Aesop Rock, born Ian Matthias Bavitz, has long been heralded as one of indie-rap’s gems since his introduction to the rap scene in 1997. Known for his rapid flow, grungy voice and cryptic lyricism, Aesop has developed a rabid fan base by shirking the normative rapper persona in favor of his quirky and off-kilter style.
Aesop’s partner on “Lice,” Homeboy Sandman, did not begin his career until 2007 with the release of his first album, “Nourishment.” His 2008 album “Actual Factual Pterodactyl” was critically acclaimed. Initially performing as Aesop’s opening performer on tour last year, an Aesop-Homeboy collaboration seemed like a foregone conclusion.
The “Lice” EP is the culmination of those rumblings. Only 17 minutes long, with five tracks in total, this project displays the best of these two artists.
Aesop, creating his first solo material since 2012, is as dense as ever. On the song “Vertigo,” Aesop raps about a paranoid voyeur, “a mutt of all things” and “spawn of the awful,” waking up “in the haunted crawl space,” with his “hoodie up, gaunt face down, taut drawstrings.” There aren’t many rappers better at crafting a character supposedly on the edge of sanity, teeming with desperation. This track is an introductory course of his ability to do just that.
Aesop’s influence is all over this record as well, and Homeboy Sandman, while not a newcomer to intricate wordplay in the slightest, brought his best in trying to match Aesop’s caliber. A line from his second verse on that same track: “what do you get for the man who has everything? More of it i’m sure of it / Soon as I’m finished snoring then I’ll show you where I’m storing it / Forsaken good for goodness sake / And wish I lived in nature so that I could throw my cell phone in the lake,” was particularly impressive. The first track off the album sets the stage beautifully with the two rapper’s lyrical swordfighting.
From this point on, the lyrics only got more interesting. “Katz” seems to be a survival guide for people who may be uncouth when it comes to, really, almost anything. Using the template “Cats had better…” to start off each line, Aesop and Homeboy have some hilarious moments. If this track is any indication, from being neat and wiping the toilet “if they sprinkle when they tinkle” to saving Aesop “a jelly-filled,” cats have a lot to keep up with.
“Environmental Studies,” with the best beat and hook on the album, shows off Aesop’s flow better than any song on the album. The song almost sneaks up on the listener as a nuanced look at society, or, in a more general sense, the personal environment of each particular individual. On the song’s hook, Aesop pledges to “treat hacks like flies to the spider-web.”
The prevailing theme on the laid-back, “So Strange Here,” is that “strange beats normal.” A beautiful track, albeit with an almost invisible beat, both rappers reflect on the paths their lives have taken, ultimately resigning themselves to be content with all of their perceived abnormalities.
Ultimately, this EP acts as an introduction to these rappers’ abilities. While there are some uneven beats on the record, Aesop has proven himself to be a more than competent producer. Both rappers have provided their fans with a project to have on repeat until the release of their future solo albums.
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