Underground hip-hop legends Aesop Rock and Blockhead have been working together since Aesop Rock’s 1997 debut album, Music For Earthworms. The two have collaborated on many other memorable records over the years, hitting gold with their song “Daylight” from Rock’s 2003 album of the same name. 

On Wednesday (October 13), Rhymesayers Entertainment announced Garbology, the first full-length collaboration project between the two. The duo released the album’s lead single, “Jazz Hands,” paired with a new music video. 

Blockhead explained toHipHopDx how the time felt right for a full-length album between the long-time collaborators. 

“This happened kinda naturally,” Blockhead tells HipHopDX. “I was playing a show in Portland and got dinner with Aesop, and he was like, ‘You got any beats?’ and I was like ‘I sure do.’ I sent him some beats, and shortly after that, the pandemic started. I don’t think we really knew or had a plan when we started.

“He just started making songs, and all of a sudden, it was like, ‘Hey, we should just make a whole album.’ And that’s what happened. I think it helped us both to pass the time during the pandemic.”

Aesop Rock credits the inspiration for creating the album from losing his close friend, skateboarding videographer Kurt Hayashi, admitting that making the album was much-needed therapy. 

“The world got real weird during those months,” he says. “I knew at some point I had to get back to making something. Make a beat. Draw a picture. Write. Just go. But the idea of making a beat felt like math homework, and drawing is just so hard. Writing is hard too, but at some point I had to pick one.”

Are you excited for the return of Aesop Rock and Blockhead? Keep it locked for more news on Garbology.