Labor Days | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 18, 2001 | |||
Genre | Alternative hip hop | |||
Length | 61:03 | |||
Label | Definitive Jux | |||
Producer |
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Aesop Rock chronology | ||||
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Singles from Labor Days | ||||
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Labor Days is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. [1] It was released by Definitive Jux on September 18, 2001. [2] It is a concept album about work. [3] The album's production was handled by Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One. [4]
"Labor" was featured on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 .
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 92/100 [5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Entertainment Weekly | A [7] |
HipHopDX | 4.0/5 [8] |
Muzik | 4/5 [9] |
Pitchfork | 8.7/10 [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
Stylus Magazine | A− [12] |
Uncut | [13] |
The Village Voice | A− [14] |
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Labor Days received an average score of 92 based on 5 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim." [5]
In 2010, Rhapsody included it on its "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list. [15] In 2015, Fact placed it at number 17 on its "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list. [16]
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Labor" | Aesop Rock | 2:32 |
2. | "Daylight" | Blockhead | 4:26 |
3. | "Save Yourself" | Blockhead | 4:59 |
4. | "Flashflood" | Blockhead | 3:54 |
5. | "No Regrets" | Blockhead | 4:31 |
6. | "One Brick" (with Illogic) | Aesop Rock | 4:32 |
7. | "The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3" | Blockhead | 3:46 |
8. | "Coma" | Omega One | 3:56 |
9. | "Battery" | Aesop Rock | 5:07 |
10. | "Boombox Apocalypse" | Aesop Rock | 5:05 |
11. | "Bent Life" (with C-Rayz Walz) | Blockhead | 4:49 |
12. | "The Yes and the Y'all" | Blockhead | 4:04 |
13. | "9-5ers Anthem" | Blockhead | 4:38 |
14. | "Shovel" | Blockhead | 4:45 |
Credits adapted from liner notes.
Jaime Meline, better known by the stage name El-P, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a driving force in alternative hip hop since the early 1990s, producing for rappers including Aesop Rock, Cage, and Mr. Lif. He was a member of The Weathermen and is the co-founder, owner, and CEO of the Definitive Jux record label.
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.
Cannibal Ox is an American hip hop duo from Harlem, New York, United States. It consists of Vast Aire and Vordul Mega, often accompanied by DJ Cip-One.
Daylight is an EP by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released via Definitive Jux on February 5, 2002. It is also the title of a single from his 2001 album, Labor Days. The song is included on the EP, along with a reworking entitled "Night Light".
Bazooka Tooth is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Definitive Jux in 2003.
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.
Jeffrey Haynes, better known by his stage name Mr. Lif, is an American rapper from Boston, Massachusetts. While being praised because of his political lyrics, he has released two studio albums on Definitive Jux and one on Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Mr. Lif is also a member of the hip hop group The Perceptionists with long-time friends and collaborators Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One.
I Phantom is the debut studio album by American rapper Mr. Lif. It was produced mostly by alternative hip hop artist El-P, among others, at Boston Butta Beats in Boston and the New York City-based Steel Acres, The Danger Room, and Def Jux Studios. Mr. Lif composed I Phantom as a concept album about the working life of an African American who is pressured into pursuing the dubious rewards of the American dream.
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. It peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
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Party Fun Action Committee is an American hip hop group consisting of Blockhead and Jer.
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.
The Cold Vein is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Cannibal Ox. It was produced by El-P and released on his Definitive Jux label on May 15, 2001. The album has since been reissued by iHipHop Distribution.
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.
Def Jux Presents is a 2001 compilation album released by American hip hop record label Definitive Jux.
Def Jux Teaser 2005 is a 2005 compilation album released by American hip hop record label Definitive Jux.
The Weathermen was an American hip hop production group, formed in 1998 in Middletown, New York, composed of East Coast rappers and producers Cage Kennylz and Masai Bey, until further expanded into a rap group, and included; Aesop Rock, Tame One, Yak Ballz, El-P, Jakki Tha Motamouth, Camu Tao, Copywrite, Vast Aire, and Breeze Brewin. The group took its name from the revolutionary organization Weather Underground, and its debut album was to be called The New Left.
None Shall Pass is the fifth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Definitive Jux on August 28, 2007.
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.