The Rap & Hip-Hop Recommendation Thread

[Sparky]

I just always assumed it was a concept album about the rigor and lifelessness of typical working conditions. It melds with some ethereal aesop rock-y perceptions of life but i thought it was all still glued together by the notion that working sucks.

I don't remember the last time i listened to the record but i listened to it a lot.

I like bazooka tooth and agree with your interpretation. It seems more like float. Aesop isn't comfortable, he's stuck in a a society, specifically NY, where babies have guns and cling on to outdated hip hop symbolism, as well as some typical big brother future dystopian stuff. Aesop consumes a lot of psychedelics and tries to balance his "care free"adolescent life with the looming knowledge that its going to not exist very soon.

[Engine]

Originally Posted by A$AP Sparky

I just always assumed it was a concept album about the rigor and lifelessness of typical working conditions. It melds with some ethereal aesop rock-y perceptions of life but i thought it was all still glued together by the notion that working sucks.

I don't remember the last time i listened to the record but i listened to it a lot.

I like bazooka tooth and agree with your interpretation. It seems more like float. Aesop isn't comfortable, he's stuck in a a society, specifically NY, where babies have guns and cling on to outdated hip hop symbolism, as well as some typical big brother future dystopian stuff. Aesop consumes a lot of psychedelics and tries to balance his "care free"adolescent life with the looming knowledge that its going to not exist very soon.

Well, not to argue but he's in his mid to late 30s and has made a living by rapping since he graduated from college, I think.
But you're right, he's a paranoid guy who righteously hates wage-slavery.
He lives in San Francisco now so life may be a little more relaxed for him.

Whatever his personal situation, I have always looked up to him as a spokesperson for those of us who want more out of life than clock-punching as well as for being a defender of the idea that capable people can make at least a meager living by creating art.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Engine

Well, not to argue but he's in his mid to late 30s and has made a living by rapping since he graduated from college, I think.
But you're right, he's a paranoid guy who righteously hates wage-slavery.
He lives in San Francisco now so life may be a little more relaxed for him.

Whatever his personal situation, I have always looked up to him as a spokesperson for those of us who want more out of life than clock-punching as well as for being a defender of the idea that capable people can make at least a meager living by creating art.

Actually he worked as a waiter while making the first few records. I'm not sure what his age would be an argument against?

I think his San Francisco transformation may be why i'm so bored by his newer material.

Pretty much any good artist is a spokesperson for life outside of societal confines right?

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by A$AP Sparky

I just always assumed it was a concept album about the rigor and lifelessness of typical working conditions. It melds with some ethereal aesop rock-y perceptions of life but i thought it was all still glued together by the notion that working sucks.

That's very different from my take on it. I've always seen it being simply about work, not as a negative, but just as a general topic ranging from, yes, punching the clock to focusing your energies on your creative work.

[Engine]

Originally Posted by A$AP Sparky

Actually he worked as a waiter while making the first few records. I'm not sure what his age would be an argument against?

I think his San Francisco transformation may be why i'm so bored by his newer material.

Pretty much any good artist is a spokesperson for life outside of societal confines right?

1) His current age plus his success in underground hip-hop = he's a very successful underground hip-hop artist. He's not making a lot of money but he does it anyway. He doesn't wait tables, he pays his rent by making music.

2) You're bored with the latest stuff you've heard? I'm not.

3) Absolutely wrong. Unless you're talking about artists who are very young and willing to subsist on almost no money (like living in a van), most "good" artists work very much within the confines of society and the way that much larger sums of money is normally generated (i.e. an investor pouring lots of ducats into promoting them and selling their merchandise which is the real commodity of commercial musicians. I know I don't need to explain this to you but you brought it up). To reference my point #1, most musicians don't make a reasonably sound living without getting within the confines of commercially successful record labels (i.e. society) even if its a very low-paying underground hip-hop label like Def Jux or Rhymesayers. They all have to make enough money to support themselves somehow. The way small, poor labels do it without wealthy investors? Employ talented artists who will work hard and garner the support of devoted fans. Duh.

Originally Posted by Janszoon

That's very different from my take on it. I've always seen it being simply about work, not as a negative, but just as a general topic ranging from, yes, punching the clock to focusing your energies on your creative work.

I think Aesop Rock and all successful rappers his age (hence the reason I mentioned his age) would agree that making money in their field is hard work. But it is work that they do for their own satisfaction as well as for feeding themselves. As for Aesop Rock, he's definitely against the 9-5 clock punching method of generating income. The exceedingly few rappers who can feed themselves and pay their rent by making $$ from their own heartfelt art obviously work VERY fucking hard to do so.

A$AP Sparky, isn't all of the above obvious?

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Engine

1) His current age plus his success in underground hip-hop = he's a very successful underground hip-hop artist. He's not making a lot of money but he does it anyway. He doesn't wait tables, he pays his rent by making music.

What was the original point of this? That because you think he never endured a typical job that his album wouldn't be from that perspective?

3) Absolutely wrong. Unless you're talking about artists who are very young and willing to subsist on almost no money (like living in a van), most "good" artists work very much within the confines of society and the way that much larger sums of money is normally generated (i.e. an investor pouring lots of ducats into promoting them and selling their merchandise which is the real commodity of commercial musicians. I know I don't need to explain this to you but you brought it up). To reference my point #1, most musicians don't make a reasonably sound living without getting within the confines of commercially successful record labels (i.e. society) even if its a very low-paying underground hip-hop label like Def Jux or Rhymesayers. They all have to make enough money to support themselves somehow. The way small, poor labels do it without wealthy investors? Employ talented artists who will work hard and garner the support of devoted fans. Duh.

Thankyous sir, quite astonished i must say.

When i said all artists are a spokesperson for a life outside of societal confines(not necessarily living it themselves, but advocating for it) i was addressing this comment specifically, i shoulda made that clearer my bad.

Whatever his personal situation, I have always looked up to him as a spokesperson for those of us who want more out of life than clock-punching as well as for being a defender of the idea that capable people can make at least a meager living by creating art.

I mean that could represent anybody from twizted sister to matisyahu really. I 'm just trying to pick on you for giving aesop some-what i believe to be(!!)-lame praise.