| Appleseed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 32:07 | |||
| Label | self-released | |||
| Producer |
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| Aesop Rock chronology | ||||
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Appleseed is an EP by American hip hop musician Aesop Rock. It was originally self-released in 1999, and reissued via Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2021. Produced by Aesop Rock himself, Omega One, and Blockhead, it features a guest appearance from Doseone. [1] It peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. [2]
The EP was originally self-released on CD-R in 1999. [3] Aesop Rock said: "The first Appleseed CD's were CD-R's I duped at home and sold from my backpack at an MF DOOM show at Brownies, which was right below my apartment at the time." [3] He added: "I continued to sell hand-to-hand in NY, while Blockhead started fielding some mail orders from a young internet. People would send us cash or a check, and he'd cut the covers out and mail them off." [3] In 2021, the official reissue version of the EP was released via Rhymesayers Entertainment. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Exclaim! | favorable [5] |
| RapReviews | 8/10 [6] |
Paul Simpson of AllMusic gave the EP 3.5 stars out of 5, commenting that "Appleseed's lyrics are more introspective than they might seem at first, even if they're not quite as autobiographical as later Aesop albums like Skelethon and The Impossible Kid , and he hadn't developed his knack for storytelling yet, so the songs are less narrative and closer to aggravated bursts." [1] He added: "Musically, the tracks are relatively laid-back and uncomplicated, barely hinting at the grand leap Aesop would take with the more polished production of his 2001 breakthrough Labor Days , but they serve as a neat time capsule of the late-'90s backpacker rap era." [1] Thomas Quinlan of Exclaim! called it "an amazing collection of songs that may end up being the best EP of the year." [5]
In 2014, Joseph Schafer of Stereogum named it the 7th best Aesop Rock record. [7]
In 2021, Eddie Ugarte of Ghettoblaster Magazine wrote: "The story of Appleseed is also the story of a burgeoning independent hip hop scene that began to flourish in the wake of technological innovations of the era, including quality affordable home recording equipment and the rising availability of CD-R drives, which gave artists the freedom to write, record, and manufacture albums outside of the constraints of a label system." [8]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Appleseed Intro" | Aesop Rock | 1:08 |
| 2. | "Dryspell" | Aesop Rock | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Same Space (The Tugboat Complex Part 2)" | Aesop Rock | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Sick Friend" | Omega One | 4:30 |
| 5. | "Hold the Cup" | Aesop Rock | 4:58 |
| 6. | "1,000 Deaths" | Blockhead | 3:43 |
| 7. | "Blue in the Face" | Aesop Rock | 4:28 |
| 8. | "Odessa" (featuring Doseone) | Aesop Rock | 4:44 |
| Total length: | 32:07 | ||
Credits adapted from liner notes.
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Album Sales ( Billboard ) [2] | 70 |
Ian Matthias Bavitz, better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American rapper and producer from Long Island, New York. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it went on hiatus in 2010. In a 2010 retrospective, betterPropaganda ranked him at number 19 at the Top 100 Artists of the Decade.
Bazooka Tooth is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Definitive Jux in 2003.
Labor Days is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 18, 2001. It is a concept album about work. The album's production was handled by Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One.
Float is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Mush Records on September 5, 2000. Produced by Aesop Rock himself, Blockhead, and Omega One, it features guest appearances from Slug, Vast Aire, and Doseone.
Micheal David Larsen, better known by his stage name Eyedea, was an American musician, rapper, and poet. He was a freestyle battle champion and songwriter from Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Adam Drucker, better known by his stage name Doseone, is an American rapper, producer, poet and artist. He is a co-founder of the indie hip hop record label Anticon. He has also been a member of numerous groups including Deep Puddle Dynamics, Greenthink, Clouddead, Themselves, Subtle, 13 & God, Go Dark, Nevermen, and A7pha.
Tony Simon, better known by his stage name Blockhead, and formerly known as Funky Omelet, is an American hip hop record producer and DJ from Manhattan, New York. Aside from his solo efforts released on the Ninja Tune label, he is most associated with producing tracks for Aesop Rock. He has been a member of the groups such as Party Fun Action Committee and The Mighty Jones.
Robert Smith, better known by his stage name Rob Sonic, is an American rapper and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He has been a member of the groups Sonic Sum and Hail Mary Mallon. He is a founder of the record label Skypimps Music.
Jawhar Glass, better known by his stage name Illogic, is an American indie hip hop artist from Columbus, Ohio. He has collaborated with many artists—particularly Blueprint, who has produced three of his albums, but also Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, Eyedea, Copywrite, Slug, and other MCs. His style has been described as having "a classically metered flow" with "deep lyrics and poetic verses."
Hell's Winter is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 36 on the Independent Albums chart.
Aesop Rock is an American hip hop artist currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment. His discography consists of nine studio albums, three extended plays, ten singles, four collaborations, one compilation, nine music videos, and many appearances on other artists' tracks and on compilations.
Amp Live is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ from California. He was one half of the duo Zion I, but left the group in 2015 amicably. He has remixed works by Radiohead, Tokyo Police Club and Jamie Lidell.
Thomas Fec, better known by his stage name Tobacco, is an American electronic musician. He is the frontman of the psychedelic rock band Black Moth Super Rainbow, in addition to working as a solo artist. As of late 2018, he has teamed up with rapper Aesop Rock to become the music duo Malibu Ken, releasing their self-titled debut album in January 2019.
Crowns Down is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Themselves. It was released on Anticon in 2009. A remix version of the album, Crowns Down & Company, was released in 2010.
Hokey Fright is the only studio album by The Uncluded, a collaboration between rapper Aesop Rock and anti-folk singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson. It was released on May 7, 2013 on the Rhymesayers Entertainment label. Every part of every song on the album is performed by either Aesop or Dawson, with the exception of the drums on "Delicate Cycle", which were played by James McNew of Yo La Tengo.
Deadlivers is a studio album by American hip hop group Grayskul. It was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2005. The album is produced by Mr. Hill, Fakts One, Bean One, Rob Castro, and Onry Ozzborn and features guest appearances from Canibus, Aesop Rock, Sleep, and Mr. Lif, among others. "Prom Quiz" was released as a single from the album.
The Impossible Kid is the seventh studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on April 29, 2016 through Rhymesayers Entertainment. The production was handled by Aesop Rock himself. The cover art was created by Alex Pardee.
Malibu Ken is an American hip hop duo composed of rapper Aesop Rock and multi-instrumentalist Tobacco. The duo released their eponymous debut album on January 18, 2019, through Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Spirit World Field Guide is the eighth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on November 13, 2020, through Rhymesayers Entertainment. It acts as a "guide" to the Spirit World. The album was preceded by two singles: "The Gates" released on September 9, and "Pizza Alley" released on October 16, 2020. Both were released with music videos directed by Rob Shaw and featuring animation from Justin "Coro" Kaufman, who also designed the album's cover art. A third single and music video, "Coveralls", was released on November 13 alongside the album.
Garbology is a collaborative studio album by rapper Aesop Rock and producer Blockhead. It was released through Rhymesayers Entertainment on November 12, 2021. The album was preceded by one single, "Jazz Hands", which was released on October 13, 2021, alongside a music video directed by Rob Shaw.
