Lupe Fiasco: Why (And Maybe How) You Should Appreciate Aesop Rock

[@xmus4023]

What's great about Aesop is after listening to his whole discography for years, you get so used to his writing style that you can easily understand his lines due to having your own translation method ingrained into your psyche just for this one dude. Literally, he makes you learn his language. Dude is insane and I love it.

[@RemAtmos]

On point!!

[@hlg3501]

Really real.

[@Wannaknowmyname1]

thats because he always puts chips in a sandwich

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

@@Wannaknowmyname1 and uses his belly as a table!

[@cakkyboy]

You're smarter than most of us then. I've been pumping his shit for nearly 20 years and he still has me like WTF!

[@MatheDeath]

Please dont delete this video, this is historical.

[@mhholmez]

Purely. A GOAT lyricist appreciating another.

[@lauderdale77]

I know right. This is sick

[@alijawda2896]

Yeah this is great wait until he here's this new album. Love Lupe and Aes.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

This is National Archives worthy. Just give Aes the Pulitzer and get it out of the way already.

[@allesrachtsichirgendwannlu1893]

Don't think I've ever heard another human being speak so eloquently of another and their shared craft. There was no "I'm better" or anything, just pure awe and love for the work in the shit they love. HE BETTER NOT DELETE THIS DAMN VIDEO .....BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE!!! HE BETTER NOT. 🤣🤣🤣 This video had so much rightful praise for AES as a human amongst the rapping or vocab he's referring to. It's a gem. I'm damn happy they came out with pumpkin seeds clearly shows a bit of exactly what Lupe is talking about.....and he's on the damn track !!! This is the type of hip-hop WE NEED to be keeping alive on any front.

[@CollinVanO]

The thing you forgot to mention is the song about his cat ends with the revelation that the song isn’t JUST about the cat. It’s a meditation on the helplessness of depression. His shrink has tried everything to help him and nothing will work so she’s like “I don’t know. Maybe get a kitten”. So when talking about how layered the punches are, the song itself is also a punch. Fucking incredible.

[@sanield2782]

Bro what the FUCK

[@charlesvann2683]

Word indeed hey Kirby and shrunk being connected is genius

[@ju4408]

Mad respect for showing Aesop some love. The more you dig in, the more you get out. A never ending rabbit hole.

[@1000Bats]

Every song too. I have songs that i've listen too for 10yrs+ and still pick up more things everytime I put them on. His new album Is intense, like these crazy broken down mysterious instrumentals with odd beats that he says the weirdest stuff on, like 'All the smartest people' is such an impressive concept.

[@musaka2022]

Actually, the more you dig in the less you get out of it. As it's concepts start to mesh and things become simpler. So what was a thousand little pieces becomes a mosaic of the whole picture. I have studied Aesop for 45 years and I have cracked the code that would make the Zodiac Killer look like Phil Spector. Ever song is really about the same thing! Mind blown yet? Well did you notice Aes says 'Rumplestilstskin' at least 13 times each song? You probably didn't but that's your first clue. I wont ruin the thrill of the hunt for you. And it is duck season. So go ahead and blow down feather in the sky and find out for yourself. I'm happy to help.

[@nimmha6708]

@@musaka2022 "for 45 years" ... good one

[@musaka2022]

@@nimmha6708 Sorry?

[@nimmha6708]

@@musaka2022 Depends on the cheese.. Not all cheeseburgers are the same my friend.. Not at all.

[@supak108]

This is honestly one of the coolest things on the internet to me. It’s like that video of mos def geeking over MF DOOM (RIP GOAT). But this video is really a serious breakdown and is just so fucking cool to me. Lupe is a great artist and it’s so cool to see his appreciation for another one. We need more of this in music period.

[@x_VineM_x]

Luv that vid R.I.P. DOOM

[@GenericThomas]

As a writer, musician, and fan of both artforms; I have nothing but joy seeing this.

[@musaka2022]

This reminds me of Rick Ross talking about pears

[@gyroandhisballs]

@@x_VineM_x goats appreciating goats is a blessing in this lifeline RIP DOOM FOREVER THE ILLEST VILLIAN NEVER TO BE URSURPED ALL CAPS FOREVER!

[@2raw2war2]

Agree 💯 and I got a great laugh completely unexpected. It's about a fucking cat!

[@mellakat80]

I'm just waiting for the collab, my guy. Hip Hop needs this. Lupe and Aesop... would be one of the greatest collaborations to ever bless hip hop

[@stephensemp8634]

THIS

[@MeanStreamFraudCast]

Aesupé would be doap as fudge.

[@s2pidmunkey778]

Bro we would be deciphering that song for decades. We definitely need this.

[@TexasGreed]

MF DOOM was talking about a collab with Kanye before he died. Not a huge Kanye fan but it would certainly have been interesting.

[@declanlee6894]

@@MeanStreamFraudCast I’m gonna have to go with Lupaese rocassco

[@JinnDante]

Aesop Rock is hands down one of the weirdest entities in the realm of hip hop. His lyrics are the most perplexing interesting and multilayered of pretty much all the rappers I have ever listened to in my life. And the saddest truth is that he will probably get recognized after his death. He is truly one of a kind.

[@jkingenglish]

all the greats must die to be immortalised

[@ijustwantacookie4148]

Aesop rock is one of the most underrated rappers of all time. His production and vocabulary is insane. I hope he gets a bigger fan base because he deserves it

[@WatershipAlan]

Shout out to Busdriver too, hugely underrated dude.

[@heyz13]

i highly agree with you

[@nicklewry3854]

That man holds real estate in an imaginary place

[@morenablighthlatshwayo9651]

Fully agreed... I'd also add Doseone too

[@nickneato4641]

All of hellfyre: nocando, open mike, n milo💕

[@syntheseyez3577]

@@nicklewry3854 oh u mean decentraland? Edit- should have bought more decentraland

[@alldayray7511]

Aesop is the GOAT

[@dfwherbie8814]

Not “the”

[@BeaCanImation]

@@alfy_boi6221 "technically" Aesop lacks certain objective qualities other rappers have in abundance. Aes is amazing. I've been listening to him for decades. He's great. Greatest is a stretch.

[@BeaCanImation]

@@alfy_boi6221 my bad for assuming. I'm a grumpy hip hop snob. Arguing about rap is a hard habit to break. What's your favorite Aesop project.

[@JinnDante]

@@BeaCanImation what does he lack exactly

[@BeaCanImation]

@@JinnDante his charisma is mid. He's got a particular charm for sure, but rap name another high tier rapper as stiff. Aes also lacks in the party rocking category. It's all headphone music. One thing I learned from literary theory is no writer does everything well. A good writers shortcomings make up for their deficiency. Hip Hop has writers on Aes's level that are far more charismatic and will tore the club up at their peak.

[@ThirteenAmp]

Aesop is the modern day Shakespeare and his output is high right now The last few years he's released 3 super dope albums

[@salmon_wine]

Impossible Kid and Spirit World Field Guide are truly outstanding albums though- they're two sides of the same coin, IK is a the real world aes' problems, the dark parts of his psyche, and silver linings- sort of coming to terms with his issues, which pays off with SWFG being almost a full album of "Facemelter" tier flexing of aes' strengths

[@juniorc1521]

Impossible kid is my favorite album of all time

[@ebinflo102]

Here after Aesop’s newest album “Integrated Tech Solutions” and I’m really impressed with Lupe here and his robust appreciation for another craftsman / wordsmith. Getting such praises from Lupe is amazing, and I’m sure that Aes appreciates him with the very same esteem. Big up Lupe!

[@tlingitsoldier]

When that study was done, Aesop Rock was omitted because the author didn't think he was popular enough to be included. People on social media very adamantly expressed how wrong be was, and thankfully he added Aes to the chart.

[@etotheipi42]

I think it’s because his fans are annoying as shit Karens like Jesus Christ repetition is virtuous in music

[@maxwellsamuel3255]

@@etotheipi42 good thing he’s never made a project that sounds the same sonically right?👍🏾

[@etotheipi42]

I’m a well educated Jewish American so his magic doesn’t work on me

[@etotheipi42]

The algorithms won’t let me critique my own people it has deleted a comment 8 times

[@maxwellsamuel3255]

@@etotheipi42 lmaooo your people? You have no clue who I am. You’re coming off incredibly pretentious.

[@OswaldBatesIIIEsq]

I've been a fan of Aesop since "Labor Days". I'm still listening to it twenty-three years later.

[@aerialpenn8849]

I spent a whole year listening to Labor Days when I first got it and I was finding new lines all the time on it. The replay value to Aesop's work is crazy.

[@lukedavies4767]

I did exactly the same. Labor Days was a gamechanger for me. Never heard anything like it before. Everytime I listened to it there'd be another line that popped out clearer. Even on Def Jux he was levels above everyone else. Nice to see someone giving him his props

[@AndrewBarrett-x8r]

I agree 💯👍

[@joegaylord87]

Aes is in the genre of "Your favorite rapper's favorite rapper". A lot like MF Doom (RIP), Talib, Yasiin Bey, etc, these are guys who maybe aren't the biggest mainstream names, but who have so much respect from the community and the culture. If you want to understand how people in the game think hip-hop should sound, these are the people you need to be looking at.

[@knutt81]

Don't forget Tariq Trotter, A.K.A. BLACK THOUGHT!

[@joegaylord87]

@@knutt81 The Roots as a group, honestly.

[@brennaneaton4734]

@Lucas F meh he's not on anyone's list that I have heard publicly. He is dope for sure, but not anywhere close to Blkthought, Andre 3000, MF DOOM, Aesop, etc.

[@austingoyne3039]

@@brennaneaton4734 true RTJ maybe, maybe not. Was going to say Nas but he’s not really a secret like the others.

[@brennaneaton4734]

@@austingoyne3039 Nas is my favorite mainstream" rapper. He's on another level and has been able to be wordy and keep it easy to listen too and mainstream". Definitely a GOAT

[@logicone5667]

This make me have so much more respect for lupe.

[@miguelflores5066]

Dont think anyone is checking for ur respect

[@kayluhluh6973]

Is lupe even cool anymore

[@lauderdale77]

Exactly

[@logicone5667]

@@kayluhluh6973 cool is subjective, right now tiktok is cool and in my opinion tiktok has the most lemming minded content. You can follow cool if you like but whatever you like should be cool to you and therefore yes it is cool. But if you follow things just because society says they're cool you're going to get lost in the sauce so quickly. Just keeping it real, not trying to attack your point of view just trying to drop some knowledge on you. Have a good day man!

[@kayluhluh6973]

@@logicone5667 I bet you’re a LOT of fun at parties /sarcasm

[@mrwrath8275]

Aesop Rock started on my mix CDs in 2001. I listen to him to this day. He is one of the best MCs alive.

[@readrothbard153]

Real shit right there. I'm an old head an been vibin on him for years. Now i got 5 kids who listen to him and are big fans.

[@cooloutac]

@@readrothbard153 ha, that's what's up!

[@810austin]

@@readrothbard153 you raised your kids RIGHT!!!

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

Same

[@brianhansen6189]

As much as I love listening to AES I get just as much enjoyment out of reading his lyrics in silence

[@knutt81]

Man the Fast Cars, Danger...album came with a BOOK!! Has like 4 or 5 songs from all his previous albums (at the time). Shit's crazy when you read it. Especially in paragraph form.

[@femka]

@@knutt81 I remember i had this book lost while moving but didnt know it was like a first 100 records thing and then the rest got a song which is my favorite aesop song that i didnt hear for like 6 years Facemelter

[@logicone5667]

Aesop Rock is hands-down my favorite rapper. There is no MC that I can think of that even touches his genius.

[@dfwherbie8814]

KA

[@lauderdale77]

I second and third this

[@dfwherbie8814]

@@lauderdale77 Umm…Ka, Roc Marciano, Black Thought, Lupe, Billy Woods, Mach-Hommy, etc. They all surpass Aesop, and I’m an Aesop fan

[@allenriggs1110]

@@dfwherbie8814 Speaking strictly of lyrical originality, none of who you mentioned touches Aesop, and I like all of them.

[@dfwherbie8814]

@@allenriggs1110 lmaooooooo because of “unique word usage” like that makes you lyrically supreme. FOH and stay in the suburbs.

[@antman0719]

Now what's funny is I'm focusing on Aesop's flow first almost all of the time and then I dig deeper into the lyrics. That dude rides a beat like none other. It's like watching art through a spray can on a train before the buffers make their entrance~

[@cooloutac]

Word! For me its Always Flows > Lyrics > Beats. That is how I started listening to rap back in the Bobbito days listening to underground rappers ciphering on the nyc radio shows. But Most people gauge the opposite way. They first consider the Beat, then the Lyrics, then the flow last. Aesop has one of the greatest flow of all time, although I can see his vocabulary adding to the tongue twisting word play. Which besides his vocab and poetry is something else most rappers cannot imitate.

[@lauderdale77]

Well said

[@slushpuppy2326]

They're buffing the trains the same day graffiti writers bomb them.

[@antman0719]

@@cooloutac true that!

[@antman0719]

@@slushpuppy2326 🎶🤘

[@stylovore]

"I'm climbing up the stucco. let's get to the seppuku" - Just one out of a million amazing lines in that track. Aes is untouchable.

[@kayluhluh6973]

What’s that even mean

[@stylovore]

@@kayluhluh6973, stucco is a type of construction material. Climbing up the stucco simply means he's climbing up the walls because he's so full of discomfort and anxiety. Let's get to the seppuku means let's get to the part where I disembowel myself. Seppuku, also known as harakiri, is a Japanese samurai suicide ritual. It is a means by which defeated samurai get to keep their honor. In this case, the disemboweling, or spilling your guts out, is a figurative phrase meaning expose all your inner self to the shrink. He says something similar earlier in the track, when he mentions filleting yourself in the name of health. In my opinion, the combination of raw imagery coupled with the anxiety and discomfort he is expressing as he waits to go into the psychiatrist's office make for an incredible work of art.

[@stylovore]

@@kayluhluh6973 i forgot to add the technical elements, as well. Both lines are seven syllables and employ alliteration. And just to throw a cherry on top, because stucco doesn't rhyme with seppuku, Aes throws in a quick, subdued 'uh oh' at the end, just to complete the rhyme. I'm climbing up the stucco, let's get to the seppuku, uh-oh. So good.

[@kayluhluh6973]

@@stylovore can you please breakdown every aes song for me? 😩 I love his music but I found I get lost in his wordy-ness sometimes

[@stylovore]

@@kayluhluh6973, haha I'd maybe do half a decent effort to 5 tracks of his. Imo The Impossible Kid is his most accessible album, and it helps to understand it as a loosely biographical album. Rings is a track about how he used to be an artist and how he feels as a failure in that front. Lotta Years is a simple track, talking about his realization that he's old AF and can't really relate to the new kids. Dorks is a song about his personal self-estrangement from the rest of hip Hop and how he simply can't align with the rest. It's also a hell of a diss to people who use hip Hop for only superficial expression. That's my reading of it, anyway. Blood sandwich is a song about his brothers. Get out of the car is a song about him finally coming to terms with needing help, because he has been floating aimlessly ever since his friend died 8 years ago. Shrunk is about him going to the psychiatrist's office. Kirby is a song about his cat who he adopted as a recommendation by his shrink most likely. There are 15 tracks on the album, and only the ones I've written here I can sort of decipher, so you're definitely not alone. If genuinely interested, I recommend going on to the rap genius website and reading the interpretation of his lyrics. But definitely start with something accessible like Kirby or blood sandwich. He's like a calculus problem. It's very tough to penetrate, but only truly appreciated after you do

[@jonathanwiggins5366]

This is what hip hop needs more of-- helping each other out and showing respect and love. Hell, that's what the WORLD needs more of.

[@MrSchism]

Then you realize that Skelethon, Impossible Kid, and Spirit World Field Guide is a story arc where Aes goes looking for Mu after Mu dies, and ascends, which is a metaphor for coming to terms with mortality and accepting his throne which he rejected for decades.

[@knutt81]

He was at the GATES!!

[@jonasjorgensen8759]

Is this fan theory or confirmed?

[@jonasjorgensen8759]

​@@knutt81?

[@amrey3628]

Yes af. Aesop Rock has a very very refined and distinct voice. If you know, you know.

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

I love Aes for like this exact reason Lupe is talking about like "wtf is this dude talking about" when you first hear it and just listen to the flows but then you get a little more each time you listen to him. Basically he has mad replay value and also every album has its own style and sound so he doesn't get boring/do same thing over and over. I been listening to Aes since high school early 2000s and I STILL am not bored of albums and bump them semi regularly

[@MobtownJ-hw6uk]

This is very true if you listen to his music consistently or on a regular you will pick up the intricate lines in his versus. Very very very articulate you are definitely going to expand your vocabulary and listening to this guy..

[@rotisserieprotocol3582]

I'm so happy he shouts out Homeboy Sandman as well at the end, another underrated legend.

[@tarahj478]

"I need food too ! My food is electricity!" Love that ..this is fresh! I don't even have the words to explain how cool This is. I remember when my dad's friend had some job (cant remember what) working at local shows- and we're from Berkeley & Aesop Rock was playing in Berkeley..so my dad was able to go to one of his shows- and kept that flyer up - I think it's STILL up...and this was like 15 years ago. My dad shaped the way I hear music & I will always be thankful.

[@cooloutac]

"Different path, same love, dad, thanks for passing it" El-P lyric. I remember as a kid listening to my Parents records collection. Which was very eclectic. From reggae to disco to classic rock lol. Definitely shaped the way I hear music too. As far as rap goes, The Legend Bobbito Garcia from wkcr, even though he eventually shied away from it, shaped how I hear rap.

[@cooloutac]

On another note that production by Tobacco on Malibu Ken with Aesop is off the chain. Of course he kills it. I'm still rocking that album constantly lol. The Dude is an Artist for Artists.

[@readrothbard153]

Malibu Ken, Lice, Hail Mary Mallon, The Orphanage all good groups

[@AllCloudsAreBunnies]

I *love* Malibu Ken so much, and for that matter I love Tobacco; they did a collab a long time ago for a song called Dirt, it’s off Tobacco’s first album F*ucked up Friends from 2008 off Anticon. I think they did the song together after a tour they did shortly before in 2007 or 2008, both such great musicians!

[@mollyrawford5834]

It's so good!

[@AndrewBarrett-x8r]

Malibu Ken is so far ahead of it's time people don't like it but one day it will hit them that it is genius and they LOVE it.

[@pondopondo1497]

Sometimes out of nowhere you get the reference or meaning on some random Aes' track from 2007 and its so fucking elegant and precise its insane. And then you start to understand there's a logic to the madness.

[@-feonix48-47]

Didn’t know what the fuck “everybody wang Chung with the spiritually bankrupt” meant until I randomly heard Everybody Have Fun Tonight on the radio.

[@ricochetsixtyten]

Labor Days changed my life, probably listened to and dissected it for 5 years straight, Float is awesome too.

[@cooloutac]

Yes my friend. I think to this day I still know Labor Days by heart. I don't think Lupe realizes that he has it backwards. Aes has actually got more advanced as time went on lmao. One of the few albums I do. The Blackstar Album and Co flow album, Canibal Ox are some others.

[@alexanderkonczal3908]

I haven't interfaced enough with Lupe, but it's always nice to hear rappers just talk. His accent is beautiful, for one thing.

[@mhholmez]

when he referenced "shrunk", i felt that. when i heard that song first "seppuku" was also stuck in my mind

[@pexikan13]

So happy Lu gets it. Little bit disappointed he didn't talk more about Aesop's talent as a music producer. He's undoubtedly one of the best currently doing both composing and writing.

[@thomassiegfried5409]

His production is top notch, Illinformed is another who's got it sowed up right now.

[@stickman3990]

@@thomassiegfried5409 El-P too man his beats are fire

[@thomassiegfried5409]

@@stickman3990 I agree, not a big fan of his lyrics, but he's a solid producer.

[@UrbanGorillaStudios]

The true of GOAT of lyricism in Hip Hop. He should be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[@CliffSedge-nu5fv]

He should get a Pulitzer Prize, honestly.

[@tomfoolery5680]

A scared boy tries to tear his brother down. A real man lifts his brother up that he may find success. Lupe a real one for this 💯

[@Freakuency_DJ]

You know he’s a deep fan because he calls him Aes’. This is such a beautiful tribute to one of the best in the game. I’ve never seen this kind of love and respect for artistry by another true artist before.

[@SupernovaSteven]

First of all, Lupe, you’re a master in your own right. A pure thinker. I love analyzing him and you and every other dense lyricist of our time, you’re all amazing and inspiring. Aesop doesn’t want infamy, he just wants to write and do what he loves. “Whether you connect the dots or not is truly not my problem” is a line that really shows that.

[@KeepTrevorAlive111]

"I'm gone fishin' at the risk of being overlooked"

[@maxmannella4073]

He was also with def jux record label for the longest. I would like to think that most people’s first impression of Aesop on a label was with defjux (definitive jux) with a lotta heads. El-p (run the jewels), cage, mr lif, cannibal ox, camu Tao, Murs, rob sonic, and I think RJD2 if I’m not mistaken, among others.

[@Criesto137]

Dorks is about LP and def jux.

[@x_VineM_x]

1st heard him on "Delorean" with El

[@sparkinton]

I just watched one of my favorite musicians speak praise of my all time favorite musician….. and I’m a guitar playing drummer. Aesop is ineffably important.

[@alteredhiphop7332]

Hip hop is still alive and beautiful in 2021. Seeing Lupe Fiasco bigging up Aesop Rock is something I never thought I would see. You dont' have to like Aesops music but you need to respect it. And rappers like Lupe, Aesop, Thougt, Elzhi etc are proof that Hip Hop is built to last and that true MC's will never go away.

[@wormsali]

I just found Elzhi

[@cajunpoet8701able]

Been listening to Aesop since I was 15 when I first heard his music it blew my mind from a poetic and intellectual stand point he was and still is on a different level. Glad to see he's finally getting some well deserved recognition.

[@kayluhluh6973]

“Since 15” are you like 16 right now?

[@cajunpoet8701able]

34...

[@typhoidsoup9019]

15 for me too. 37 now.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

@@typhoidsoup9019 15 for me too and I'm 36 haha. Some classics came out during that time man.. from Andre Nickatina to The Visionaries. Even Tech N9ne was really dope back then.

[@joerostkowski7313]

I heard asop when I was 15 ,23 years ago , didn't get it,as I got older I realized he spitting stuff way ahead of his time! Always referred to him as the Shakespeare of hip hop

[@boombaporiginal3359]

This is what hip hop needs. I have so many friends who try to have the "best rapper/rappers/mc's" debate with me and they don't even know who half the candidates are!

[@dburns9080]

I’ve always described Aes’s music like a photo. At the micro it’s pixelated and blurry. At the macro the picture comes together and you get that “aha!” moment.

[@coreytrevino6858]

Aes is a rapper who so loves the art form, he’s built his career on making high art in the format of songs. He is a poet more than a musician, a painter of language. He spills his guts into his music, everything that makes him ugly and beautiful and unique and flawed and conveys that in a way no other has ever done. His music is so deeply touching and gut wrenching and heart breaking and funny and thought provoking and it feels like, as much as he’s trying to help you understand who he is, he’s teaching you how to learn about yourself on a deeper level by coercing you into deciphering his language. Most people don’t have the patience or willingness to sit with his music and try to understand it, it’s so dense and deeply coded that it’s impossible to understand on the first several listens, and in a world of instant gratification, that level of depth isn’t as appreciated as it deserves to be, it’s why he’ll never become as universally respected as he deserves, but art for the sake of art is never fully appreciated by most people. Its not music you dance to or listen to in the background, it’s something you dedicate hours of your time to carefully inspecting and dissecting and deciphering, it requires your full attention and most people aren’t willing to do that with most things, let alone music. He is my favorite lyricist of all time, of any genre of music, not just rap. I have a limitless level of respect and adoration for what he does, and I think that it’s a tragedy that most people don’t even know he exists.

[@knutt81]

Just like Tupac...I didn't grow up in the hood but I can relate. Aes is the G.O.A.T.

[@WarrenLeggatt]

Aesop puts together words in ways that take real work to read into, it's what kept me listening since the Skeleton era and waiting for every next project. The thing that holds Aesop back from the recognition he deserves is he puts together words in ways that take real work to read into :)

[@mfcheech]

One of my favorite artists talking about one of my other favorites. Been a fan of Aesop since the weathermen group 😉

[@marmo1360]

Artists respect the craft. Super classy Lupe. RIP Gift of Gab

[@ju4408]

Shit. RIP, big guy.

[@justsomejusstsome8994]

Man I didn't know this. How did he die

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

WHAT NOOOOOOO i didn't know Gift of Gab died. I remember seeing few years back that he has diabetes and is having trouble covering medical bills (this fucked up country). So i assume it has something tto do with that. RIP

[@2raw2war2]

He mastered splashes 😅 Aesop is amazing- I was trying to say that when you got to the point of being stuck on 5 songs--you can listen again again and the depth goes deeper and the breadth goes wider. Such a great point about a word is the punchline. Wow, glad I came across you talking about this. If the cat's out if the bag, it's out of the bag. 😸

[@amithreily1764]

That is a powerful cat

[@MR.FREEDMAN]

I'm still stuck on that H&M bar from Lupe. Aesop needs his flowers, I want to see more of this in hh.

[@jalennelson6008]

I respect Lupe so much more because of this. I've been rockin with Aesop Rock for years.

[@AndrewBarrett-x8r]

Aesop also has a great aesthetic about his art and layouts for his records. He supports other artists by bringing them to people to see like his amazing videos he puts out or eclectic collaborations he puts out. He has got me into Blockhead's beats as well as the artist Jeremy Fish and his amazing art just to name a couple out of many...

[@kareemal-aziz527]

Real ones know Aesop Rock been a goat listen to the greatest Victory in Pac-Man history by him

[@nabokafkaontheshore]

"his cat" had me absolutely dying. this is such a cool video. my favorite artist talking about my favorite artist and referencing my other favorite artists.

[@freedomchurch7134]

Always on his mind....😋😇🌈💋💋💋💋 Yasss get into Aesop. That's a great idea.

[@MasterClassTheater1984]

I agree with you my friend. It is for the better. The esoteric knowledge that Ace drops is far beyond the realm of normal understanding hence - milk for babies, meat for men. Or my favorite. No pearls for swine, which sounds fucked up - at first - but what seems like animosity is not only, not that - but also a very deep hidden message that can help save your soul, And show you how to bloom like a flower( or to be put it in better words... a Pinecone.) Once he is actually studied instead of just being heard it'll be long after we're gone and back again. Just like Tesla he's ahead of his time. Im blessed to be able to understand exactly (well almost) what he is saying and knowing that in our time there was only a select few who had lived enough lives and drunk from the river enough that for some amazing reason (lets call it the harry eye) without any prior knowledge, that we We're able to understand... Nae..... able to know what it was that ace was gettin at. Your real close Lupe just know that the reason you're so drawn to his songs is that Ace has a gift of giving you tapestries of ancient knowledge through his words..... his symbolism. It is phenomenal...... If he's not a mason he should be because there are some extremely complicated views which Ace has put into songs that are about simple things such as Kirby. While there are some songs or albums such as the spirit guide'$ handbook. These songs would blow your fuckin mind if you knew about esotericism and the undying pursuit of our soul to find out what is truth. ASOP, if you're reading this you weren't the only one, it was because of you that I was able to remember. God bless you and thank you my friend! May we meet up this go around and compare notes. I almost died in a Neeson, I almost died on a boat, no matter the number of those that I had around me no one could hear the meaning to the words that I spoke. It was a joke at first but then it hert way more then I could grasp at that moment, I thought I was the onley one in a long time to not onley grasp it - but hold it - dear to my hart truly my morality provin through perseverance. Forget that what I found nobodey saw or understood no matter how close they put there face near it.........looked at my hand with no beverage and realized the strong erge to beer it. I want to learn about things that I don't know instead of allowing my amygdaline to fear it.

[@l3ul2t]

Wow! This is hero level content🎉 Shout out to you Lupe. The acknowledgement and thoughtful breakdown to support this is beautiful. Game recognizing game at the highest level. Never had to, but you said the words we wanted to say about Ase with a platform most don't have. Cheers to you LF ❤

[@featherycoffee1401]

And then he's still able to do something like Long Legged Larry, that's a multi-talented guy. Imagine being able to make a children's rap song about a frog with Long legs who helps people by Jumping so high he grew a beard in the air and then being the person who also wrote Daylight or Labor days like bro, there's just no way to see what's coming and what he's gonna do next except that it will be quality

[@kayluhluh6973]

You talk too muc

[@featherycoffee1401]

@@kayluhluh6973 nah

[@andrewcantor-wagner2056]

Long Legged Larry and Kirby are two of my children's favorite songs and I was happy to use those as a stepping stone to rap for them

[@knutt81]

No Regrets

[@AndrewBarrett-x8r]

If you're aware of who Tom Waits you'll know he's a very well respected, genius musician. He's older and besides his eclectic music he also acts among other things. He is not a fan of rap/ hip-hop at all. Well one day he heard his son playing some music that immediately intersted him and he was blown away by it, liking it right away...alot. Well that artist who he heard was Aesop Rock.

[@MegaFlorest]

27:45 Lupe perfectly sums up my favorite thing about Aes. "Headed for satori in jorts and horse blinders" - Difficult “architect of my kodokushi” - Kodokushi " There is no amount of tourmalated quartz" - 1+1=13

[@alexsolli6680]

so beautiful to have Lupe touch on the brilliance of a fellow artist in the space. Lupe himself is a great, so it comes from a place of genuine artistry, creative intellect, and Sontagian explorations and demarcation of existence and of consciousness. another note: the song about his cat, Kirby, is a track that comes after a track about his reluctant first visit to a therapist, who recommended he get a cat. that song, shrunk, comes after a song about a tough loss in his life and the mental toll that followed, in which he reveals he is reflecting on that loss as he is sitting in the car outside of the therapist's office. it's this immaculately cinematic telling which threads these three tracks beautifully, combining the playful portrayal of his time with his cat and the existential and emotional journey it took to get him to such simplicity, if we can phrase it as such. wonderful. x.

[@JJ_Jack_Gittes]

Keep sniffing your fart.

[@PersonaNonGrata666]

My dearest friend, Pumpkin Seeds went HARD. I always knew Lupe was a well-rounded dude but I didn't know I was into listening to him talk about jazz and Aesop Rock for nearly an hour straight.

[@fentanyljones6956]

Dude doesn’t just say words to say them either. His lyrics have substance that rivals any artist of any written art-form.

[@kristianroman3370]

Aesop Rock is my all time favorite for a reason. If you haven't heard Aesop Rock yet give him a listen. Lupe! What a wonderful breakdown of this masterful lyricist I couldn't have said it better myself King.

[@cheechwizard2798]

Thanks for uploading this bro! I was 10 mins in watching it on IG and my phone died lol.

[@alijawda2896]

Aesop rock is hands down my favorite rapper.

[@kevinglover1314]

Respect for showin love. Aesop rock is the G.O.A.T

[@rachelvaughn3464]

I loved hearing you appreciate Aesop. I found him roughly 20 years ago and rarely hear anyone mention him. You did a great job giving insight into his art.

[@itachiovermadara]

And y’all made a song together, nice.

[@FDBK4REAL]

This is amazing. Taking the time to appreciate Aes and show others why he matters in the conversation in hip-hop. I love the comparison between him and Jackson Pollack, never thought of that. So inspiring to see you talk about him for 45 mins! 🔥🙏🏼🔥

[@hexvillain]

I have soooo much respect for Lupe especially after hearing his views on Aesop. Lupe is a hiphop! It's great to hear him paying homage to such a talented and humble guy, Aes! It's one thing to be the actual GOAT and another to talk about it.

[@BricktowneMedia]

I came here for the talk on Aesop Rock's excellence but man, Lupe talking to his lap top has made my week. I appreciate all of it.

[@billyalarie929]

not a rapper but a writer. this guy is on another level and YOU glowing him up like this means something real.

[@allenriggs1110]

Respect for giving props to one of the best, profound MC's of all time. It's almost unfair to compare anyone to Aes, because no one does it like him. EL-P is as close as it gets. And praise to you, Lupe. "Food and liquor", and "The Cool" are works of art in and of themselves. "I Gotcha" and "Put You on Game" are some of my favorite hip hop tracks of all time. Nothin but love

[@AesopRocha]

Preach! "It might take you three years" I've been on his shit since '99 and still learning! Aes, is an actual genius! What's even more amazing is that Aes is able to share his genius with us in a relatable way (if you"do the work" as you say), and we should all be grateful for it!

[@Ty91681]

Idk how I missed this when it first came out. Aesop rock is the GOAT.

[@timhamann9523]

“I was sitting on my fire escape and sawwwww…” lyrically a beautiful picture of NY.

[@theflyingcrud]

This is a great video. For anyone interested, please check out Lu's intro to his course at MIT. Absolutely fantastic, I'm really looking forward to watching the rest of the course as it comes out.

[@vinestreetalternative7398]

Awesome video/discussion, thanks for sharing. Aesop has been my favorite for a long time, and I love hip hop in general and dig tons of rappers, including you! There's a million things to be said about this, just one thing that you didn't really touch on too much that's one small sliver of why this dude is off the charts: his own personal lexicon. When you check out the whole discography you'll see a lot of references to similar things, often animal references or things that are evolved slang, like references to popular slang but updated and personalized. And then when you start to pick up on these recurring themes (tugboat, knuckle dragger, similars, etc.) you can make broader sense of previously baffling lines. It's this obscured, riddle-aspect to the writing that can be unraveled when you cross-reference the instances of certain words and phrases. And this crypticness allows for even more density in the poetry, even more nuance, triple-layers, etc. But all this headiness, all these complexities would be meaningless if the flow isn't there, and if the pedagogy isn't in place, if there isn't a love for the music and tradition. At first Aesop can seem bizarre for weirdness's sake, but when you dig in and realize he's references classic hip hop figures all the time, the flow is super on point (as you mentioned) and there's a deep command of slang and evolution of slang, you realize you're witnessing the complete package. Brains and Brawn, so to speak.

[@readrothbard153]

Aesop been killin it for decades. I love lots of mc's but no one is on Aes's level. From the heavy hitting references and visualization to the simple and brilliant (Kirby, Long Legged Larry, KOWP etc) '...Rap about ur 4 figure watch, I clock a .99 cent wristband and still know the time when your record flops'

[@ttt69420]

He's matched his flow to his style of writing perfectly. The way he weaves in and out of syllables and word patterns is great to listen to, even if you don't like all the lyrics. Although every song has amazing lyrical bars in it as well.

[@tobiiiiiiiiiiii_m]

aesop rock's none shall pass album should be in top 20 all time

[@literaticrux8292]

All his albums plus Malibu Ken

[@bmxnc22]

You haven't heard Float my friend..

[@littlemissbaby3450]

Spirit world field guide - number 1 hands down ever

[@cooloutac]

@@littlemissbaby3450 Labor Days for me. I still know the whole thing by heart. lol

[@cooloutac]

@@literaticrux8292 I love that album.

[@rotisserieprotocol3582]

Aesop is a poet who uses hiphop as a medium to convey his art. Lupe Fiasco I don't know much about personally, but I know he's know and I thank him for sharing this. I feel Aesop should at least be known if not loved by all.

[@moustafamahgoub1064]

Here after the collab 🙏

[@renasonts7885]

I know I'm late on the conversation but aesop rock is epic beyond definition. dude will bust a verse about his socks and it'll sound like quantum physics haha! His raps are fire!

[@KxllBrvd]

"Feel Good About Ya Self Homeboy This Is How To Tie Ya Shoes" Is Crazy Lmaoooo

[@MeanStreamFraudCast]

Aes deserves the props more then most. He is one of the great songwriters of our time, beyond hip hop. I feel like "obscure" hip hop artists generally have a hard time not getting the recognition they deserve. And I can't say that without atleast giving props to Quelle, Homeboy Sandman and Busdriver!

[@literaticrux8292]

Thank you Lupe! Was bumping Field Studies today. Lyrics, flow, beats, all top tier. A perfect evolution of boom bap era NYC with densely-packed poetry. He probably even got bumped up more when he spit "au jus". Like most rappers don't want to push the art, only make CREAM.

[@christianperez7846]

My favorite line from Aes is: I used to have a rope ladder But tattered we’re the rungs I hung it from the highest willow Trying to hug the sun But the seventh level buckled And I tumbled from the summit Now I’m back to re-climb And this time Light my cigarette from it

[@williamhayes4017]

“Oink oink bellow from the bacon with the brawniest frame that roll on your hood like Tawny Kitaen”. That line always gets me being a child of the 80’s. Low Tide with DJ Signify. My god that whole verse is nuts, def my fav if I was forced to choose one. Dudes writing is just straight up genius.

[@Bedhead13]

I kinda liked Lupe before this, but now he's the only person I can name to give the GOAT proper respect

[@bk2524]

Love to a Jazz club, love to another MC. Pretty awesome.

[@CliffSedge-nu5fv]

Artists appreciate art. ❤

[@mylesayres6060]

Man I really didn't know Lupe knew Aes like that. Mad props. Mostly, I find myself going back and putting Dryspell on repeat whenever I find myself drowning in a pool of "Why are you here?" Classic Aes ripping it up as always. Man and of course that beat is just so smooth and groovy just like Aes's lyrics

[@ju4408]

If every light is dark, I put on The Tugboat Complex and boogie.

[@mistermazemusic]

"I'll hang my boots to rest when I'm impressed, so I triple-knot 'em and forgot 'em" - Aesop Rock

[@alpaykasal2902]

Big fan of Lupe here, it fills me with so much fanboy happiness to hear him giving Aes his respect. Holy canola, Aes is on a whole other level and in his own category. I'm so here for this. Thank you Lupe Fiasco.

[@morenablighthlatshwayo9651]

Been studying Aesop.. You.... And Slug from Atmosphere 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@str8neverstr8ened60]

Appreciate this 💯 an actual artist appreciating ART that's on another level

[@Dang3rMouSe]

Aesop deserves some serious love. Been underground for so many many yrs working hard doing his thing

[@urboof4526]

This is my favorite video of all time. 💙

[@lauderdale77]

Amen

[@doublehsword6508]

Aesop Rock is the phenomenal artist on earth ! No praise is enough .

[@christopherbf1197]

Lupe hip-hop encyclopedia is crazy. love his attitude and knowledge

[@Ty91681]

I'm not sure what tracks lupe is stuck on but I'd recommend listening to some his new songs. They're easier to parse and may give you some insights into his older work. I've been listening to Aes for a long time and hearing Nad understanding his newer stuff has helped me to understand some of his older works.

[@coreydague946]

Same. I used to love Aesop but felt he was like something to study more than listen to. Then Impossible Kid came out and it was like a cypher key to the whole backlog. Now he's just my favorite straight up

[@wrigglenight93]

@@coreydague946 I consider The Impossible Kid to be sort of a conclusion to a personal arc that began with None Shall Pass. None Shall Pass was a refresh of his style and proof that he still had it Skelethon was the same esoteric Aes, but with some cracks beginning to show. Maybe this isn't working for him anymore, at least that seems to be where his mind's drifting. It ultimately ends in a rather ugly way, with the regression on Tetra followed by the collapse on Gopher Guts And in The Impossible Kid, he opens up

[@Ehh.....]

@@wrigglenight93 Getting that kitten really helped.

[@AlexHerlan]

Loved this. This is what it sounds like to be naturally passionate about something.