Aesop Rock Interview with The W

Since his last full-length album Bazooka Tooth, released in 2003, Long Island native Aesop Rock has been steadily on the grind, dropping an EP with an 88-page booklet of all of his lyrics, collaborating with San Francisco artist Jeremy Fish on a short story “children’s book,” and producing a 45-minute mix for Nike’s “Original Run” series. His latest release None Shall Pass, currently out on Definitive Jux, chronicles life-changing decisions such as getting married, moving to San Francisco, and reaching a point in adulthood where critical choices need to be made. The W exchanged some words with the lyrical wonder in an email interview.

W: What separates None Shall Pass from your earlier works (Bazooka Tooth, Labor Days, Float, etc)?

AR: Well, I think they all are based on different ideas, themes, and probably most importantly age. I can pinpoint how old I was with what kinds of stuff I talk about on each record. None Shall Pass, for me, sounds like me now. I guess that’s a dumb answer, but I’m 31. I couldn’t have written that record when I was 18 or 20, 25, etc. It took me 30 years to get to that point, and when I hear what I did, for me, that is immediately apparent. It feels like the ideas were cooking longer than anything I had done before. It is more ‘realized,’ for lack of a better term. It feels most like what I can relate to at this moment.

W: Do you seem to follow a certain pattern when making songs for an album?

AR: Not really. It’s pretty different. My writing is always done in pieces, and I’m always working on several songs at once. I never finish one thing, then move on. The only consistency is how patchwork-y the process is. From the elements of each beat, to each lyric, all of it. it just kind of comes together at its own pace. Its never really the same twice.

W: You were recently MTV’s Featured Artist of the Week, promoting your new release. How has the reception and feedback of None Shall Pass been as far as you can tell?

AR: Most of the magazine reviews I read have been positive, but not through the roof (which really is neither here nor there). Most of the direct reaction I’ve gotten from fans and friends has been through the roof. The people I talk to on tour really seem to think it’s some of the best stuff I’ve done, which is so thrilling for me to hear. I never really think about what people will think, so it's been so awesome to see people react how they have.

W: Having toured the world and now currently the nation, what have been some differences in doing shows and Hip Hop in general overseas compared to the States?

W: Well my fan base is obviously way bigger in the States. Most places outside of the U.S. haven’t really caught on to my stuff in any sort of big way. It’s fun to visit these places and rock, but it’s much harder work because the shows are usually smaller for me, and it hasn’t really been building over the years like it has in the U.S. You always hope it does, but for me it’s kind of been a bit smaller everywhere else. Still I’m trying to reach everyone.

W: You’ve done quite some work with artist Jeremy Fish, are there any other projects in the near future you guys will be working together on?

AR: We will definitely be working on more stuff, not sure what exactly. Right now I have this tour to knock out. We may do another book similar to the Next Best Thing that we did or maybe something totally different. Not really sure. Either way it’ll definitely happen.

W: You set your standards for making music and creating art pretty high. Is there anything that you’ve been wanting to do or have been looking forward to doing in your career?

AR: Well yes and no. That’s an odd question. For me, I want to just keep going. Keep writing, keep recording. That is my goal. I don’t have goals that involve collaborating with certain people, or anything like that. I just want to keep writing stuff that hopefully is new, and fresh for me. Something to keep me excited. I just like making shit.

thanks so much
best
A.R.

Thanks to A.R. for the time and beautiful music.
The W

For more on Aesop Rock visit:
Aesop Rock's Myspace
Def Jux
The Next Best Thing