# Labor Days

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2001 studio album by Aesop Rock

Labor Days Studio album by Aesop Rock Released September 18, 2001 (2001-09-18) Genre Alternative hip-hop Length 61:03 Label Definitive Jux Producer Aesop Rock Blockhead Omega One Aesop Rock chronology Float (2000) Labor Days (2001) Daylight (2002) Singles from Labor Days "Coma" Released: 2001 (2001) "Boombox" Released: 2001 (2001)

***Labor Days*** is the third studio album by American hip-hop artist [Aesop Rock](/source/Aesop_Rock).[1] It was released by [Definitive Jux](/source/Definitive_Jux) on September 18, 2001.[2] It is a concept album about work.[3] The album's production was handled by Aesop Rock, [Blockhead](/source/Blockhead_(music_producer)), and Omega One.[4]

"Labor" was featured on the soundtrack of *[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4](/source/Tony_Hawk's_Pro_Skater_4)*.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings Aggregate scores Source Rating Metacritic 92/100[5] Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [6] Entertainment Weekly A[7] HipHopDX 4.0/5[8] Muzik 4/5[9] Pitchfork 8.7/10[10] The Rolling Stone Album Guide [11] Stylus Magazine A−[12] Uncut [13] The Village Voice A−[14]

At [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, *Labor Days* received an average score of 92 based on 5 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5]

In 2010, [Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service)) included it on its "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list.[15] In 2015, *[Fact](/source/Fact_(UK_magazine))* placed it at number 17 on its "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list. A writer for the magazine said: "Glancing at *Labor Days* 14 years later, all the pop culture references and clever turns of phrase and wordplay tricks are finally understood and pleasant to listen to. We can't wait until 2030 when *[Skelethon](/source/Skelethon)* will be just as easy to grasp."[16] In 2025, *Pitchfork* ranked it at number 58 on their "100 Best Rap Albums of All Time" list. The website's writer Matthew Strauss called it "an album so creative and distinctive, even among the underground favorite's vast catalog, that, once you fall in love with it, it's nearly impossible to enjoy anything else; nothing can compare."[17]

## Track listing

No. Title Producer(s) Length 1. "Labor" Aesop Rock 2:32 2. "Daylight" Blockhead 4:26 3. "Save Yourself" Blockhead 4:59 4. "Flashflood" Blockhead 3:54 5. "No Regrets" Blockhead 4:31 6. "One Brick" (with Illogic) Aesop Rock 4:32 7. "The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3" Blockhead 3:46 8. "Coma" Omega One 3:56 9. "Battery" Aesop Rock 5:07 10. "Boombox" Aesop Rock 5:05 11. "Bent Life" (with C-Rayz Walz) Blockhead 4:49 12. "The Yes and the Y'all" Blockhead 4:04 13. "9-5ers Anthem" Blockhead 4:38 14. "Shovel" Blockhead 4:45

## Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

- Aesop Rock – vocals, production (1, 6, 9, 10), recording

- [Illogic](/source/Illogic) – vocals (6)

- [C-Rayz Walz](/source/C-Rayz_Walz) – vocals (11)

- [Blockhead](/source/Blockhead_(music_producer)) – production (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14)

- Omega One – production (8), turntables

- Cryptic One – mixing

- [Emily Lazar](/source/Emily_Lazar) – mastering

- Dan Ezra Lang – art direction, design

- Owen Brozman – illustration

- Ben Colen – photography

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Sanneh, Kelefa](/source/Kelefa_Sanneh) (January 26, 2002). ["Pop Review; The Evolving Definition Of Underground Hip-Hop"](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/arts/pop-review-the-evolving-definition-of-underground-hip-hop.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160428113927/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/arts/pop-review-the-evolving-definition-of-underground-hip-hop.html) from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Baker, Ernest (April 26, 2013). ["The 30 Greatest Months in Rap History: 9. September 2001"](http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-30-greatest-months-in-rap-history/september-2001-in-rap). *[Complex](/source/Complex_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160611183851/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-30-greatest-months-in-rap-history/september-2001-in-rap) from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Mentzer, Robert (2005). ["That's What He's Saying?"](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/thats-what-hes-saying/Content?oid=917995). *[Chicago Reader](/source/Chicago_Reader)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160428040226/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/thats-what-hes-saying/Content?oid=917995) from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-exclaim_4-0)** Quinlan, Thomas (June 30, 2001). ["Aesop Rock: Labor Days"](http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-labor_days). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160701132248/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-labor_days) from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-metacritic_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-metacritic_5-1) ["Reviews for Labor Days by Aesop Rock"](http://www.metacritic.com/music/labor-days/aesop-rock). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [CBS Interactive](/source/CBS_Interactive). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160510134737/http://www.metacritic.com/music/labor-days/aesop-rock) from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** LeRoy, Dan. ["Labor Days – Aesop Rock"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/labor-days-mw0000014047). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120805163348/http://www.allmusic.com/album/labor-days-mw0000014047) from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Aesop Rock: Labor Days". *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)*: 74. September 28, 2001.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** J-23 (December 4, 2001). ["Aesop Rock – Labor Days"](http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.120/title.aesop-rock-labor-days). *[HipHopDX](/source/HipHopDX)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305201731/http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.120/title.aesop-rock-labor-days) from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ashon, Will (November 2001). "Aesop Rock: Labor Days (Def Jux)". *[Muzik](/source/Muzik)* (78): 99.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Abebe, Nitsuh (January 23, 2002). ["Aesop Rock: Labor Days"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/65-labor-days/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120824230945/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/65-labor-days/) from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Catucci, Nick (2004). "Aesop Rock". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). *[The New Rolling Stone Album Guide](/source/The_Rolling_Stone_Album_Guide)* (4th ed.). [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). pp. [8–9](https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/8). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7432-0169-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7432-0169-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Martin, Tyler (September 1, 2003). ["Aesop Rock – Labor Days – Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060515203215/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/aesop-rock/labor-days.htm). *[Stylus Magazine](/source/Stylus_Magazine)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/aesop-rock/labor-days.htm) on May 15, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Aesop Rock: Labor Days". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))* (54): 103. November 2001.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Christgau, Robert](/source/Robert_Christgau) (November 20, 2001). ["Consumer Guide: Salaam"](http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-01.php). *[The Village Voice](/source/The_Village_Voice)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081551/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-01.php) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The 10 Best Albums by White Rappers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100626034450/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html). [Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service)). June 22, 2010. Archived from [the original](http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html) on June 26, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Piyevsky, Alex; Geng; Twells, John; Raw, Son; Rascobeamer, Jeff (February 25, 2015). ["The 100 best indie hip-hop records of all time"](http://www.factmag.com/2015/02/25/the-100-best-indie-hip-hop-records-of-all-time/85/). *[Fact](/source/Fact_(UK_magazine))*. p. 85. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160417081916/http://www.factmag.com/2015/02/25/the-100-best-indie-hip-hop-records-of-all-time/85/) from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Strauss, Matthew; et al. (September 30, 2025). ["The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time"](https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-rap-albums-all-time/). *Pitchfork*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251001173329/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-rap-albums-all-time/) from the original on October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.

## External links

- *[Labor Days](https://www.discogs.com/master/69968)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) (list of releases)

v t e Aesop Rock Studio albums Music for Earthworms Float Labor Days Bazooka Tooth None Shall Pass Skelethon The Impossible Kid Spirit World Field Guide Integrated Tech Solutions Black Hole Superette I Heard It's a Mess There Too Extended plays Appleseed Daylight Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives Compilation albums Build Your Own Bazooka Tooth Related Albums All Day: Nike+ Original Run Are You Gonna Eat That? Hokey Fright Bestiary Malibu Ken Garbology Articles Discography Definitive Jux Hail Mary Mallon The Uncluded The Weathermen Malibu Ken Lice Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Labor Days](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Days) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Days?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.