Aesop Rock hip hop album release of The Impossible Kid finds a protagonist balancing ageing with maturity, working on the underground with a whole lot to say on just about everything. While admittedly verbose, deciphering through every entendre and symbol reveals a man desperately trying to live in his most personal work to date.
Aesop gives a gritty look upon the underside in a character study of a messed over street hobo in “Mystery Fish” while staying undoubtedly true. Though parts of the underground rapper peek outwards revealing the want of something even more genuine such as leaving a lasting mark like counting rings on a tree (“Rings”). Ever aware of his age (“Lotta Years”) he looks around in wonder at how the world is moving forward, betting the juice shop girl with removable dreadlocks clones her pets and rides her hove-board to work.
In a scathing outlook on media marketing lackluster artistry of “Dorks,” Aesop takes an outsider’s viewpoint that is ‘voluntarily persona non grata’ since it would be a waste to really get involved. Alluding to his time in seclusion, “Rabies” describes the evolution of man mixed in with environment, turning out darker than originally envisioned. Though touted as a Christmas song, “Supercell” describes the rapper as a ghost that disappears from different aspects of life to carve out his own path.
“Blood Sandwich” simply put is an ode to Aesop’s brothers, humorously detailing a baseball game coach as “man plays live Whack-a-Mole in a scene that would try every child as adults.” Outlining the central theme of The Impossible Kid, the prompting to “Get Out of the Car” is push forward to step into the shrink’s office, despite not seeing it as a functional solution to problems. Symbolic mind games against said shrink find an individual guarded and yet giving in to needing another appointment, self-admitting to being “Shrunk” in the process.
A lighter far in “Kirby” seems randomly placed if it weren’t for the admission of picking up his new kitten at the suggestion of his psychiatrist. Extending from the problematic theme the “TUFF” track is an off-the-rails devolution of character, choosing haircuts as representative to new life changes. Better answers to problems come from friendly conversation as “Lazy Eye” offers to ‘act natural, whatever that means for you.’
In one of the album’s odder moments, “Defender” mixes Lamictal withdrawals with neighborhood bobcat surprises as a highlight to multitasking unrelated problems. “Water Tower” gives a straight forward look upon the hand of death, feeling the mortality in different situations such as that of a disposable pet goldfish. In closing “Molecules” looks at Aesop growing, or trying to grow despite his underground fans relishing the struggle of pain and wanting him to stay the same.
The Impossible Kid ultimately is an earful to listen to. Just trying to keep up with his lyrics is taxing. Yet the production is top notch, the rhymes are on point and running themes engage you to put the record on repeat. While Aesop Rock may suggest on this outing that he’s ready to finish up his rapping days (refer to “Rings”), let’s hope he sticks around a bit more with plenty to say.