Photo by Ben Colen
Aesop Rock is set to return with his first solo LP in four years, The Impossible Kid. The follow-up to 2012’s Skelethon is due for an April 29th release via Rhymesayers Entertainment.
The self-produced record began coming together when Aesop left San Francisco to move into a barn in the woods following the death of a close friend. This self-imposed reclusion lead to an album more lyrically personal than past releases, touching on things like depression and his turbulent family relationships. It also takes inspiration from Aesop returning to his pre-rap passions of skateboarding and drawing, as evident on lead single “Rings”.
“Used to draw/ Hard to admit that I used to draw,” he flows on the first verse, emphasis on the past tense. “Portraiture and a human form/ Doodle of a two-headed unicorn/ It was soothing.” “Rings” comes to us via the beautiful and disturbing video, in which Aesop is cut open on an autopsy table where his artistic aspirations are literally pulled out of him.
Check out the Rob Shaw-directed clip below, followed by The Impossible Kid artwork and tracklisting. Update – Wednesday, March 23rd at 12:30 p.m. CT: Aesop Rock has also announced an extensive US tour featuring Rob Sonic, Homeboy Sandman, and more.
The Impossible Kid Artwork:
The Impossible Kid Tracklist:
01. Mystery Fish
02. Rings
03. Lotta Years
04. Dorks
05. Rabies
06. Supercell
07. Blood Sandwich
08. Get Out of the Car
09. Shrunk
10. Kirby
11. TUFF
12. Lazy Eye
13. Defender
14. Water Tower
15. Molecules
Aesop Rock 2016 Tour Dates:
03/23-27 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Fest
05/05 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo
05/06 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
05/07 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
05/09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
05/10 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
05/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
05/13 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
05/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
05/16 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
05/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Country Club
05/20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
05/21 – Durango, CO @ Animas City Theater
05/23 – Denver, CO @ Cervantes
05/24 – Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
06/02 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
06/03 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
06/04 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
06/06 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot
06/07 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
06/08 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
06/10 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
06/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
06/13 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
06/15 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
06/16 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
06/17 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
06/27 – Richmond, VA @ The National
06/28 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
06/29 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
07/02 – Knoxville, TN @ The International
07/03 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
07/05 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
07/06 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
07/08 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
07/10 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
07/11 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theatre
07/13 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
07/14 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
