January 2024 is another slow month for new music … well, actually, a slow month for New Albums. There’s a glut of interesting tracks being released as precursors to new albums but nothing that floated our boat from an album perspective. With this in mind, it is my absolute pleasure to bring an album to the table from Nov. ’23 – Interated
As this album, and to be fair this artist, was introduced to me (Joey) by Nolan, I thought it was best for him to introduce things …
You know when someone tells you a story, and starts with ‘bear with me, it’s worth it’. Or when you have to talk your partner into watching a film that their face says they don’t want to watch but you know they’ll love it by the end? Ladies and gentlemen; I give you Aesop Rock, and his latest release ‘Integrated Tech Solutions’ or ITS for short. Aesop was recently referred to by Kitty Empire of the Guardian as ‘dad rap’, the reference is fair. It’s accessible and unique. Arguably he’s one of the most interesting musicians and story tellers in modern times, which you need in your life, but you will need to give him some time to let his commentary fully sink in.
Aesop Rock isn’t new, he has been making exceptional underground hip hop for all the train spotting backpackers since 1997. Although a new name to most, over the last quarter of a century he has slowly been building a dedicated fanbase through not only unique beats and lyrics, but his unique delivery. Expect the unexpected, his lyrics and content are far from stereo typical hip hop. Aesop has been attributed to have the widest use of vocabulary in hip hop and content is spun with humour over ego. His self-awareness and an unique observations likens him more to John Cooper Clarke than Nas.
On his Spotify page, his wordplay is described as dense. A fair description. There’s an argument that to truly get a taste of what he’s lyrically putting across in each album you will need at least 20 listens. The ability to create music that keeps on giving and requires multiple listens is admirable is these times of throw away, on to the next music listening, but admittedly also could and has left him without the accolade that most of his albums deserve.
The Guardian also pointed out that his last album Spirit World Field Guide had ‘late career rave reviews’. I’d argue he’s just getting started as with each album release there’s subtle evolution, Aesop Rock makes his best album to date with each release.
Pitchfork described ITS as ‘an album loosely about life under technology. For me this is an album of stories, thoughts, and daydreams. The content ranges from the evolution of man (and himself), Mr. T, mental health, pigeons, even salt and pepper squid.. and skateboarding. He refers to skating a lot.
On each Aesop Rock album, there is always a track that is a ‘gateway’ song, one I recommend to get someone to listen to the album. On ITS there is a plethora. 100 Feet Tall, Mindful Solutionalism, Kyanote Toothpick… in fairness I struggle to think of a track that I wouldn’t recommend. There is an ever so subtle evolution, where Aesop Rock finds himself making his best album yet with each release.
Thank you Nolan … let me drop some thoughts;
I’ve ‘known about’ Aesop Rock for years now but never really dived straight in and fully committed to the aforementioned density of his albums. To do this you need your gateway track and Mindful Solutionism is just that. It was my No.2 track of 2023 and is a stone cold classic. The beat is infectious, the lyrics burrow into your ears and then you’re mind.
Everything that Nolan has said about the album and Aesop is spot on. He is a great story teller. He layers meaning into all of his songs. I don’t mean there are little ‘in-jokes’ in his tracks that you have to google to understand. This is what I mean;
Pigeonometry – a track that is about setting a task to draw 1000 pigeons but is really about individualism, bigotry and the disenfranchised.
100 Feet Tall – is a track about meeting Mr. T in a restaurant in the 80’s but is really about the impact (and the lack of) black role models on TV. On one hand it makes you smile and laugh and on the other hand it makes you empathise with the little boy version of Aesop telling the story.
Aggressive Steven – is another great example of story telling that is basically about going home to smoke with a friend to find out your apartment has been broken into. But this track ends up being about underfunded mental health services and criminalisation of people in need.
These are only 3 examples but every track can be described in a very similar way. I am not sure if I can think of many … any other rappers who have this level of ‘writing’ capability. The thought process and skill sitting behind this output is incredible. But wow … then the delivery. Does it get much better than this? Ok, its not ‘banger hip hop’ this isn’t Superbowl Half Time Show hip hop. But if you like your music to say something, to say many things, to say them intelligently, with razor sharp word play, over super sharp beats and always with a smile on its face … this is for you.
thisisnothappening.net 
Sorry for the late response. I’ve still not quite gathered my thoughts but here’s some reaction at least.
This album has been in my head for a few months after Joey and Nolan brought it to our attention. And I think I can add it to the list of hip-hop albums I would never have come to without that action. I just never seen to have new Hip-hop artists on my radar, even if, like Aesop, they’re not exactly new!
From Mindful Solutionism’s first bars, my attention was piqued. It’s such a banger, but it’s much more than just that. That raspy synth is big. The narrative clever and inventive, and the flow is dense but clear. You can pick out so much great lines but it’s not forced, in a way that makes you want more.
And I got more. What leaps out is the interplay between such varying and strong hooks, from the jazzy notes on By The River, booming beats from the clever, funny and bleak Aggressive Steven. The wandering abstractness of Pigeonometry, the genius of 100 Feet Tall, there’s so much to enjoy and left and right turns aplenty that for a 60 minute plus album it does zip by. There’s barely a duff song and it’s always a suprise when Black Snow finished and you’re back around again.
And it’s a really strong finish. The poignant Vititus and Black Snow are two of the best tracks on the album. From On Failure, it’s possibly the best section of the album. There’s richness in the imagery, there’s some really deft turns and you still come out finding something new each time.
I doff my cap, sirs. All hail Aesop.