as far as i am concerned the best mc in hip hop right now, and really since the release of labor days, is ian matthias bavitz or aesop rock to the rest of y’all. i get the feeling that most would probably argue that statement, but other than el-p, i dont think there is another mc attempting to shift the shape of hip hop quite like aesop rock. his work is definitely not a tasty treat for the masses. his lyrics are cryptic, if not sometimes nonsensical, his voice is not what one would call radio friendly, his beats are like bomb squad tracks filtered through mud packs and his flow doesnt follow any predefined path. all of which makes the journey into his world all the more captivating. none shall pass is probably my second or third favorite of the year and could even end taking the number one spot. i hate making such bold predictions but me thinks none shall pass could go down, given time, as one of the greatest hip hop records of all time.
he is on tour as i type, and tonite finds him at the grog shop in cleveland. he finishes up his tour here in atlanta on 11.20 @ mjq.
here he is w/ rjd2 manning the wheels of steel live in asheville, nc. i dont have an exact date but me thinks it was in 02.
1. intro
4. coma
5. accapella
6. lucy abc
9. ohh yeah!
10. dance contest
11. aesop dance rock
12. big bang
13. boombox
14. promolude
15. appleseed
16. kill em all(freestyle)
17. spoken word
18. daylight
none shall pass
