Ian Matthias Bavitz, more commonly known as Aesop Rock, is a NYC native and a pillar in the underground hip-hop scene. He’s been making music and doing it in a way that’s sustainable and submented in legend for the way he has done it. His projects have dabbled in chart success over the past 20+ years which is no small accomplishment. But don’t get it wrong, Aesop Rock is 100% underground legend, with very few joining him on the mountain top.
His most recent project, Integrated Tech Solutions, has received glowing praise which I will add to in a second. My man is crazy prolific, this double LP clocks in at over an hour, starting strong with a feature from Billy Woods on the track ‘Living Curfew’ (you can spin this below). This track is a perfect example of the source material and sounds that made 2023 a great year for the genre, with two of the best acts flowing and passing the mic seamlessly.
This album is full of examples where Aesop shows his range and willingness to learn from and mesh with others like Rob Sonic and Nikki Jean which shows his humility and curiosity even this far into his career – and the results are powerful.
However there are some minor flaws in this project. There are a couple cuts that are lyrically fierce but feel similar to others on the album, suggesting maybe a couple tracks could have been reduced into one. But that’s a small nit to pick on an album that’s stacked with tracks that get stronger with time.
Overall, Aesop channels his greatest strengths and creates an album with legs and that will be looked back on as a solid project in his discography.
Integrated Tech Solutions is out now via Rhymesayers. You can get it on vinyl from the 3hive Record Lounge, and stream it wherever you like listen to music.