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The Impossible Kid Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 74 Ratings

  • Summary: The seventh full-length solo studio release for the indie rap artist was self-produced.
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Top Track

Dorks
Question: If I died in my apartment like a rat in a cage Would the neighbors smell the corpse before the cat ate my face? I used to floss the... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. May 10, 2016
    100
    While Aesop Rock may not be every hip-hop fan's cup of tea, you must respect the man's grind. All-in-all The Impossible Kidis like (yet unlike) any Aesop Rock release: Ill underground beats and a lyrical prowess that yields rewards with each willing listen.
  2. Magnet
    Jun 1, 2016
    90
    From blunted bedroom nights with a drum machine to two decades down the line releasing one of the finest true hip-hop offerings since Moment Of Truth. Always listen to the Weathermen. [No. 131, p.53]
  3. May 3, 2016
    83
    Whereas Rock’s last solo album, Skelethon, showcases his unparalleled knack for abstract imagery and reflection, The Impossible Kid combines hallucinatory wordplay with disarmingly forthright autobiography--a combination that enhances the impact of each mode.
  4. May 3, 2016
    80
    Ultimately The Impossible Kid is an album that will reinforce whatever preconceptions about Aesop Rock you already hold. However, it’s also worth noting that this is most probably the least cryptic and most honest of all his records.
  5. Jul 7, 2016
    80
    Lyrical prowess is never in doubt, and neither is the idea that the MC is an acquired taste, but this wordy, extroverted, and capricious effort is an alive whirlwind with more pride than usual. That last bit makes it one of the most persuasive Aesop efforts to date.
  6. May 3, 2016
    80
    What’s amazing is that someone who has long been one of the finest and most difficult lyricists in hip-hop has now hit a high-water mark as not just a lyricist, but also as a songwriter and producer. The tones, beats, hooks, and endless variations and rhyming patterns are all here, and they come off as just as volatile and, perhaps, even more immediate than anything Aesop Rock has made to date.
  7. May 4, 2016
    50
    Almost every track on The Impossible Kid is indistinguishable from the next, blending together in a way that converts the man’s talent into his fatal flaw, due in part to the forgettable beats.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Jun 16, 2018
    10
    So just last year I was getting into underground hip hop, and I heard about Aesop Rock because I was always interested in lyrical hip hop andSo just last year I was getting into underground hip hop, and I heard about Aesop Rock because I was always interested in lyrical hip hop and got recommended because said person figured I would like him. I kind of just shrugged it off, but I figured why the hell not and decided to check out what was his considered best project, which is definitely an amazing project in his own right. Then I checked out this project being his most recent and for me personally this is his best project, Aesop here shows his storytelling ability, his lyricism ability and his production ability is vastly improved from the middle of his discography when he was experimenting with productiion. I would suggest if you are a newer fan of Aesop that this is probably the best album to check out not just because of how great it is but because it is one of his more accessible albums as well and he does not sacrifice this level of accessibility for quality. I would check out Mystery Fish, Rings, Lotta Years, Dorks, Get Out The Car, Shrunk Expand
  2. May 13, 2016
    10
    like his past works his distinctive nasal voice and metaphorical word play remain stellar. handling the production by himself he crafts superblike his past works his distinctive nasal voice and metaphorical word play remain stellar. handling the production by himself he crafts superb production discussing a variety of topics. another classic added to his discography Expand
  3. May 14, 2016
    9
    Aesop Rock is an acquired taste, and his complex lyrical structure and vocabulary either pushes people away people from his music or drawsAesop Rock is an acquired taste, and his complex lyrical structure and vocabulary either pushes people away people from his music or draws them closer. With this project however he has made this album more accessible through his brilliant producing. It's an album that many can enjoy, even if they don't understand the underlying themes he's carefully placing in his lyrics. Tracks like Lotta years, Dorks and Shrunk are standout tracks, but I would happily put all of these songs on my playlist. Expand
  4. Jul 19, 2023
    8
    Review só pra lembrar a nota que eu dei pro album:
    album mt bom, agora só escrever pra passar dos 75 caracteres.
  5. May 3, 2016
    7
    This is very classic Aesop Rock. He did very well on the lyrics with songs ranging in themes from badgers getting in the trash, to rejectingThis is very classic Aesop Rock. He did very well on the lyrics with songs ranging in themes from badgers getting in the trash, to rejecting popularity, to feeling old. Some songs are fantastic and energetic, some are deep and slower. This is a great album to start with Aesop Rock if you have not heard of him before.

    You will like this album a lot if you had previously liked Aesop Rock, if you did not like Skelethon or None Shall Pass this album will not change your mind. It is not as ground breaking or shocking as his previous work. A lot of it feels and sounds similar to past projects. Some songs feel very forgettable. I liked Skelethon & None Shall Pass more in terms of beats, lyrics and music overall. But The Impossible Kid is a must have for your hip hop collection.
    Expand
  6. Jan 2, 2017
    6
    it's different from today's rap, at least the beat, but it's not something i can listen to everyday, and for me it's a bit of a deal breaker,it's different from today's rap, at least the beat, but it's not something i can listen to everyday, and for me it's a bit of a deal breaker, the songs are consistent, that's both good and bad, since there isn't a bad song, but also there isn't something that stands out Expand
  7. May 5, 2016
    6
    Once again, Aesop Rock has thrown all his stuff at the wall in hopes that something sticks. What he has always done with words including whatOnce again, Aesop Rock has thrown all his stuff at the wall in hopes that something sticks. What he has always done with words including what he does here is good, but maybe instead of being incredibly lyrical he should try being just lyrical except with more straightforward, plainspoken messages. The Impossible Kid is certainly a respectable effort, but besides its notes on getting older, not much has changed with how Aesop operates. Expand

See all 8 User Reviews