Appleseed (EP)
Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Music for Earthworms1997Float2000EPAppleseedAesRockAppleseed.jpgAesop RockTemplate:Start dateHip hopTemplate:Durationself-releasedTemplate:Hlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Appleseed is an EP by American hip hop musician Aesop Rock. It was originally self-released in 1999, and reissued via Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2021. Produced by Aesop Rock himself, Omega One, and Blockhead, it features a guest appearance from Doseone.<ref name=allmusic/> It peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.<ref name=billboard/>
Release
The EP was originally self-released on CD-R in 1999.<ref name=brooklynvegan/> Aesop Rock said: "The first Appleseed CD's were CD-R's I duped at home and sold from my backpack at an MF DOOM show at Brownies, which was right below my apartment at the time."<ref name=brooklynvegan/> He added: "I continued to sell hand-to-hand in NY, while Blockhead started fielding some mail orders from a young internet. People would send us cash or a check, and he'd cut the covers out and mail them off."<ref name=brooklynvegan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, the official reissue version of the EP was released via Rhymesayers Entertainment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Critical reception
Template:Music ratings Paul Simpson of AllMusic gave the EP 3.5 stars out of 5, commenting that "AppleseedTemplate:'s lyrics are more introspective than they might seem at first, even if they're not quite as autobiographical as later Aesop albums like Skelethon and The Impossible Kid, and he hadn't developed his knack for storytelling yet, so the songs are less narrative and closer to aggravated bursts."<ref name=allmusic/> He added: "Musically, the tracks are relatively laid-back and uncomplicated, barely hinting at the grand leap Aesop would take with the more polished production of his 2001 breakthrough Labor Days, but they serve as a neat time capsule of the late-'90s backpacker rap era."<ref name=allmusic/> Thomas Quinlan of Exclaim! called it "an amazing collection of songs that may end up being the best EP of the year."<ref name=exclaim/>
In 2014, Joseph Schafer of Stereogum named it the 7th best Aesop Rock record.<ref name=stereogum>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2021, Eddie Ugarte of Ghettoblaster Magazine wrote: "The story of Appleseed is also the story of a burgeoning independent hip hop scene that began to flourish in the wake of technological innovations of the era, including quality affordable home recording equipment and the rising availability of CD-R drives, which gave artists the freedom to write, record, and manufacture albums outside of the constraints of a label system."<ref name=ghettoblastermagazine>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Aesop Rock – vocals, production (1–3, 5, 7, 8), artwork
- Omega One – turntables (4), production (4)
- Blockhead – production (6)
- Doseone – vocals (8)
- Neal Usatin – artwork
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)<ref name=billboard>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
70 |