There are prolific artists, then there is Aesop Rock. The intellectual emcee allows his loftiest concepts to come to life via his sleek rhyme schemes and diverse production style. While the past few years have been busy for Rock, collaborating with old friends (Garbology, 2021) and reissuing one of his many classic albums (Skelethon), it has been three years since we got a proper solo release from the producer/songwriter. Integrated Tech Solutions breaks Rock’s solo silence in the most Aesop Rock way possible. The artist’s latest release arrives in an unfiltered breath of fresh air as Rock crafts a concept album for the digital age, or more appropriately, those who question it. For 18 tracks brimming with neck-breaking rhyme schemes and murky instrumentals, mostly produced by Rock himself, the artist pens vivid imagery mixed with fiery flows that melt together for another monstrous display of Rock’s natural abilities.
The sonic direction of Integrated Tech Solutions anchors Rock’s otherworldly songwriting. The synth-drenched instrumentals feel inflated and muddy, creating a rocky terrain with dense textures for Rock’s rhymes to traverse. The arrangements of the album follow the concept perfectly, industrial drums drive a majority of the album, all lined with wonky melodies and slow-burning tempos. The instrumentals of Integrated Tech Solutions tell the story of an artist accepting the same technology he is wary of, creating a juxtaposing narrative that makes the album so enticing. Rock opens the door for electronic bleeps on the off-kilter “Kyanite Toothpick” while the single “By The River” leans to the left for a jazzy tune. “100 Feet Tall” and its hectic structure allow Rock’s words to pop like a skeptical confetti cannon as his mesmerizing storytelling spins a reflective tale. Integrated Tech Solutions finds consistency in its sonics, allowing Rock’s pen to fly on its own.
It has been a while since we heard storytelling as potent as this. Rock’s relaxed vocal delivery can sometimes take away from the urgency of his words, but if it wasn’t for his calm nature, we would all be hopelessly attempting to keep up with his wit. Rock has always been a lyricist but, much like the production, everything feels elevated on Integrated Tech Solutions. His winding narratives are on full display on songs like “Aggressive Steven”, which details a breaking-and-entering situation at Rock’s loft, and the aforementioned “100 Feet Tall”, which has the artist telling us about the time he met A-Team star MR. T. While the stories he tells may be playful and dripping in comedy tones, don’t let that distract you from the impressiveness of his songwriting. Rock’s ability to wrap up a head-spinning narrative within the confines of time and rhyming places him in a category all to his own. Rock’s pureness as a rapper shines on the hyperactive, Billy Woods-assisted “Living Curfew” and the wavey “Salt and Pepper Squid”.
Aesop Rock is not only prolific with his releases, but his evolution as an artist is just as consistent. On Integrated Tech Solutions, the storied artist challenges himself to pick apart the world around him into its most nuanced detail in an attempt to better understand the fast-paced world that seems to be slipping by. Rock puts the breaks on the chaos of it all for 18 tracks of songwriting prowess set to dusty orchestrations that shake you to your core. For his first solo release in three years, Aesop Rock has never sounded hungrier as everything that makes him such a powerhouse rapper gets elevated and reimagined on what might be his best work in years.
