Aesop Rock Quotes

Aesop Rock is an American rapper and producer. Known for his intricate wordplay and dense lyrical style, Aesop Rock has gained a dedicated following in the hip-hop community. His socially conscious and introspective lyrics have made him a respected figure in underground rap and alternative hip-hop.

I went to college, got a job. Not a good job or anything but I was fully set to be an office employee for my life.

Inserting my personal brand of humor is something I have at times had trouble doing - but I feel like I've been learning about it a little more, how to do it, and how it helps my songs.

I am a failed visual artist.... -Aesop Rock

I am a failed visual artist.

Doing something like 'Bushwick,' a lot of people need to agree that the piece is working with what's going on on the screen. So it's a lot of tweaks and re-works, just kinda moving pieces around and getting things to hit right.

People's opinions outside of my direct group of fr... -Aesop Rock

People's opinions outside of my direct group of friends means next to nothing.

I remember when I was younger, I read that Jay-Z was 33 and I was just like, 'Damn! This dudes really still goin for it?' It's just so rare that you see any rapper over 30 doing anything interesting.

Pardon me if this all sounds corny, but when you put on a record, I'd like it to be an escape from everything you do.

I've been writing for a long time.... -Aesop Rock

I've been writing for a long time.

I've always recorded at home. That's been part of what it's about to me. I've never been the kind of guy who rents a studio.

I'm never really comfortable; I think it's kind of natural to feel uncomfortable, and I think if people say they are comfortable, they're just lying.

I had written rap songs in the early '90s and even did a couple homemade rap songs with my brother in like '88 or '89, but it was just like... I don't even know how to say it. Just plain rap. I was just rapping about whatever, there was no real style or direction, it was just semi-braggadocious rhymes that probably imitated 100 other rappers.

I avoided the computer generation for a very long ... -Aesop Rock

I avoided the computer generation for a very long time.

I went to college in '94 and started freestyling a lot more and hearing how others did it, hearing styles from other regions, all of it. Met Blockhead there.

The people I feel inspired around draw pictures, t... -Aesop Rock

The people I feel inspired around draw pictures, they make paintings.

I feel like a lot of times, when making a one-song collab with someone, it's easy for one person to not be fully invested. I guess you'd call that 'mailing it in.' But when you say 'This is our album,' then all parties have a reason to make it as good as possible, and the goal becomes seeing what we can do together as a unit.

It's a strange position to be in. Not only the fact that I'm trying to live off work that is personal, but how you get the money for that is racing around the country and smiling for people and selling the record, you know what I mean?

I used to do a lot of one-off collabs, features, s... -Aesop Rock

I used to do a lot of one-off collabs, features, stuff like that.

I just write notes all day on my phone, and when I write songs it becomes a patchwork of these smaller notes that I had, mixed with stuff in the moment.

I don't want to hit a point where I feel there is ... -Aesop Rock

I don't want to hit a point where I feel there is nothing to improve upon - there always is.

My brothers each reacted differently to 'Blood Sandwich.' It's a very specific type of odd feeling when there's a song written about you. People react to it differently.

I like to make stuff and I try to stay busy.... -Aesop Rock

I like to make stuff and I try to stay busy.

My brother came home from college with a Mountain Goats cassette and I was like, 'What is this?' The lyrics were crazy to me. I'd never heard anything like it.

When you're younger, you really care who your fans... -Aesop Rock

When you're younger, you really care who your fans are.

I love 'Black Mirror.'... -Aesop Rock

I love 'Black Mirror.'

Really, my biggest risk was just the initial step to quit my day job to do music. I was packaging and shipping for an art gallery in Manhattan; I went to school for painting, so I always wanted to work around artwork, even though I wasn't really contributing anything to the scene.

I've traveled a lot, I've rapped a lot. I like to think that's all in the toolbox to be tapped into when I need it.

I don't claim to be a composer, and I realize my approach is pretty dopey in comparison to the true masters of score work. That said, if someone thinks what I do specifically would work for their film, then, of course, let's see what we can do.

New York can be a tad stressful.... -Aesop Rock

New York can be a tad stressful.

I want to stay learning and hopefully allow my cra... -Aesop Rock

I want to stay learning and hopefully allow my craft to evolve.

Performing is fine.... -Aesop Rock

Performing is fine.

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