The Impossible Kid (album)

The Impossible Kid
Studio album by Aesop Rock
Released	April 29, 2016 (2016-04-29)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	48:32
Label	Rhymesayers
Producer	Aesop Rock
Aesop Rock chronology
Skelethon (2012) The Impossible Kid (2016) Malibu Ken (2019)

The Impossible Kid is the seventh studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock.[1] It was released on April 29, 2016, through Rhymesayers Entertainment.[2] The production was handled by Aesop Rock himself.[3] The cover art was created by Alex Pardee.[4]

To accompany the release of the album, Rob Shaw directed an abridged shot-for-shot remake of The Shining using small figurines, which was set to the album in its entirety.[5] Additionally, music videos were created for "Rings",[6] "Blood Sandwich",[7] "Lazy Eye",[8] "Dorks",[9] "Kirby",[10] "Shrunk",[11] and "Get Out of the Car"; released eight years after the death of the song's subject and Aesop's good friend, Camu Tao.[12]

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	85/100[13]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
The A.V. Club	B+[15]
Clash	8/10[16]
Consequence of Sound	B+[17]
Exclaim!	8/10[18]
Pitchfork	8.2/10[19]
PopMatters	[20]
Spin	5/10[21]
The Needle Drop	8/10[22]

At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Impossible Kid received an average score of 85 based on 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[13]

Kyle Mullin of Exclaim! gave the album an 8 out of 10 and said: "For years, Aesop Rock has been beloved for his ambitious, loquacious lyricism, but on The Impossible Kid, he's reached new artistic heights by using that elaborate wordplay to offer us a simple yet powerful glimpse at his scarred psyche."[18]

Track listing

All songs written and produced by Aesop Rock, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mystery Fish"	3:09
2.	"Rings"	3:47
3.	"Lotta Years"	1:59
4.	"Dorks"	3:33
5.	"Rabies"	3:06
6.	"Supercell"	3:51
7.	"Blood Sandwich"	4:25
8.	"Get Out of the Car"	1:53
9.	"Shrunk"	3:09
10.	"Kirby"	2:47
11.	"TUFF"	3:51
12.	"Lazy Eye"	2:45
13.	"Defender"	3:11
14.	"Water Tower"	3:51
15.	"Molecules"	3:23

The Impossible Kid bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
16.	"Syrup" (featuring Homeboy Sandman and Open Mike Eagle)	Ian Bavitz Angel Del Villar Michael Eagle	Aesop Rock	3:00
17.	"Dorks" (Blockhead Remix)	Bavitz	Blockhead	3:42

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[23]

Musicians

• Aesop Rock – lead vocals
• DJ Zone – scratching
• Grimace Federation – synthesizer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14), Rhodes (3), guitar (4, 12), organ (6)
• James Lynch – bass guitar (2)
• Hanni El Khatib – additional vocals (3)
• Rob Sonic – additional vocals (5)
• Allyson Baker – guitar (7)
• Carnage the Executioner – beatboxing (11)
• Kimya Dawson – additional vocals (11)
• Chuck D – additional vocals (12)
• Onry Ozzborn – additional vocals (13)

Production

• Aesop Rock – executive producer
• Brent Sayers – executive producer
• Slug – executive producer, project coordinator
• Joe LaPorta – mastering
• Joey Raia – mixing
• Skye Rossi – project coordinator

Design

• Jason Cook – project coordinator
• Alex Pardee – artwork, layout

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016) Peak position US Billboard 200[24] 30 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[25] 2 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27] 91

References

1. Dick, Jonathan (April 25, 2016). "Aesop Rock Premieres 'The Impossible Kid' and Explains How It's a Re-Creation of 'The Shining'". Noisey. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
2. Lee, Morgan (February 17, 2016). "Aesop Rock announces new album The Impossible Kid, shares surreal 'Rings' video". Fact. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
3. Hernandez, Victoria (April 26, 2016). "Aesop Rock "The Impossible Kid" Album Stream, Tracklist & Video Featuring Recreation Of "The Shining"". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
4. Fagerberg, Jerard (February 18, 2016). "Aesop Rock announces new solo album on Rhymesayers". City Pages. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
5. Nordine, Michael (April 25, 2016). "'The Shining' Remake: Aesop Rock Releases Miniature 48-Minute Adaptation for 'The Impossible Kid'". Indiewire. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
6. Walsh, Peter (February 18, 2016). "Aesop Rock Announces 'The Impossible Kid' Album, Drops Video for "Rings"". XXL. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
7. Robinson, Collin (March 31, 2016). "Aesop Rock – "Blood Sandwich" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
8. Geslani, Michelle (April 20, 2016). "Aesop Rock shares new song/video for "Lazy Eye"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
9. Robinson, Collin (May 6, 2016). "Aesop Rock – "Dorks"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
10. Warren, Jay (June 27, 2016). "Aesop Rock Becomes a Puppet, Plays With Cat in New "Kirby"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
11. Leight, Elias (October 12, 2016). "Aesop Rock Announces Hey Kirby Tour, Battles Through Therapy in 'Shrunk' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
12. Blais-Billie, Braudie (May 25, 2017). "Watch Aesop Rock's New Video "Get Out of the Car"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
13. "The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
14. Jeffries, David (April 29, 2016). "The Impossible Kid - Aesop Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
15. Anselmi, J.J. (April 29, 2016). "Aesop Rock blends the personal and abstract on The Impossible Kid". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
16. Gray, Josh (May 3, 2016). "Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid". Clash. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
17. Nguyen, Dean Van (May 2, 2016). "Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
18. Mullin, Kyle (April 27, 2016). "Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
19. Pearce, Sheldon (May 4, 2016). "Aesop Rock: The Impossible Kid". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
20. Fiander, Matthew (May 3, 2016). "Aesop Rock: The Impossible Kid". PopMatters. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
21. Farah, Safy-Hallan (May 4, 2016). "Review: Aesop Rock Won't Shut the Hell Up on 'The Impossible Kid'". Spin. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
22. "Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid ALBUM REVIEW". TheNeedleDrop. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
23. The Impossible Kid (Media notes). Aesop Rock. Rhymesayers Entertainment. 2016.
24. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
25. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
26. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
27. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.

External links

• The Impossible Kid at Discogs (list of releases)