This Saturday, underground hip-hop icon Aesop Rock will be returning to Chicago for a headlining gig with his ol' pal Rob Sonic. RFC recently caught up with the always verbose MC via email to discuss his latest tour, what he's been working on in the studio lately, and the details behind his brand new limited edition Adidas kicks.
Download: Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass"
It's already been almost a year since the release of None Shall Pass...what's the latest news, what's the occasion for the latest tour and what can we expect to hear/see this time around?
Things are pretty good. It's been a really busy 12 months, lots of ups and downs. After NSP, we pretty much hit the road in the US, Europe, and Australia, rested for a a couple weeks and went back out here and there. It was the busiest touring year I've had in quite some time. In my short stays at home between shows I just worked on a ton of beats, and wrote a bunch, just keeping busy...usually with no direction. It's hard for me to get focused on a big project when I know I'll be back on the road a couple weeks later. I just wanted to get the stockpiles up so I have some stuff to work with when I do get to focus. Did a lot of guest spots and collabs and such, stuff that's easier to bang out in a few days here or there. Basically this upcoming tour is gonna be our last US run for a minute after which I plan on locking myself back in the studio to focus on solo material, Weathermen album, and me and Rob Sonic have been talking about doing a possible side project.
The show we've started rehearsing incorporates some old stuff we haven't done in a long long time, some slightly more obscure stuff, as well as some NSP songs we've never played before. Some of it people have seen, but a good chunk of the set is getting a facelift. We got to try out some of it recently in Austin, as we had a random one-off show, and it went really well. People really seemed to be digging it.
Any amusing stories from past Chicago shows or visits you'd like to share?
We've been coming there for a long time, and I've been working with and great friends with the Biz3 staff since my first 'official' release in 99 or 2000 or whenever that was, so I've spent a lot of time there. I love it there. We tried to bring out my little friend Hollis last year (he is the child that sings the interlude in the beginning of the NSP album), but he totally froze up on stage at the Metro. He was all excited to do and being all cocky, but then he walked out and it just didn't go down. That's not that much of a story but it was damn cute to watch.
You're on tour again with Rob Sonic, for those who may not be familiar, how did you two first come to start collaborating? And what is it that keeps the collaboration going?
Rob is a like-minded dude. Really really great guy, and amazing MC/producer that is criminally slept on. A few years ago I asked if he wanted to join me on stage for a handful of shows to do some back up vocals, as well as perform some solo material during my set that i could in turn back him up on. I never had a "hype man" that was only a "hype man", I always found it better to take another artist with me, someone who can stand on their own and rock. This way we get to combine powers and win. Win rap. We get along really well, and the chemistry is there, so it feels pretty natural to continue. Me, him, and DJ Big Wiz really have a good understanding of how to be on stage together at this point, so its just a comfortable situation that is pretty beneficial to everyone.
Now that some time has passed, where do you see None Shall Pass in the context of the Aesop Rock catalog and/or where do you think it will lead you creatively going forward?
Well, it's the most recent so by default it's my favorite, BUT even taking off the goggles that kinda warp my own perception of what I've done, NSP to me is a way more realized project than anything I've done... by a lot. I think i did the best writing and rapping of my life on that record, and [producer] Blockhead really brought his A-game. I'm very proud of the production I did on that record, and it really just came together better than I could've hoped. In addition, it's just recorded and mixed better than anything I've done. I realize people will have their favorite records/songs from my past, but a lot of that is based on what you heard first, where you were when you heard it, etc. when all this is done and the LPs and EPs are kinda weighed against one another in hindsight, I really think NSP will stand out by a lot. But that's just me, I'll probably hate it as soon as I finish whatever I do next. I enjoyed doing the story-heavy stuff on there, which I've done a little of on past records, but never to the extent that it goes to on NSP. I can definitely see myself continuing in that direction.
So, what's this about a new Aesop Rock Adidas shoe? Did you get a chance to design it yourself? If so, what goes into designing one's own shoe?
Yeah! It's basically Adidas collaborating with 4 artists that work with Upper Playground (whom i've done some stuff with in the past). They chose 3 visual artists and me. I had to pick an existing model, but got to choose the colors, materials, and could pretty much do anything design wise. We kept it all pretty simple and they really came out dope. They are Stan Smiths. They're available now exclusively through Upper Playground, 500 pairs only. It's cool cuz its something my mom will understand and think is cool. Sometimes i do stuff and she just doesn't get it, cuz the world I'm in means nothing to her. But putting my name on a shoe will be cool to her and I like that. Occasionally something happens and i'll be like "oh nice, my mom will get it and not think I ruined my life with rap."
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