take on the glitch style, which has attracted both a rock and hip-hop audience. He is frequently criticised by MC's for over-editing or abbreviating their additions, often to the point of incoherence.
Along with partners Peter Rentz, Carolina Chaves, Ben Loiz, Carlos Niño, and Paz Ochs, Herren has started the Eastern Development Music label. Which is descibed by Herren as,"less concerned with being on some next shit, blowing the fuck up, or changing the face of anything. We're more concerned with bringing you music we think you'll feel and understand in the same way we do."
Sabbatical With Options
Prefuse 73 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say the city brings you down
I envy you
I hunger-lunger for the only oak in BK
This was after having perused every crook nook tucked in the scrupuledom
That the growth of the neighborhood on his last city b-day
And as they ushered in the kiddies handing each one that gift-wrapped Louisville aluminum
Swing, batter. Chatter box.
Black tar gather at a scrape for the cake going six from the bus traffic
Half a dozen summoned from a love of drug magic
Fire in the max cap beater need a beer
From his fierce drug habits and heaters under the mattress
Love 'em all to death but I'm slowing down faster
And I know this town backwards
Lookin' at him different 'cause he coasts with no liquor in the glass he wet his lips with
Never preach - what I write's irrelative
But I'll reach for the clicker if the picture isn't helping 'em
Bet he bleached up shimmy at a seat belt
Jimmy over city limits, giddy-up and leap left,
He steps with a duffel bag shuffle
Most don't focus so his folks won't notice
Those old jokes don't hold him with the voltage
That a moldy, hocus pocus, heated geezer mostly grows with. So?
1985 Dodge Ares hand-me-down freebie piece of fucked-with shit
With the fuckin' yellow plates you are going to start for me.
Do not do this today, look, man, look you have been very good to me, okay?
I'm gonna start the ignition I'm gonna point you in one direction,
All you have to do is go. Look, I'm not even gonna steer man, please
I am so dangerous, in another frame lame
Did a wet peggin' F on the octane cater full tank pull rank mater mater
Fall off to adhere to look,
Preach here's cookin' up here's to the shrunk empire city stuck in the rearview
He get gone. Why?
I dunno, had an itch
Had a flame at both ends of the wick
Center of the brick ran him off ditch
Let alone mad piper
I don't wanna rat pack when a back's set for a tap spinal,
Get away bad driver
Eyesight like a bat's and a bad license
Broke at a Bronx zoo with a lockpick kit
Slip back, free the last vipers
And tigers and bears you will hold down new york
I will be back to reclaim if I'm bored.
They like "Oh, Aes' buggin'. Yeah he gonna leave", they said well that's a bit of a radical process
I was like "Hey man, I put my time in, I gotta, I gotta do somethin' man, I tend to call it my Sabbatical with Options"
I might be back, at least to you and you and you, y'all are the ones, you're gonna come see me anyway
I'ma have a fuckin' fast, country crib man for a minute, at least try this shit, man, I been a long-ass time to get this fuckin' house, I can't deal with this shit
The lyrics to "Sabbatical With Options" by Prefuse 73 describe the desire to escape the stresses of city life and seek solace in the countryside. The singer envies those who are leaving for the country, stating that the city brings them down. The lyrics explore the themes of isolation, nostalgia, and the desire for something different. The singer then delves into a series of abstract thoughts and observations about life in the city, including the use of drugs and the need to slow down. The song concludes with the singer discussing the plan to leave the city behind and start anew in the country.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the urban lifestyle and its impact on those living within it. The verse beginning with "Black tar gather at a scrape for the cake going six from the bus traffic" depicts the use of drugs and the allure of addiction. This is further emphasized in the lines "From his fierce drug habits and heaters under the mattress, love 'em all to death but I'm slowing down faster." The singer acknowledges the danger of this lifestyle but also recognizes the difficulty of staying away from it.
The song's mood is melancholic, reflective and introspective. It explores the inner feelings of a person who wishes to trade their frenetic, fast-paced, and often dangerous life in the city for a slower-paced and more peaceful existence in the country. It highlights the importance of taking time to step back and reflect on our lives, and the decisions we make along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you leaving for the country?
Are you actually going away to the countryside?
You say the city brings you down
You claim that the city has a negative impact on your life
I envy you
I am jealous of you
I hunger-lunger for the only oak in BK
I have a strong desire for the only oak tree in Brooklyn
This was after having perused every crook nook tucked in the scrupuledom
This desire came after exploring every corner of the neighborhood with great care
That the growth of the neighborhood on his last city b-day
It was the realization of how much the neighborhood had changed on his last city birthday
And as they ushered in the kiddies handing each one that gift-wrapped Louisville aluminum
As they welcomed the children and gave them gift-wrapped Louisville aluminum
Swing, batter. Chatter box.
A phrase used to encourage and inspire energy or action
Black tar gather at a scrape for the cake going six from the bus traffic
A description of a location where drug users collect away from the bus traffic
Half a dozen summoned from a love of drug magic
Six people were drawn to the location due to their love of drugs
Fire in the max cap beater need a beer
The person driving the car needs a drink to quell their addiction
From his fierce drug habits and heaters under the mattress
This person has a dangerous addiction to drugs and keeps weapons hidden under their mattress
Love 'em all to death but I'm slowing down faster
The singer cares deeply for their friends but is slowing down in life
And I know this town backwards
The singer is very familiar with this town
Lookin' at him different 'cause he coasts with no liquor in the glass he wet his lips with
People treat him differently because he doesn't drink alcohol anymore
Never preach - what I write's irrelative
I don't preach, what I write may not be relevant
But I'll reach for the clicker if the picture isn't helping 'em
I will change the channel if what they're watching doesn't interest them
Bet he bleached up shimmy at a seat belt
He most likely threw up in his car while trying to fasten his seat belt
Jimmy over city limits, giddy-up and leap left,
Jimmy is driving over the city limits and speeding away
He steps with a duffel bag shuffle
He walks with a noticeable shuffle while carrying a duffel bag
Most don't focus so his folks won't notice
Most people aren't paying attention, so his family won't notice him leaving
Those old jokes don't hold him with the voltage
Old jokes don't have an impact on him anymore
That a moldy, hocus pocus, heated geezer mostly grows with. So?
This old and outdated way of thinking doesn't hold any value anymore. What's the point?
1985 Dodge Ares hand-me-down freebie piece of fucked-with shit
A description of a car in very poor condition
With the fuckin' yellow plates you are going to start for me.
The singer is asking someone to start the car for them
Do not do this today, look, man, look you have been very good to me, okay?
Please don't do me any favors today. You've been very kind to me already
I'm gonna start the ignition I'm gonna point you in one direction,
I will start the car and point it in one direction
All you have to do is go. Look, I'm not even gonna steer man, please
The artist wants the car to drive on its own and doesn't want to steer
I am so dangerous, in another frame lame
I am very risky or dangerous, while also feeling out of place in a different environment
Did a wet peggin' F on the octane cater full tank pull rank mater mater
I did a burnout or skid using a full tank of gasoline to show superiority
Fall off to adhere to look,
I fell off or lost my place and had to regroup
Preach here's cookin' up here's to the shrunk empire city stuck in the rearview
I'm cooking something up and toasting to the shrinking, decaying city in the rearview mirror
He get gone. Why?
He has left. I wonder why
I dunno, had an itch
I'm not sure why he left, maybe he had an itch or a desire to leave
Had a flame at both ends of the wick
He was living life to the fullest and pushing his limits
Center of the brick ran him off ditch
Being in the middle of a problematic situation caused him to crash or fail
Let alone mad piper
Not to mention the mad piper, or the crazy person leading the way
I don't wanna rat pack when a back's set for a tap spinal,
I don't want to be a part of a group that's targeted for physical harm
Get away bad driver
Please escape, bad driver
Eyesight like a bat's and a bad license
The artist has poor eyesight and a bad driver's license
Broke at a Bronx zoo with a lockpick kit
The artist is broke and is resorting to stealing from the Bronx zoo with a lockpick kit
Slip back, free the last vipers
Slip away and set free the last of the poisonous snakes
And tigers and bears you will hold down new york
Lions, tigers, and bears will conquer New York
I will be back to reclaim if I'm bored.
I will return to reclaim what's mine if I get bored
They like "Oh, Aes' buggin'. Yeah he gonna leave", they said well that's a bit of a radical process
People think I'm crazy for leaving, but it's just a radical process
I was like "Hey man, I put my time in, I gotta, I gotta do somethin' man, I tend to call it my Sabbatical with Options"
I feel like I put in my time and need to do something different. I call it my Sabbatical with Options
I might be back, at least to you and you and you, y'all are the ones, you're gonna come see me anyway
I might return, at least for certain people who will come visit me anyways
I'ma have a fuckin' fast, country crib man for a minute, at least try this shit, man, I been a long-ass time to get this fuckin' house, I can't deal with this shit
I'm going to have a temporary home in the countryside and try something different. I've waited a long time to have this house, but I can't deal with the city anymore
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Butch Osheshki
The way Aes rides this beat is insane.
ShotGunShelz7
9 years later, flow still groundbreaking.
Jester Logic
Dude I've been thinking of lyrics to look up for a while day to find this song, so glad sabbatical with options came to mind lol
Monica Simms
The world needs more Aesop..
Gabriel Gramlich
Monica Simms the world needs more prefuse..
jack williams
this was my alarm while i did summer school phys ed in 2007 or 2008. it was a good month.
J
A Class of his own.
Jesse Wise
nah the track starts at 0:00
Brian Bell
I don't understand thumbs-down votes on Aesop Rock tracks
Mr C
They only hear the vowels.