10/11/2023
Aesop Rock’s latest album, “Integrated Tech Solutions,” is a departure from traditional sci-fi concept albums, drawing inspiration from his everyday life. The album is unique in its approach, focusing on real-life experiences both online and offline. It exhibits more direct storytelling, avoiding overly complex lyrics. Notable tracks include “Aggressive Seven,” addressing mental illness, and “By the River,” a tribute to a deceased friend. The album also showcases Aesop’s diverse influences, ranging from hip-hop icons like Run-DMC and Nas to artists like Brian Eno and Bad Brains. Musically, the album revisits the sounds of early 2000s backpacker rap with its synthesizers and turntable scratches, reminiscent of El-P’s production for Definitive Jux, the label that released Aesop’s 2001 breakthrough, “Labor Days.” However, “Integrated Tech Solutions” is not merely a throwback; it features Aesop’s own production and live instrumentation, creating a fresh and distinct sound. The album balances its introspective lyrics with upbeat production, playing to Aesop’s strengths .
Aesop Rock, born Ian Matthias Bavitz, emerged as a significant figure in the underground and alternative hip-hop scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His career began with the release of “Music for Earthworms” in 1997, followed by several other albums including “Float” (2000), “Labor Days” (2001), “Bazooka Tooth” (2003), “None Shall Pass” (2007), “Skelethon” (2012), and “The Impossible Kid” (2016). He was signed to El-P’s Definitive Jux label until its hiatus in 2010. Aesop was a member of various groups, including The Weathermen, Hail Mary Mallon, and the Uncluded, and currently performs with the duo Malibu Ken. He attended Boston University, where he studied visual arts and met his future collaborator Blockhead. Aesop’s career has been marked by his complex rapping style, innovative music production, and involvement in multiple collaborative projects
