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Aesop Rock

The Grouch & Eligh – ‘G & E Music Volume 1 & 2′ (2000)

September 7, 2011
*Legendary Music, Abstract Rude, Aesop Rock, Eligh, Living Legends, Luckyiam, Pep Love, Sunspot Jonz, The Grouch, The Grouch & Eligh, Toons, Uncategorized
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I remember this being one of the first underground albums that I listened to that took me away from the world and placed me temporarily into a much better reality.  One thing I love about hip hop and music in general is that it is a perfect escapism tool.  For better or worse sometimes we just need to get away from life and pretend that a more pleasant parallel universe exists.  This album much like others from the Living Legends crew serves as a lesson in westcoast hip hop 101.  Eligh and The Grouch represent qualities that I think almost any hip hop fan can respect whether you are someone who values insightful and thoughtful lyrics or if you have a beats, beats, beats mentality.  They prove that you don’t have to be dumb to have a song that bumps and you don’t have to be a nerd to be smart.  Sometimes nice guys do in fact finish first.

Production: Eligh, The Grouch

Features:  Abstract Rude, Aesop Rock, Luckyiam, Pep Love, Sunspot Jonz, Toons

Label: Legendary Music

The Grouch & Eligh – ‘Mind Over Matter ft. Luckyiam’

The Grouch & Eligh – ‘Moments Like This ft. Sunspot Jonz’

Eligh – Grey Crow (2010)

May 25, 2011
*Legendary Music, Aesop Rock, Basik, Brother Ali, Eligh, Inspired Flight, K-Flay, Lisa Ahlstrom, Living Legends, Luckyiam, Marty James, Paris Hayes, Paul Dateh, Pigeon John, Rifleman, Scarub, The Grouch, Zumbi
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First and foremost Eligh is a poet.  Instead of using a blank sheet of paper to display his art he chooses bass filled beats as the backdrop of his masterpieces.  Like a fine wine this album seems to get better with age.  With each successive listen I find myself more and more satisfied and intrigued.  It’s enjoyable watching Eligh’s style, personality and wisdom evolve over time.  I think one thing that has improved on this album is the clarity of Eligh’s flow.  It is no secret that Eligh can rap fast but sometimes rappers like this can alienate their audience by rapping too fast and leaving their listeners a little lost.  This album has found the happy medium of those ever impressive quick rap skills with the balance of clarity.  Rapping quickly is a skill that is left for only a select few but the amount of fast-rapping emcees that actually articulate well enough to make their lyrics accessible is far fewer still.  Aside from flow, Eligh gives us behind the scenes access to his struggles with drug use, low self-esteem and confusion over his place in this world.  Yet even through tough subject matter the underlying tone of this album is very positive and hopeful indeed.  You can’t help but feel complete compassion for Eligh after listening to this album and a sense of wanting to be part of his movement for a better world.

Production: Eligh

Features: Aesop Rock, Basik, Brother Ali, Inspired Flight, K-Flay, Lisa Ahlstrom, Luckyiam, Marty James, Paris Hayes, Paul Datah, Pigeon John, Rifleman, Scarub, The Grouch, Zumbi

Label: Legendary Music

Eligh - ‘Love Ov My Life ft. Luckyiam’

Eligh – ‘Find Yourself’

Zion I – True & Livin’ (2005)

August 29, 2010
*LiveUp Records, Aesop Rock, Del The Funky Homosapien, Fred Hampton Jr., Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli, Zion I, Zumbi, ^Amp Live
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This album is the absolute most pure essence of hip hop.  Its crazy to me that Zion I aren’t super famous by now but in a way I’m secretly glad that the  mainstream hasn’t caught wind of them yet and ruined their amazing vibe.  One of the best things about this album is that you can straight up listen to every track without wanting to skip anything.  From beginning to end it is packed with sublime cuts.  There aren’t any Zion I albums that I don’t like but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that this album personifies their overall feel better than any other.  It’s inspiring, uplifting and only gets better with time.

Production:  Amp Live

Features:  Aesop Rock, Del The Funky Homosapien, Fred Hampton Jr., Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli

Label:  LiveUp Records

Website:  http://www.zionicrew.com

Zion I – ‘ Bird’s Eye View’

Mr. Lif – Mo’ Mega (2006)

August 11, 2010
*Definitive Jux Records, Aesop Rock, Akrobatik, Blueprint, Mr. Lif, Murs, ^Big Nose, ^El-P, ^Nick Toth
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Mr. Lif is on a level lyrically that is unattainable by 99.9% of rappers.  It’s not only intelligent but it is put together in a way that is so creative and organic.  You will have these tracks on repeat like crazy just tryin to pick apart his lyricism.  This album is doubly dope because on top of dope lyrics you have El-P providing some of the beats and you have top-notch features from the likes of Blueprint, Akrobatik & Aesop Rock.  If you have never experienced El-P’s production before than you are in for a hip hop treat.  His beats bang and are so interesting to listen to.  Lif  has a grip of good albums and this one does not disappoint.

Production:  Big Nose, El-P, Mr. Lif, Nick Toth

Features:  Aesop Rock, Akrobatik, Blueprint, El-P, Murs

Label:  Definitive Jux

Full Preview:  Mo’ Mega

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/mrlif

Mr. Lif – ‘Brothaz’

Blueprint – 1988 (2005)

July 27, 2010
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Aesop Rock, Blueprint, CJ The Cynic
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All I can say is that Blueprint’s beats are raw and his lyrics are loaded with wit and sarcasm.  Dude has me cracking up on the reg.  I was already a fan of his production on Illogic’s albums before I even heard his solo joints and all I can say is that I am not disappointed.  I love people who are serious enough to conquer real issues but never lose sight of the humor that is necessary to make it through life.  This album has that vibe to a T.  He will be talking about some hardcore, sad ass unfortunate realities and then switch over to a song about giving big girls love too lol.  He is blunt as hell and makes no apologies.  Entertaining til the last track, I can dig it.

Production:  Blueprint

Features:  Aesop Rock, CJ The Cynic

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview:  1988

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/blueprint

                    http://printmatic.net/

Blueprint – ’1988′

Illogic – Celestial Clockwork (2004)

May 13, 2010
*Weightless Recordings, Aesop Rock, Blueprint, Illogic, Slug, Vast Aire
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This one here is for the deeeeeeep thinkers.  Illogic’s lyrics are on another level, on another planet in a far away galaxy.  Think Aesop Rock with a little bit slower flow so you can pick up on all his words.  I’m always looking for artists like this because they take someone like me, who is a deep thinker by nature, and gives me new things to ponder.  Time after time of listening to this album, this is what I look like —–> :O….because his lyrics are just wow.  And Blueprint provides some trippy, other-worldly, majestic type beats to support the intensity of Illogic’s revelations and observations.  Major win.

Producers: Blueprint

Features: Aesop Rock, Slug, Vast Aire

Label: Weightless

Full Preview: Celestial Clockwork

Illogic – ’1,000 Whispers’

 

Tor / Sufjan Stevens – Illinoize (2010)

May 6, 2010
Aesop Rock, Big Daddy Kane, Brother Ali, C.L. Smooth, Gift of Gab, Grand Puba, Outkast, ^Tor / Sufjan Stevens
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This is a cool lil ep that takes instrumentals from Sufjan Stevens and remixes them with some classic hip hop songs from the likes of Aesop Rock, Big Daddy Kane, Gift of Gab, C.L. Smooth, Outkast, Brother Ali, and Grand Puba.  Its just something fresh and different if your sick of the same ol same ol.  I actually really like this.

Production: Tor

Features: Aesop Rock, Big Daddy Kane, Brother Ali, C.L. Smooth, Gift of Gab, Grand Puba , Outkast

Free Download/Preview: Illinoize

Tor / Sufjan Stevens – Star of Wonder / None Shall Pass (ft. Aesop Rock) remix’

Felt – Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez (2009)

November 17, 2009
*Rhymesayers Entertainment, Aesop Rock, Felt, Murs, Slug
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I kinda think this album should say Aesop Rock feat. Murs & Slug because this has Aesop written all over it.  Much darker, more raw & almost morbid compared with their first two releases ( Think Atmosphere – ‘Overcast’ or Aesop Rock – ‘Labor Days’).  It’s a pretty awesome album but  just so different from their other offerings that it kind of sounds like a different group all together.  At times Aesops beats can be over-powering but this is Murs, Slug & Aesop Rock after all so there is no lack of creativity.  These emcees are saying so much on here that its hard to catch it all on the first listen.  But I seriously like this album more and more everytime I hear it, it definitely has staying power.  Plus there is still that good ol’ Felt humor that we know and love.  “I seen Henrietta sittin down by the well/messin wit her camel toe talkin on her cell/breakin up some weed gettin ready for a blunt but she never felt the need to fix her wedgie in the front” ha! (Henrietta Longbottom).  ‘The Clap’ & ‘Get Cake’ are pretty funny too.  Aesop killed it on some of these beats too.  ‘Permanent Stand-by’, ‘Ghose Dance Deluxe’ & ‘ She Sonnet’ all have really dope, ghostly, complex beats.  If you are expecting another Felt album that sounds like the first two then ten-to-one you are gonna be a little disappointed with this.  BUT if you are open-minded then this could have some offerings that you will appreciate.  I still think all three of them needed a hug or something while making this though =D.

Production:  Aesop Rock

Features:  Aesop Rock

Label:  Rhymesayers Entertainment

Full Preview:  Felt Vol. 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez

Website:   http://www.myspace.com/mursandslug

This song just fuckin makes me laugh everytime I hear it.  Where do they come up with these concepts?

  Felt – ‘Whaleface’

 

  Felt – ‘Ghost Dance Deluxe’

 

    

 

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