Aesop Rock Analysis | Lyrical Masterclass of Hiphop

Underground veteran of hiphop Aesop Rock crafts lyrics that are both wonderfully poetic and bizarrely chaotic; resulting in a comically jarring mix of vivid imagery and cartoonish mashups. I thought I'd try and breakdown and explain the lyrics behind his song Cycles To Gehenna from the album Skeleton because I love that song, basically. Hopefully what I've managed here is a video essay that served both as an indepth analysis of the song, and of Aesop Rock's music in general.
My Little Thought Tree is my channel for drawing out the deeper meaning and emotion in film, TV, and the world at large through relaxed, analytical video essays. I am a professional counsellor and often draw on my psychology and therapy background to better understand characters, themes, and emotion in fiction. I upload every Saturday and occasionally on Tuesdays, if I'm feeling productive.
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Music (in order):
Aesop Rock - Cycles To Gehenna
Chopin - Prelude No. 4
Aesop Rock - Supercell
Aesop Rock - Tetra
Aesop Rock - Catfood
Aesop Rock- TUFF
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Aesop Rock - Shrunk
Aesop Rock - Crows 1
Aesop Rock - Water Tower
Nymano - Departure
#aesoprock #cyclestogehenna #analysis

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Cycles To Gehenna official video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/amiboqqwmK-noq8 Patreon link - www.patreon.com/mylittlethoughttree

[@naterlandsw2963]

You’re right about Gehenna, and yes it’s also multi-multi layered! Gehenna is the entry into the afterlife, where old men sacrificed their boys lives. So much to it, but thanks for the analysis, I could use any excuse to talk about Aesop for 20 minutes

[@selflessself]

@11:20 dead alive could refer to the classic Peter Jackson zombie movie by the same name

[@theonpleasable4836]

@@naterlandsw2963a q q

[@LockheedLazar]

and then after all the heaviest topics imaginable, he releases a childrens song about a jumping frog.. love this guy

[@Eight---]

Larry doesn’t care.

[@Ethanhoyt427]

Jump so high grow a beard in the air

[@brodeyrhoades1422]

Jumps over everything even Time Square!

[@partdefjampartdischord5649]

And one about an otter eating shellfish from its stomach…

[@aaroncurran9690]

Go Larry go larry

[@Hoonter]

"Crammed in a one-player campaign" also reads to me as being forced to play solo as opposed to multiplayer. He's without a companion in this world after losing his friend.

[@OGPND]

That Wallace and Grommet analogy is incredibly spot on!

[@TheDarkaxe888]

i was thinking rube goldberg machine also woulda worked

[@jennajuice743]

Aesop Rock is the most underrated artist. Love him ❤️❤️

[@DNorbs7]

It's true. He is among the best lyricists ever, but if you bring him up in the discussion of greatest hip hop lyricists, "real heads" will typically scoff. I don't know if it's because he's a white dude from Long Island, or because his lyrics are not accessible enough for some, but he doesn't get the respect he deserves at all.

[@johnlentzner6449]

You say his name they think you be talking about asap rocky fuck that guy is what I say all about Aesop is where it's at

[@bluestogreen1693]

In rap definately! Producing definately! This fool wrote a book though? Lol jk

[@jasonbrown3748]

Rappers rapper and rated very well in the industry chap

[@taddybear4244]

He could be universally praised as the greatest lyricist and musical genius of all time, and he'd still be underrated.

[@ttrza1986]

"when you start getting all exact and algebraic..." yep, that part for me too. Good show

[@hem9483]

we don’t need no walkie talkies

[@adotinthecosmos]

Can you release a follow up video with his song: "Get Out of the Car". It is him talking about his own grieving process

[@Withyoursister]

What’s the name of that song? I didn’t know he made a follow up

[@adotinthecosmos]

@@Withyoursister "Get out of the Car" it's in his "Impossible Kid" album

[@breteady2166]

That one's pretty straight forward don't you think? As straight forward as Aes gets I suppose.

[@adotinthecosmos]

@@breteady2166 i suppose. Just like the idea of a therapist diving into Aes himself.

[@equinox1451]

It’s also a tribute to his diseased friend and fellow rapper “Camu Tao”

[@f.demascio1857]

I always felt that the poorly maintained bike was a metaphor for the speaker's own mind/body.

[@Ty91681]

It is

[@ataridc]

cylces to gehenna is probably my favorite Aesop Rock song. I don't even care about about motorcycles, but the song so perfectly encompasses the feeling of being alone with oneself and kind of at peace with the world late at night when every normal person is asleep. It's so relatable even though I don't relate with the exact subject matter at all.

[@zuhzi]

Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson's "TV on 10" got me hooked on Aesop's lyricism. The whole song is so beautiful but the dark undertoned story about a plane crash almost brought me to tears. I recommend listening to the song and then looking up the story behind "TV on 10."

[@4some2joe0]

I believe that song is about Jeremy Fish, Aes's artist friend which I think is the person in the music video for "Pigs" by Aes

[@edensdreams2890]

TV on 10 is also what got me into him, it felt particularly visceral as the crash it talks about happened very close to where I live.

[@joelmcfarland5153]

Ruby ‘81 is the same for me. It’s not his most diverse song but the picture he paints is so vivid it makes you choke up a bit.

[@abdoonyt9049]

The first song i heard from aes was mystery fish, i just got hooked after that.

[@CCDaDon15]

@@4some2joe0 fish also did the art to none shall pass, which is my favorite album of his

[@theresajv5055]

i agree. The true art in it is pulling it off without sounding like a prick. Which he does beautifully. I've never heard any other rapper that consistently makes such good music. I can't think of a single bad song from him.

[@rhettintaipei]

Agree

[@DNorbs7]

Nice to see that Aes Rock is getting love in the UK as well. Been a fan since around 2000, and am constantly amazed by the art he creates and how prolific he is. I don't know of any lyricist in any genre that is quite so consistently unique and brilliant. And you're right - somehow he doesn't come across as pretentious despite his lyrical complexity, unlike someone like Atmosphere who tries to sound similarly profound yet to me, can be cringey.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I love Atmosphere but you are correct about that, I think. Some songs are phenomenal, others make me cringe a little at some of the hooks and things

[@strifedivine]

Atmosphere is a duo. S.l.u.g. the mc and ANT the Dj. Jus saiyan..

[@WatershipAlan]

Lupe, busdriver and billy woods are three that sit with Lupe at the elite level lyricism table imo.

[@abdoonyt9049]

@@WatershipAlan good lord busdriver and lupe are phenomenal

[@mgmabone8143]

I will never be disappointed to see someone talking about my favorite artist with such a great understanding of his music. Loved the video man!

[@mosswurk_radio]

Great breakdown! Ps. I'm Irish, Samhain isn't pronounced 'Sam hane', it's pronounced 'Sao-in' like a female pig 'sow' or 'Shaolin'. Just had to rep the culture real quick lol

[@madeINaBATHtub]

You did an incredible job at an almost impossible task. It’s odd because no words can communicate what Aesop is doing in this song proper justice except the magic words of AR himself. But I think his stuff is so tough to penetrate especially for the uninitiated, and this video was as perfect a job as one can do, to illuminate what’s happening in the song. I recommend everyone go listen to it again AFTER watching this to integrate the context into the art. I can’t really say any other music artist can do what Aes does. It’s worthy of serious academic study since it transcends high n low art, visual art and poetry, English language used with every poetic device in the book applied with unseen degree of tact and blunt pop culture references. This song is such a great example of what he does best that I can only describe in that it feels like a Hollywood movie scene that would take about 2 minutes to show the entire visual situation, but he gives us every thought and memory and feeling in the characters mind, and even shows us the visual verbally with some of the best cinematography possible, yet this color and shadow is all done with words. The best way to describe this song and him at his best is like a “experiential synesthesia in practice”

[@Regen.]

Well this was surely a surprise. I've been a fan of yours for some months and a fan of Aes' for the past ten or so years. I would love to see your take on Marble Cake, off The Spirit World Field Guide. I think it's an amazingly rich text (especially in the context of its positioning within the album, following after two extremely dark songs) coupled with an amazing instrumental line.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Marble Cake would be a good one

[@refusingtoconform]

I'd also consider Attaboy, Dog at the Door, and Pizza Alley as top songs for dissection. DatD is the most straightforward of the tracks for sure but it's a rare case of a first-person character study being so bluntly explored in rap. Many rappers use the perspective to convey a store or reminisce but there's a very distinct feeling of unease, paranoia, and otherworldliness to it which ties into the concept of the album (and moreso the videos). Attaboy is one of the standout lyrical courses on the album which has a stronger open describing a nomadic voyage that reeks with of a wayward wanderer who is not only distrustful but feels alienated even by those he holds closest. And the last verse has some excellent flow and rhyme even if I've yet to identify how it relates to portrait we've painted in the first few lines. Pizza Alley is undeniably the strongest of Aesop's travelogues with one of the smoothest and most endearing beats (and beat switches) on the album, rivaled only by Gauze and a couple others. Again, more straightforward fair but it is a song that hits even if it has lost some of its effects by being a single and thus getting overplayed before release. Both singles are worthy of analysis but this comment is getting long in the tooth so best be off.

[@yaoblack3579]

The way I see Aesop is a guy that lives in his own world. He has the same love for real hip hop that heads do but he's weird. Maybe on the spectrum. But he wants to express himself in his own way and developed a style that allowed him to do that. And it's incredible. On Twitter my profile has "banged out cutlery from a slang mouth teacher" from "We're Famous" with my other favorite El-P on it, because it's one of the most incredible lines of poetry to me and because I love music that makes me dig a little deeper for meaning. Aesop will never get his props and due flowers from the mainstream but in here in Brooklyn with much love and appreciation for a revolutionary rap artist. ✊🏿✊🏿☺

[@theoxz1325]

I love Aesop Rock and when I saw the notification for this video you made my day! Thank you, what a pleasant surprise!

[@supergatorhator]

"I cannot wait for his new album" - I have some very good news for you, then! Because it dropped like a month ago, and is one of his densest yet - both lyrically and in terms of number of songs.

[@traycec6827]

Gehenna is the historical physical location of hell. Self destructing memo is a reference to an old cartoon called Inspector Gadget. There are so many levels to everything. I love Aesop Rock, one of the only artists I can listen to over and over and continue to find new things. Just thought I'd share that. Great video, cheers mate.

[@matthewdaub]

"i crowbared my way into the pecking order" is probably one of his best lines ever.

[@theoxz1325]

Oh and I would love more Aesop Rock videos. Perhaps one about the song "Blood Sandwich"?

[@juiceboxheroooo9752]

Blood Sandwich is one of the easier songs to pick apart. It's literally stories about his younger and older brothers. Blood sandwich just means he's the middle child.

[@Joseph-R]

I just want to say I have probably watched this video about 10 times and is one of my favorite videos on youtube. When friends ask me what I like so much about Aesop, I have a hard time explaining it myself, so I usually just link this video. Hope some day you get inspired to dissect another Aesop track!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Oh damn, high praise! Thankyou

[@madeINaBATHtub]

I second that. I haven’t sent this video to another person yet, but I do think this is the best video I’ve seen among many who try to analyze Aesop Rock, and it’s sure as hell easier than trying to explain it myself lol

[@vandalsavage2074]

Im gonna say it. 40% of his bars miss me, In the fact that they go over my head and ive always been a very lyric centric rapper with very layered bars.

[@titusjames4912]

That's what makes it so beautiful. I miss bars when I listen to rap in any other language. When I listen to aes I miss bars in my own language. It helps me learn without feeling like a dumbass.

[@francescoalexgiacalone878]

@@titusjames4912 does it get better with time? I've started listening to aes yesterday and understandably most bars flew over my head, but I liked the sound and the sengos which I could understand( like Shrunk or Blood sandwich). English isn't my native language but hopefully listening to aesop will help me learn

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

@@francescoalexgiacalone878 Yes it gets easier to parse his language, at least in the sense of how he structures his thoughts. It's important to note that not all of Aesop's work is highly metaphorical. In a lot of his songs he uses visual discriptives to envoke a memory, that you can fill into the story. If you already have the emotion or knowledge from that memory then he doesn't have to explain it, and if he does it enough then you get what novels pull you into. You're own made up world being strung together by a narrator. Now, the clever part is, besides the phenomnal rhyme schemes and structure, the references he uses for those memories may be symbolic, ironic, or funny. That is why people get the great one liners. You'll learn a lot of new words too which is great, but you gotta do the work if you want the whole enchilada. Over all, he will do story telling either A) straight forward, like fable, historical folklore, etc or.. B) he will tell stories with cryptic poetry masked in metaphors, visual descriptives, using history/pop culture/religious references in those songs..This includes statement songs, like Dorks (giving his opinion about something instead of a story or event) So when you go to listen to the song, if it sounds straightforward, it likely is, don't over complicate it. If it isn't, then it's time to listen multiple times, learn, and then review again, and then put yourself in the mind of the writer. best way I can describe it. (been a fan since 2000)

[@jonrwert]

But if you just listen obsessively non-stop for a year you can get that number down to 32%, lol.

[@SmitzPNK]

@@jonrwert i can collaborate that

[@franksonjohnson]

This is best exploration of any of his tracks I've seen, and I'm pretty sure I've seen them all.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Oh damn, well thankyou! That is high praise 😅

[@halfmoonfullsun]

I love your work and Aesop Rock! Double win.

[@aresf76]

A couple other references to note (these just make it so much richer): spark plugs. In SF moto lore, spark plugs were used to smoke crack. Charlie’s. This was an iconic motorcycle shop in the Mission, specializing in 70s Hondas.

[@GridironGnoll]

I get full body goosebumps listening to Cycles of Gehenna every single time on account of it getting me through grieving the loss of my best friend… Aesop has such a way with words when talking deep dark parts of the human experience … unlike any other artist

[@taddybear4244]

I love that he can create amazing poetry with complex lyrics about not wanting to eat vegetables.

[@davidfields5627]

Please do more by Aesop!! This was great!

[@shawnf5267]

I had interpreted the water lilies - Giger line as the biker's inability to find peace (outside the visor is monet, inside is dark and surreal). I like your point about distorted imagery used to portray speed

[@jamessylvester1785]

Aesop is a true artist, making art for his own soul, like a painting every stroke isnt always understood by the observer, but we sit and look in aw at what the painters life was like, by the hues, the shading , the distance between objects etc. Not every word is supposed to be understood by every listener, but every word means something to aes. And i think that challenges the empathy in us all and invokes a feeling undescribable, that is true art.

[@browncoatz]

Really good description of Gehenna. Additional note: Israelites would put the bodies of the dead whom they believe would not deserve a resurrection (What they believed at the time).

[@austinrobinson8154]

I have listened to this song for so many years and had no idea I was rapping some of the saddest shit I've ever heard in my life... This song got that much better ❤️

[@TheoBeats002]

Please, please consider doing another Aesop Rock analysis, there are so many great songs of his to break down and pick apart!

[@joebaumgart1146]

I think Ace likes that no one knows who he is. "I'm off to coffee with the paupers over tea with the queen, let's show this regency what disobedience means!"- Dorks.

[@LockheedLazar]

"We slalom from beyond the wildly oscillating compass Whether you connect the dots or not is truly not my problem"

[@ItsMe-kf1mj]

I love this man very dearly. His music has been such a big part of my life to this day. I feel as if I know him as he also brings to life in words the way my life has been. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but yeah my vocab is not even close when I verbally speak yet I can think it in my head but have difficulty saying it. I wish this man love and peace forever sincerely from my heart. Thank you for existing in my life time as I am overwhelmed with the music.

[@ndlmous]

I've had a hard time lately and even just hearing this song broken down hits so close to home I'm crying

[@tommulder9420]

Love more Aesop Rock analyses his newest or previous albums but also his collabaration projects with other artists are great. His latest works are most personal and relateable I feel, without losing that verbose and metaphoric lyrical scenery, there is always lots to unpack and discover and relate to for me.

[@zechs5079]

Your Wallace and grommet comparison is on point

[@tomhowarth9287]

I’d love to know what you think about ‘no rEgrets’, I feel like the message behind that song is right up the street of this channel. Also, this was a great video, I think you could make a recurring series out of music and lyrical analysis, it fits in well with the way you like to dissect things and find the life lessons behind them.

[@f.demascio1857]

My all time fave. Little Lucy was seven...

[@shotgunshelz7987]

If you'r offering to do more on Aesop, i'd love to hear it.

[@MrMetal4Ever123]

Such a beautiful explanation and interpretation, well done!

[@justingibson8788]

Very nice breakdown. i've been a huge fan of Aes for years, would love to see more videos like this. someone below mentioned, Eyedea another amazingly underrated lyricist. subbed!

[@THREESYTHREE]

Great delve into the genius of AR. His use of language is unparalleled, challenging, and when pondered; incredibly satisfying. This song in particular is so indicative of his overall storytelling mastery. Thank you for this breakdown of my absolute favorite lyricist. Was having a troubling day and this video made me smile and feel less alone

[@TheoBeats002]

MORE AESOP ROCK, went back to your channel and hoped to find another one after not seeing one of your videos in a while!

[@OGPND]

Incredible video, coming from a 20+ year Aesop fan, you've done fantastic work here. Much appreciated!

[@TheHyperDox]

Great vid! I don't get the chance to talk about aesop much but his music hits me way different than any other so thank you for the video! You mention wanting to cover a cheerier song next time so I'd love to hear you break down Coveralls or possibly Crystal sword. Really fun imagery as well as very creative bragging.

[@NuggyRC]

Amazing breakdown of Aesop. As a fan of his since first hearing Float when it came out as a 15 year old and him being one of the main reasons I make hip hop music I always appreciate when someone puts out good content on him.

[@mystereo9041]

Good work. I have Been a fan since the beginning. I have a feeling he is going to come full circle in the next few years. I hope. He is a LEGEND

[@blixkybil3380]

oh my gosh FINALLY the kind of coverage I've been wanting to watch for years. WELL DONE my man. I also LOVE aes as much as you do. thanks for this, I HAD to subscribe and like. keep it up!

[@overkill780]

We need more of this!

[@95GuitarMan13]

Great video! I would love to see more Aesop content on this channel

[@anisopiavision736]

This was done really well man. Good job!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks!

[@aidenb7444]

Just now came across this, great stuff!

[@RavenousCatalyst594]

WOOOWWW ur review was as comparably breathtaking as Aes himself. 16:21-17:00 tears hit me harder than when i hear this track. thank you, you've made this song sacred to me now. over 80 tracks of his i categorize as 'I CAN DIE HAPPY CUZ I HEARD IT' & now i got another one.

[@josephmozena7640]

Rarefied inertia isn't just stillness. Inertia is momentum, so that line is hinting at an attempt to drive forever, never quit running. It's one of those beautiful lines that means one thing and its opposite, simultaneously. The kind of thing poetry can do that you can't really do any other way.

[@mohdqayemhussain5553]

I write rap often, trying to do better than I did previously. But then, all of a sudden, I'm reminded of Aesop Rock's existence and his skills. He not only has such a gargantuan vocabulary at his disposal, which evidences that he has read a lot, but he also includes in his songs varied references to works ranging from popular to obscure. If one analyzes his lyrics, one would realize that he is not being verbose *just* for the sake of it. It's not your Eminem shit where he'd pick words out of a hat or rhyme big words just because he can. His usage of this vocabulary is intentional, and his bars pack meaning. It may not be obvious at the first or second listen, but if you dig deep enough, it will suddenly hit you, leaving your mind blown away. That makes me want to put my pen down, because the voice in the back of my head says, "You haven't read enough, you haven't mastered the language that well".

[@Chee1979xoxo]

3:33 my ringtone is suddenly in the video and then I'm like oh right, I used this dope beat as my ringtone. Nice.

[@wrigglenight93]

I don't think Skelethon has any resolution. It has Gopher Guts, a moment of realization that Aesop's old ways of thinking *can't* give him closure. The resolution comes on The Impossible Kid (and to an extent Hokey Fright)

[@DESIGNATED_DARKHORSE]

Sharing this with my friends that don't understand the absolute genius of AES. Well done! Do more of his stuff!

[@basementmadetapes]

Cycles to Gehenna is a masterpiece

[@MatthewHiltner]

Quality Analysis! Thank you

[@sk82rok]

Based on your explanation I would easily believe this song is a tribute to his fellow rap artist camu Tao, he has a few other songs dedicated to him. Bats, racing stripes, and get out of the car are the few that come to mind instantly. So I see it now as, Aes is this guy driving around on his motorcycle (Hip-Hop/Rapping,) because it’s his therapy, but also something that kind of burns him out from time to time (trying to connect with that wreck less intent point you made [apologies if I’m reaching]) and not being able to get passed his grieving process for his lost friend. And his reluctance to delete his dead friend’s name out of his phone is not a literal stand point to forget him but instead Aes, himself, not being able to process and deal with his emotions and reality of it all appropriately. I feel that is supported by “get out of the car” he says “I can’t here go the hindsight/ 8 years been one long blindside/ I can pinpoint 7 more turns that occurred ‘cus he never really healed from the first.” The turns being that of which the years pass and the original one that was ever able to get over. Camu Tao passed in 2008, the impossible kid dropped in 2016, and Skelethon was produced in 2012, 4 years after the lost of camu it’s clear (to me now) that Aes was still definitely feeling the sting and even more so 8 years later with the impossible kid album Sorry if I wrote too much, or was redundant with the points you already made. I just had to get this of my chest, But I do definitely appreciate your original insight to this track.

[@bradh9564]

This was outstanding.

[@Slynch25]

I'm so happy you're covering him!

[@omanlady123456]

i love your breakdown here btw, tedious

[@Dennis_The_Peasant]

I really love the "Two-tired tiger with a too-tired rider" line

[@refusingtoconform]

I appreciate the ethos behind this video, it can be really invigorating to get a new perspective on a song. And since videos like these are intended to spark discussion, I'll oblige with own contrasting view. During my own gestation period with the song, I really found myself attracted to the title as the thesis of the song. "Cycles to Gehenna" I assumed was some foreign places a la events like the "Thrilla in Manilla" or other shows of that nation. Something broadcast from these distant places to somewhere more local. To me, the narrative followed the central figure of our biker however they appeared more aged and tired in my eyes. Many of the lyrics throughout the song hint to this transformation from something old and forgotten metamorphing into something new. Whether it's the line, "A once pale horse painted gunmetal black," being a literal interpretation of him repainting his motorcycle, this more dangerous, aggressive dark tone overcoming his youthful white or the description of his "30-something" old bike being revived a la Frankenstein by "local baseheads that approached all spark plugs." These other figures were moreso ambivalent than malovent or cruel, they were the pit crew. Tasked with caring for this poorly maintained, neglected machine and having to jury-rig it for our central figure. My interpretation of the biker is much more literal as well. He is someone who is past his prime, who once made a career as a daredevil but has since slipped into obscurity and turned towards domestic life and caring for his family than the passion of his youth. In the context of the event "Cycles to Gehenna," it could be interpreted as him going out for one last show. One last hurrah for this once respected figured. Once again, tying into the line of a "pale horse" it could be correlated to the legend of the American cowboy and the visual storytelling of Westerns. A "white hat" hero past his prime "changes lanes" and adapts his persona for a new time. Intent on riding off into the sunset in the twilight years of his life. The 30-year figure we received being a hint at just how long he had been retired or maybe how long his career was before he went into obscurity. This interpretation as ties into the scarf and "Pzzzt copy" line we get on the second(?) verse. The biker taking stock of how he got to where he is now. The juxtaposition of his old steadfast partner, the bike, being reborn and taking on a new appearance. And he, himself, wearing something new to represent the life he wants to escape by his brief return to his past life. And the pit crew reminding him of his purpose in the present than the memories he reminisces on. However, the third verse always stumped me to make a cohesive translation to the otherwise good theory I had going. Maybe an intercut montage of his fatal crash in the arena center with that of him riding on the highway or perhaps a group of bikers honoring his memory by going on their own ride in memory of the man they admired. Seeing his attempt to recapture his youth not as an act of vanity or hubris but seeing it for what it was, wanting to be seen and admired by his peers in a fatally flashy display (whether this is your jumping 20 buses, jumping literal mowers overturned in the convention center, or doing a fire stunt on an unsafe bike). The last verse can be seen as a vigil for their fallen friend or the memories of a life slowly ending. But it is very much a somber contrast to the growling and aggressive earlier verses. It's probably the verse with single most varied interpretations you could take from the narrative. Perhaps tying into the chorus, a transformation in the man's mind as he takes off from the ramp. A "new moon" in the cycle of his life like confidence renewed. Maybe the entire event is a fantasy he envisions in his head while driving on the highway. Or, as stated in the video, him colliding with oncoming traffic and tragically losing his life in a moment of grief. This song is one of the most beautiful and emotionally charged in all of Aes' catalog and it up there with "Get Out the Car" and "Ask Anybody" which are very literal tracks about grieving beloved friends he's personally lost. His unique style of storytelling allows him to tell very powerful stories with clear emotional stakes while also being open to a degree of interpretation for the listener. So yeah, easily a favorite.

[@TayTheDay]

Fantastic analysis 👏

[@thehangingbandits]

Amazing video dude. Shed a lot of light on a tune I've already given a lot thought. One of the best things about his work is you sit with a song for years and it's still giving you things. This helped me understand some of the concepts and ideas way better. Would love to see you break down more Aesop! How about something off SWFG? Some very dense imagery and wordplay in there. Or go way back and hit up Shovel or Skip Town! In any case, please more Aesop.

[@definepoetic]

Liked and subscribed on the strength of this video

[@thehourman4053]

Aes has always been my favorite artist. Almost every song has so much emotional and philosophical depth, and he really makes you ponder life, death, and the meaning in persisting.

[@jasonborne5359]

Amazing video man, i wish more people were into him

[@rekcik15]

Love the video so far - I wanted to touch on the "magic bullet". It might not be as well known outside the US, JFK was killed by they called a "Magic bullet" given that it's trajectory was impossible (leading people to believe in multiple shooters - queue the conspiracy talks). I believe this was a touch on that - that he would be killed on a drive/ride by someone else's hands. Love the video, and I love Aes. You did an awesome job on the break down of the song here, just wanted to my $.02 to show even more depth to what Aes provides. Guys a genius.

[@dairyqueue]

Gahenna and Sheol are the words translated as hell in the Bible. And your absolutely right on what gahenna is, and Sheol means pit or grave.

[@JesusSexyMidget]

thank you for showing me a new artist!

[@ethertoangle8133]

Whoa if Aesop is new you, you could listen to his stuff straight for a year and still have new stuff to dig into, he has so much! That’s awesome!

[@wasprider7239]

This is a great video. I would love to hear you take a look at some of his music with different themes. Blood sandwich is a simple (for Aesop Rock) and strait forward exploration of family, but I would love to hear your interpretation of it.

[@viktoreisfeld9470]

Good analysis.

[@Fontleroy]

Great vid

[@PrisonOrDeathPenalty4Congress]

Great video! I just found you and Aesop is a master class in lyricism. There was a study done for unique words and the majority of rappers are in the 4500 range Aesop was all the way over at almost 8000 unique words. There was one rapper very close to Aesop that not many people know, his name is busdriver. He is also a great rapper he’s actually one of quest love from the roots favorite rappers. Thanks for the solid content Cheers

[@jonrwert]

Excellent work. Aesop is one of my favorite lyricists. Garbology is amazing and may go down as one of his best albums, imho, everyone really digging this video should make sure to check that out.

[@nicholasgrasso3253]

18:14 inertia donsn't mean staying still. it is an objects resistance to changing velocity. That defintions I feel is much more powerful and has many more interpritations each valid to a certain degree. From the fact that he is finding it hard to move past his friends seath, which would be an example of inertia making it hard to move, but it could also refure to how the biker is finding it hard to accept his friends death and keeping going on as though they are still around asseen by how they can't delete there phone number. The idea of inertia also highlights the idea that the biker is taking his high speed ride though the city with the mentality that whatever happens to him will happen and he isn't going to try to change it. Finnally on a more broad not that lously tie back to the song when confronted with death it's often a reminder that the nature of life is to end in deathand we can't change that. That thought could possibly realate to his mind set in the song where in receignising the envitiblility of death the biker sees no reason to try to avoid it or seek it out mearly, rather stand by and let it happen. thoughs are just off the top of my head but I just really love this line for how it captures so many of the themes of the song and had to do it some sort of justice. Not to say your does the song a diservers, if anything this points out how complex and percice aesop rocks lirecs can get.

[@kevinm3998]

I also take the line "Knows no zen in the art of maintenence" as not having inner peace doing the things that maintain good mental and physical health. Someone depressed would feel that way.

[@darrylbradshaw216]

Also a reference to 'zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance' a book everyone should read imo

[@xvsj-s2x]

Incredible ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Scorpio3002]

There's a painting that I saw in college - it was the centerpiece of an art-major's senior project - which was an enormous 7-foot-tall, 4-foot wide depiction of Aesop Rock's song "6B Panorama". The song is a description of the things that Aes saw as he looked at the city from his fire escape, and the painting was a massive city-scape which contained every single image in the song, almost like a giant "Where's Waldo", and I must have spent about 20 minutes staring at this painting and comparing it to the lyrics that were helpfully hung next to it. I had actually never heard of Aesop Rock before this, so this painting and those printed lyrics were my first exposure to the artist. I'll never forget reading the line "I saw a roof garden on the apartment across the street, and kick myself, because somewhere along the way I lost my seeds". I was struck by the profound symolism and layered meaning of the statement. I was actually a little disappointed when I finally listened to the song and heard the real delivery, since it sounded almost like a joke. The thing about Aesop Rock is that his music takes WORK to appreciate. I'm not gonna do the Rick-and-Morty "Only intelligent people can appreciate" thing, but to fully appreciate the depth of imagery in his lyrics, you have to listen to the songs over, and over, and over again, gradually absorbing them on a deeper level each time. Which is why I think that painting might have been the best possible way to introduce someone to his music: the diligence that it took for me to find every individual lyrical image is the exact same diligence that it takes to sit through dozens of repeated llistenings of his albums. And while that depth is profound in many ways, it's also a double-edged sword. It's been 15 years since I saw that painting, and although it made me an Aesop Rock fan, I've only really dedicated myself to fully listen to two of his albums: Float and Labor Days. The other albums remain on my to-do list, although I've been told that some are more worthy of that dedicated-listening style than others.

[@PuffinPass]

Love Aesop for the simple fact that every time I listen to a track I get something new from it no matter how many times I have heard it. His metaphors have metaphors.

[@austinvertesch8585]

Great video friend

[@Guiltyconscience83]

I always thought he was talking about how the helmet turned into looking like a propeller hat after the crash, having it being so mangled it looked cartoonish after, like wyle coyote after one of his traps to get the roadrunner goes wrong and he stumbles out of the wreckage loopy with good helmet smashed in. But your interpretation also makes sense.

[@christopherlopez2491]

Has been my favorite rapper since I head him say “Aaaaaapppleeee Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed”

[@lolrofllmaomaster]

So I can't describe how much you've made this song more prevalent in my life. I had a friend who died on his own bike and it was devastating to all of us who knew him. I'm not good at punctuation, but I will have you know this hit me hard to realize that my friend might have not been alright at the time. let's stay in touch.

[@jordankariniemi8256]

I love aesop! Y'all right he's seriously underrated. The flow the delivery the beats everything about his albums are just mind blowing ❤❤❤

[@GhostCastle88]

I found you through the good will hunting video... then Batman.. now Aesop this is the BEST

[@treythehardway]

If I was forced to listen to one discography for life, Aesop is the guy. I’m 15~ years deep and still am utterly fascinated.

[@teddybear97597]

I'm like halfway through the video, but I'm huge into production and saw no mention of this aspect, but the beat sounds like very epic and perfect driving at night music. But the high screech also kind of sounds like brakes screeching and how that segues into the verses is really clever on a production behalf

[@SlimeScholar]

Thank you for this...

[@jackcravford8744]

To me the third verse is him going on the ride. He is not riding his bike across the city to show off how badass he is. But because he is lonely and he gets caught by the helm of a magic bullet - the momentum, when he can somehow process being lonely. Away on the road, looking for inner peace and to feel the warm ground beneath him with some kind of balance. It is about the passion as well even when he is taking huge risk.

[@notwhatsopeople]

Rip Camu

[@The_Salty_Siren]

He is speaking another language with the frequencies he creates with the carefully selected lyrics 😎💯