Aesop Rock

Ian Matthias Bavitz, known professionally as Aesop Rock, was born on June 5, 1976, in Syosset, New York, and raised in Northport. His early exposure to hip hop culture in New York City, combined with influences from rock acts like Dead Kennedys and Fugazi introduced by his elder brother, shaped his unique musical perspective. He began rapping in the early 1990s and, while attending Boston University for visual arts, he independently released his first full-length effort, “Music for Earthworms” in 1997. This early work, featuring collaborations with artists like Percee P, garnered grassroots attention online and laid the foundation for his career.

His breakthrough came with signing to Mush Records, leading to the release of “Float” in 2000. Shortly after, he joined Definitive Jux, where he released “Labor Days” (2001), an album notable for its thematic depth on labor and societal issues, and it marked his first appearance on the Billboard charts. He continued to evolve his sound with “Bazooka Tooth” (2003), taking on primary production duties, and further expanded his reach when tracks like “Labor” and “No Jumper Cables” were featured in popular video games “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4” and “Tony Hawk’s Underground 2” respectively. His involvement in the Nike+iPod running system, for which he created the instrumental track “All Day” in 2007, marked a notable intersection of his music with a global brand.

Following a period of solo hiatus and the transition of Definitive Jux to an indefinite hiatus, Aesop Rock continued to make significant contributions through collaborations and group projects. He joined Hail Mary Mallon, releasing “Are You Gonna Eat That?” (2011) and “Bestiary” (2014), and formed The Uncluded with Kimya Dawson, releasing “Hokey Fright” (2013). His solo career re-emerged with “Skelethon” (2012) on Rhymesayers Entertainment, followed by acclaimed albums such as “The Impossible Kid” (2016), “Spirit World Field Guide” (2020), and “Integrated Tech Solutions” (2023). These projects, alongside his work scoring the film “Bushwick” (2017) and forming the duo Malibu Ken with electronic musician Tobacco, demonstrate his consistent artistic output and adaptability across various creative endeavors.