#10
Skelethon by Aesop Rock
Veteran wordy wordsmith Aesop Rock had gone through a rough stretch; his marriage dissolve, lost a friend, and watched as his Def Jux label basically shut down temporarily. But he came roaring back with a sonically engaging and lyrically dense album that re-affirms Rock as one of the most unique and gifted rhymers in hip hop. His verbose style has never been everyone’s cup of tea, but some of the best art is designed for selective audiences. And on top-shelf cuts like “ZZZZ Top” and “Racing Stripes,” Aesop Rock proves that pain can make for great motivation.
