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Life & Arts

Aesop, Lif rev up fans for 'Fast Cars'

Houston hip-hop fans upset with the fact that two of the most notable independent artists, Aesop Rock and Mr. Lif, skipped town on their latest tour only have their local scene to blame. 

The show aimed to promote Aesop's upcoming release Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives and Mr. Lif's latest work as part of The Perceptionists Black Dialogue was not picked up by any of Houston's promoters.

"Promoters are asking for a tour, and for some reason Houston is one of those cities that rarely ask," Aesop told The Daily Cougar before his show at Emo's, 603 Red River St. in Austin.

The show was packed by the time Aesop and Lif took over the stage together with DJ Big Wiz who got his start in Houston before moving to New York. Having the pair perform together onstage added to the dynamics of the show and gave the audience a chance to see the latest from each artist. 

Lif said that touring with Aesop was not only an opportunity for him to remind people that he is a solo artist, but also a chance to catch up with a friend. 

"Any time we can make an excuse to go hang out with each other its always a good thing," Lif said.

Once on stage, Aesop and Lif's chemistry helped them take hold of audience ready to chant back whatever words the two demanded from them whether it be "hip-hop" or "Def Jux," the call that went along with their cover of Definitive Jux labelmate and owner El-P's hit "Juke Skate Rock" off his 2004 release Collecting the Kid.

The two performed songs from Lif's solo album he said is slated for a 2006 release and songs from Aesop's later releases, Labor Days and Bazooka Tooth plus a few tracks off of Fast Cars.

Aesop has attracted attention from fans that don't necessarily prefer hip-hop as their main form of music and although this has caught his attention and his gratitude, he is not necessarily setting out to draw praise from either crowd.

"The last thing I am thinking about when I am working on an album is who my fans are really," Aesop said. "It makes me happy. It's understandable to hear everyone say, you know, there are people who are just sick of what they see as far as rap music is concerned. It's pretty repetitive as far as what's out there."

Aesop said even though a lot of fans find his style and many of the Def Jux artists to be original to them its just the music they heard the first time they heard hip-hop. He added that some music fans were not as lucky to grow up with artists that created music worth listening to and buying.

"I mean if you born in '85, in the year 2000 you're 15 years old. That's when you start getting into music and in the year 2000, God, if I started getting into music in the year 2000 I would have the worst music collection ever," Aesop said.

Regardless of when they discovered Aesop, many of his fans can see a definite musical and lyrical progression throughout his career, but Aesop said this change came naturally.

"I have different priorities. I think my writing now is better -- I think when I hear that stuff I see where it was, and I appreciate it for how old I was but it's kind of pretentious." 

On Feb. 22, Aesop will release Fast Cars, and fans will find out if they are going to stick it through until the next full-length or settle for their copies of Float and Labor Days.

"I think I take a risk every single time and some people appreciate that and some people still want to hear the old thing again," Aesop said. "I'm like ‘I don't want to hear the old thing again.' I'd rather do something different. I'd rather do what comes natural which is letting evolve."

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