As one of the most influential underground emcees in the late 90s and early 2000s, Aesop Rock has continued to use his reach to create thought provoking art. This is definitely not lost in Aesop's seventh studio album "The Impossible Kid."

He is considered to have the most extensive vocabulary in rap music and is known for creating dense verses and mind-bending metaphors. He uses his deep, scratchy vocal delivery to place you in his frame of mind for each song.

The album begins with Aesop reminiscing of the time he spent in a barn, and how he tried to make it more habitable. He likens the wild animal to being his tech support, and in the video for the opening track "Mystery Fish," he parodies this feeling of isolation.

In the track "Rings," he recalls when he used to be more passionate about his visual art, rapping, "used to draw, hard to admit that I used to draw, portraiture and the human form, doodle of a two-headed unicorn." He said on his Twitter account when he released the video for "Rings," that it was about his failure as a visual artist. You can see how that visual side of Aesop's mind plays a part in his music. It especially shows through in his mesmerizing music videos. He also has a way of using his lyrics as a paint brush to paint a scene for each new idea.

Throughout this album Aesop Rock is uncharacteristically nostalgic, especially when he attempts reconnect with his brothers in "Blood Sandwich," or even the feeling of being displaced from your home in "Molecules."

In classic Aesop Rock fashion he takes everyday scenarios and makes you think about them in interesting ways, as in "Shrunk" where he visits a psychiatrist and his shows disdain for their practice. In the same breath, he admits to his shrink that he is guarded, and sometimes hides behind his lyrics. He later has an ode to his cat in the track "Kirby" that the psychiatrist suggested he get.

In "Lotta Years," he has conversations with two teenagers that seem to him to be far more ahead than he was at their age. Having been involved in the music and art scene for two decades he has a long career to look back on. Meeting these two younger versions of himself is making him feel old, and it's funny how a trip to Baskin Robbins and a juice shop can make him reflect on his life.

Overall, this seems to be one of his most straightforward albums, even though it will still take a few listens and a trip to Genius.com to decipher some of the tracks. He also took to Twitter to give some insight on a handful of tracks.

Aesop Rock has a way of weaving weighty, existential verbiage in a way that doesn't take himself too seriously. It's hilariously weird, and can have you scratching your head trying to figure out what he means. As with any of his albums, this one will be a bit of an acquired taste, but it's definitely worth the time to dig into.

Adam's Album Rating:

7.5/10