Aesop Rock: Appleseed EP (1999)

::: For those of you who have heard Aesop Rock before, you might think Float was his first album, or maybe even Labor Days. But before his semi-major label deal with Mush for Float, there were two releases that Aesop put out on his own. The first was entitled Music For Earthworms, which is a great album to start off his collection, followed by his Appleseed EP. I chose to write about Appleseed because it is one of my favorite Aesop releases overall. At only eight total tracks, it is similar to his later Daylight EP, in that every song is solid and there isn't any filler. One great thing about this album is that Aesop produced almost all of the beats, with the exception of "Sick Friend" (Omega) and "1000 Deaths" (Blockhead). The beats are not all that complicated, usually a combination of the traditional sample and drum loop, but they work well with Aesop's distinct style. With Aesop I think it works best when there is a steady rhythm to balance out his unpredictable and complex delivery. One of my favorite Aesop tracks of all time is on Appleseed, entitled "Hold The Cup," and there is also a cameo from Dose One on the last track, "Odessa." Appleseed is a must-have for any Aesop Rock fan, and a good start for those looking to get into his music.

Tracklist

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