It's mostly the voice, many hip-hop artists say, that makes an emcee stand out. Of course, lyrical skill is important and beats are the backbone of any song. But a truly great emcee must have a delivery and a voice that makes listeners want to stop in their tracks, hit rewind and nod their heads in appreciation.
Hip-hop artist Ian Bavitz, known as Aesop Rock, has mastered this talent. His deep voice fluctuates between moody seriousness and playful sarcasm. He can spit lyrics with mind-boggling speed, yet he remains calm and almost indifferent on each track.
Although Bavitz has been an underground emcee for years, releasing a handful of records on several labels, the fairly recent album Labor Days is perhaps his best known work. Rhyming about the working class and its struggles, Bavitz managed to tell the stories of the modern American in an abstract and dark manner.
"All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day, put the pieces back together my way," he says in the chorus of his most famous track, "Daylight." And so, an Aesop Rock frenzy was sparked.
Since the release of Labor Days, Bavitz has been on the front page of Urb Magazine with fellow hip-hop artist Slug from Atmosphere. His most recent release, Bazooka Tooth, made Blender Magazine's list of the 50 greatest albums of 2003. Yet, Bavitz has remained grounded and is still trying to handle being thrust into the spotlight.
Talking to Bavitz, it is clear that he is weary of the media, and is hesitant to open up about his own music.
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"I don't think I really understand if it is a big deal or not," Bavitz said, referring to his rapidly growing exposure. "It puts me in a weird position that I don't know if I am comfortable with. Obviously the media exposure is good when you are putting out a new record, but it isn't the easiest thing to have people judging you by what they read in a three-page article."
He said that as far as his personal life goes, nothing has changed because of his recent fame.
"I do the same thing I used to do," he said. "I don't think there will ever be a time when one thing will happen and my whole attitude will change towards music."
Bavitz' best friend and fellow emcee, El-P, runs Definitive Jux, the record label that put out Labor Days and Bazooka Tooth. The two have a similar sound and this may be because of their tight friendship.
"I think he is very dope," Bavitz said about El-P. "He is my best friend in the world. We have a very similar sense of humor."
Bavitz' music has never been known as easy-listening hip-hop. His songs are known for needing to be replayed numerous times before the listener can fully comprehend his complex mythological metaphors.
Yet unlike many underground hip-hop artists, Bavitz doesn't spend his time obsessing about the dismal state of commercial hip-hop. If one has the patience to decipher his words, eloquently written themes such as living life with no regrets, dealing with the media and an ode to New York's graffiti art can be heard.
"Generally, I think the album (Bazooka Tooth) is pretty good," he said. "But I am so sick of it right now and can't listen to it anymore for a long period of time."
Bavitz attended Boston University, where he studied art. He once worked as a packaging and handyman for a gallery in New York. This experience is part of what sparked the tracks on Labor Days.
For the future, he plans to finish up the tour and continue to try new things.
"I just hope that every album I release is a step up from the last," he said. "That is always the hope."
It's clear that music is important to Bavitz. If he wasn't an emcee, he is unsure of where he would be.
"I really have no idea," he said. "I would probably be homeless somewhere."
