Renowned rapper Aesop Rock and veteran producer Blockhead have partnered for decades, and next month they will release Trouble Mountain, their second LP that is entirely a joint effort. The record serves as a concept project built around the Pocono Mountains vacation-resort advertisements that Aesop and Blockhead used to catch on New York television during their childhood. It features appearances from Open Mike Eagle, Cavalier, and the former Ludacris ally 4-IZE, and the artwork carries a striking visual that stands out. The leading single, “Trouble Trouble,” has already been released, and the duo now share a fresh track called “Coyote Summer.”
Blockhead’s take on “Coyote Summer” crafts a sun-soaked, nostalgic boom-bap mood, anchored by a hook that pairs Aesop with longtime collaborator Hanni El Khatib, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. On the verses, Aesop unloads his signature heavy, imaginative imagery—scenes where danger and whimsy collide in vivid detail—and there’s a playful moment where he rattles off a deli order. In the Evan Gütt-directed video, Aesop is pictured in vacation mode. Check it out below.
Trouble Mountain is out 11/13 on Rhymesayers.
