Aesop Rock x Blockhead: Jazz Hands + LP News

Blockhead’s production played a major role in my early fascination with Aesop Rock’s music. I was a huge fan of those early projects and so when I saw that the NY producer had reunited with his old comrade for a series of remixes, I was happy to say the least. So imagine my emotions yesterday, when it was revealed that the two have created a whole new album together. Garbology is due for release next month, with the first single, Jazz Hands, already given life. It might possibly offer a different sound to the one you were expecting, as Aesop Rock glides over a drumless beat until his vocals drift away and the drums are introduced. It works so well though and makes me even more intrigued to hear what the rest of the album has in store. Pre-orders for Garbology are available now.

Homeboy Sandman: Anjelitu (Stream)

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The latest release from Homeboy Sandman touched down last week, featuring full production from Aesop Rock. Anjelitu is a project of two halves, having been written while Homeboy Sandman was in two very different places mentally. For more on the backstory behind its creation, you can read my recent interview with HS over at Grown Up Rap, and you can hear the whole EP for yourself below, with downloads available via Bandcamp.

Homeboy Sandman ft. Aesop Rock: Lice Team, Baby

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Next month sees the arrival of the new release from Homeboy Sandman, in the form of his Anjelitu EP. The EP is produced in its entirety by Aesop Rock and for his latest single, Sands has treated us to the closing track from the project, which also features a vocal feature from his Lice partner. You can listen to the track below and then pre-orders for the EP are available via Bandcamp, were you will also find a couple more tracks to stream.

Homeboy Sandman: Go Hard

Yesterday Mello Music Group announced yet another upcoming release, this time from the mighty Homeboy Sandman. The Anjelitu EP will see Sands rediscovering some of the same energy he found on his Lice collaborations with Aesop Rock, as he brings him in to produce the entire project. We can get a sample of that energy, thanks to the first single, Go Hard, on which we hear the star of the show brandishing the sort of flow that has long-established him as one of the more inventive rappers of his generation. The full EP is due for release on 6 August.

Your Old Droog ft. Aesop Rock & Elzhi: Field Of Dreams

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Your Old Droog released a new album yesterday, continuing a run that has seen the release of seven projects since 2019. Arguably the track on Time that has people most excited is an MF DOOM collaboration with production from Edan, but the track that really caught my ear is Field Of Dreams, which features guest spots from two of my favourites – Aesop Rock and Elzhi. The production is handled by Roper Williams, who was the brains behind the Gandhi Loves Children album, alongside Fatboi Sharif. You can hear the track below, then head to Droog’s website to find all the streaming and download links for the full album.

Aesop Rock: Long Legged Larry

Aesop Rock maintains his reign as King of the Rappers who rap about things outside of the usual status quo, with his latest song, which is about a heroic frog. Long Legged Larry is the eponymous star of the show, as we’re treated to a few tales of his exploits, including his rescue of a tightrope walking poodle. The character was inspired by Aesop’s friend and collaborator, Jeremy Fish (no relation). As well as the single, you can also cop a bunch of accompanying merch, including a plush toy version of Larry. More details here.

Lice: Ask Anyone

Following on from the very sad news of MF DOOM’s passing, the internet was awash with tributes from all walks of the music industry, not just hip hop; a testament to the masked villain’s universal appeal and intrigue. One of the standouts for me has been this joint from Lice – aka Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman – who decided to pay their respects to DOOM with some typically tight bars over one of his most-loved instrumentals. You can hear the results for yourself below and downloads are available via Bandcamp.

Aesop Rock: Coveralls

Coveralls is the latest track to be taken from Aesop Rock’s superb new album, which saw its release a couple of weeks ago. Spirit World Field Guide goes deep, while continuing the introspective themes which have permeated his last few releases.

Aesop Rock: The Gates

Earlier in the week I noticed something was afoot on Aesop Rock’s Instagram account. I actually thought he’d been hacked, as all his posts had been removed and his bio had been replaced with a line of garbled text. But then yesterday, four transmissions appeared which could be interpreted as hinting at the arrival of a new project. And now today, we are blessed with a whole new video, the first to be taken from his forthcoming album. The Gates plays out in classic 80’s sci-fi style, with three kids following a mysterious neon white rabbit that appears in the backyard, before leading them to a book full of oddities, as you will see. The track is produced by Aesop Rock. The album, Spirit World Field Guide, is due for release on 13 November via Rhyemsayers.

Why So Serious?

Credit: Ben Colen

As with every genre, hip hop has always had its tropes and trends; similar themes and subjects have been consistently explored and slapped on wax for the last forty years. But there are some rap songs that have materialised during that time, which have eschewed the more familiar themes and instead taken delight in the whimsical, the weird and the wonderful. See: Laundry by R.A.P. Ferreira, from his excellent Purple Moonlight Pages album, for a recent example.
But it’s Aesop Rock who has been the brains behind a number of my favourites that have emerged over the years, and so below I have outlined six of the best from the Rhymesayers artist. It provides some insight into why he has been one of my favourite rappers for the last 15 years, thanks in part to his ability to rap about any topic and deliver it with that unique command of language he brings to his lyricism.