I think at this point we take for granted the fact that the past decade has seen consistent output from the unlikely collaboration between the guy from Company Flow and one of OutKast’s greatest assets, who’ve somehow managed to become one of the moment’s biggest mainstream rap duos in spite of their relative obscurity during their respective (and overlapping) heydays. It almost feels like the perfect analogue to hear a new track from Aesop Rock and Lupe Fiasco—two more rappers who’ve seemed vastly underappreciated outside of their admittedly massive cult followings that have stuck with them for 20 years.
The pair’s one-off single “Pumpkin Seeds” highlights both emcees’ penchant for wordy, heady rhymes over a beat from longtime Aes collaborator Blockhead, while the impetus for the track is tied to both emcees’ penchant for skate culture: the track aims to raise funds for two new skateparks in Dayton, Ohio, with proceeds from the 7-inch single, a brand new t-shirt design, and an exclusive skate deck benefitting the DIY spaces in overlooked corner’s of the city’s community. Check out the track below, and pre-order the merch before it drops February 17 here.
