Aesop Rock's debut, "Float", is nothing short of magical. Aesop's awe-inspiring rhymes, mixed with his overwhelmingly imaginative poetry, makes for a stunningly successful debut. His one-of-a-kind delivery is among the most unique and effective styles in the underground rap circuit. His lyrical flow has been called genius, even though he isn't a reader. Instead, he gathers his rhyme fuel from TV and movies. The fact that he has been rhyming since the age of eight couldn't hurt anything either. Aesop came from a musically diverse background, including music from all genres. He met up with Blockhead in 1994, and has continued to work with him to this day. Blockhead's beats are also very sweet, mostly stemming from the classical genre; trumpets, saxophones, and lots of creepy string arrangements. All of these things diversify Aesop from the rest of his peers. Other rappers are obviously influence by Aesop himself, as he has performed with a slew of other artists since this devastating debut; including the likes of Dose One (Anticon), Slug (Atmosphere), Mr. Lif, DJ Spooky, Cannibal Ox, El-P, Prefuse 73, Illogic, Omega One, and Murs, among many others.

If you've never heard Aesop's music before, this stuff will surprise you. If you are looking for hip-hop party beats and catchy choruses for your next dance party, look elsewhere. If you are into thought provoking rhymes, then this is for you. Some listeners of Aesop may claim that he spits out his rhymes with such density, detail and speed, that it's highly unlikely that your brain will be able to process the information at first listen. That is true for the most part; but you must keep listening. Upon further listening you experience revelations into the meaning of the lyrics, which is a great feeling. It seems funny to pick standout tracks, since your favorites will change as you listen to the album (that's a great thing), but here is goes: "Commencement at the Obedience Academy," "Big Bang," "I'll Be Ok," and "6B Panorama".

If you like rhymes that eke there way into your inner thoughts, do not sleep on Aesop's work. You will be disappointed that you waited so long to discover his talent, I know I was. I know it can be a bit pricey ($12 [used] as of right now), but it is truly worth every penny, if not more.

I wrote this review in a direct response to the blatently obnoxious review written by Deathguise. Apparently our boy Death is easily influenced by what is known as pop/commercial rap, and knows the slightest about hip hop as an art. Granted the old school cats he referenced are credible and forfathers of the hip hop movement. Other than that Death is simply trying to hold down artists w/ true talent. If you look at his other reviews he copy and pasted the same review for Slug, Sage, Sole, and Aesop. All four of those artists are a god send to the hip hop community, and hopefully will takeover the overly diluted mainstream hip hop culture.

This man... he's a crazy man. Crazy, I tell you, but not Kool Keith crazy. More like Rasputin. He's an alchemist, this man. He bewitches the peasants. He stands in the street like a mad bum and tells you things that sound at once obvious and revelatory, in a poetry that is absolutely mind twisting. His words are like deep warm shots from needles, and they keep coming and coming and coming until you're in a drug-addled haze, unable to walk straight. He's a weird man, taking the idea of slant rhyme and slant-concept to an extreme that I've never heard before. He makes the current sound timeless, and makes the obscure sound inaccessibly arcane and equally timeless. He does amazing things, this man.

I have listened to all of Aesop Rock's work and from what I've heard, I believe that this is Aesop at his best. Aesop and Blockhead combine their musical talents to the fullest to dish out another must have hip-hop masterpiece. Even if you own Labor Days, you still haven't seen the daylight until you've purchased Float.

this is a great cd, one of my favorites. it sounds great and the words got impact. i picked this one up out of the blue and was so pleasantly surprised , i had a seizure.