I think these types of posts are supposed to start with a reference to Juno. The Moldy Peaches song on that soundtrack was my first introduction to Kimya, as I am sure is the case for a lot of people. It wouldn’t be until 2011ish that I would start to dig deeper. She and Aesop Rock collaborated on a few tracks on each other’s albums before forming The Uncluded and releasing a record on Rhymesayers.

We’re big Kimya fans around this house. My amazing partner Stacey and I have each gifted some original Kimya artwork to each other. “Teleprompters” can be heard randomly throughout the house or on a road trip. Our daughter even preformed an incredible version of “The Library” (without Aesop Rock, obv) for her fourth grade talent show. What a proud parent moment that was.

The Uncluded “Delicate Cycle”

The whole Hokey Fright album is stellar, but this song has been a sing-along favorite since our first year in California. It’s definitely one of the more kid-friendly tracks on the album, so it got a lot of play in Sara 2 (the Matrix).

I regret not making it to their SF show in 2013. At the time I figured I would have many other opportunities to check them out. Great artists, wonderful album, Aesop shouts out SF donut shops (looking at you Bob’s Donuts), why wouldn’t I get another shot? I’m not sure there was ever a second tour…

Fun fact: This video features the adorable and gone too soon cat, Lil BUB.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO RHYMESAYERS BOYCOTT. Learn More.

Kimya Dawson “Being Cool”

I was reminded of this song on the day Daniel Johnson died. Kimya shared a video of a duet with Daniel backing her on drums. That version certainly has a lot of complicated emotions wrapped into it, this one is a little more upbeat and fun (from Chaz’s records in Durham). It’s one of those songs you wish you already knew the words to, because it’s fast and has a great flow.

Whatever you decide, if you are true to you, you’re gonna be alright

Kimya Dawson

Kimya Dawson “Walk Like Thunder”

Sometimes we all need a reminder to keep walking, this one does it for me every now and again. Kimya tells her overdose story, raw with honesty, openness, and pain in what will probably be the longest song that makes the blog. Starting about 9 minutes in, Aesop adds a story in rhymes of some of the last moments he got to share with his brother Camu Tau (see King of Hearts). Camu is the same person “Get Out the Car” is written about on the Impossible Kid Aesop solo record.

They let us wheel you down beneath the leaning tower of flow charts,
To be around your beats without a beeping sound of Bogart* to bogart

Aesop Rock

*Genius and other lyrics sites have “of Bogart” to end that line, but I really don’t think that is right. Is Bogart known to beep? OR perhaps it is actually “to bogart” as the verb clearly makes more sense. It would be hard to hear Mu’s beats over the beeping hospital monitors, no?

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