NEW RELEASES
Aesop Rock proves time and time again that he can rap about any and everything, even if it's as boring as some pothole coverage. The "Send Help" spitter just offered a new single and music video, "Roadwork Rappin'," and it's a light-hearted loosie that doesn't skimp out on skill.
Mostly, that craft shows up in the rhyme schemes the Long Island MC employs and the specificity with which he describes a construction worker's everyday thrills and pleasures. It might not reflect as much conceptual or thematic variety as a cut like "Checkers," but that's exactly its appeal. You may find yourself chuckling at a horn honk recollection on this cut, and the commitment to the subject matter is something we take for granted far too often.
Furthermore, pair this with a funky beat and a cheekily campy chorus and you have the style of abstract descriptiveness Aesop Rock's known to excel with. It's a fitting single following his Black Hole Superette album from earlier this year, as it balances that expansiveness with Rock's more easy-going and straight-forward artistry.
Aesop Rock's other collaborations this year have been very solid as well, such as his verse on "Welcome Home Warrior" from the new clipping. album Dead Channel Sky. We're sure this won't be the last we hear from him in 2025. But if it is, the 49-year-old certainly gave fans a lot to chew on for what's left. Perhaps this previews something else in the works, or he just really wanted to rap about trucks and bulldozers.
Quotable Lyrics
I welcome any symphony of back-up beepers beeping,
It’s music to my ears, I rather it to sleeping,
A welcoming cacophony of drills and demolition,
The crashing and the clanging, the decibels of engine
Anyone hoping Tyler The Creator is about to release a full jazz album may want to lower their expectations. The Odd Future founder has long incorporated jazz elements into both his music and production style. No matter which creative direction he chooses for a project, traces of jazz can be heard throughout much of his discography. Because of that, many fans have spent years wondering what it would sound like if he fully embraced the genre for an entire album.
Recent hints have sparked speculation that new music could be on the horizon. However, when an Instagram account suggested that a "new era" was approaching and claimed Tyler would dive further into his jazz influences, the rapper quickly dismissed the rumor. "not at all lol and do not get stuck on this idea please," he responded.
One reason fans began theorizing about a possible new project was a subtle update to Tyler's Instagram bio. According to Complex, the bio now says, "Satchmo, Sag Harbor," a phrase that appears to reference Louis Armstrong's famous nickname, Satchmo, as well as Sag Harbor, New York, a village known for serving as a refuge for Black families during the Jim Crow era.
While there is still no confirmation that Tyler will release new music this year, fans can look forward to the return of Camp Flog Gnaw. The annual festival is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on November 14 and 15. As is tradition, the full lineup has not yet been announced, but Tyler's attention to detail and track record with the event suggest attendees will have plenty to be excited about.
We will continue sharing any developments involving Tyler The Creator as they emerge. In the meantime, fans remain hopeful that new music will eventually arrive as a follow up to Chromakopia and Don’t Tap The Glass. Check out his comments above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
