Skelethon

Skelethon is the fifth studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock, released on July 10, 2012, on Rhymesayers Entertainment. It is notable for being almost entirely self-produced by Aesop Rock himself, marking a shift from his previous collaborations with other producers.

The album's title, Skelethon, is a portmanteau of the words "skeleton" and "marathon." Aesop Rock has described the title as representing the feeling of running a marathon with your bones showing, implying a state of physical and mental exhaustion or vulnerability. He's also alluded to themes of aging, mortality, and the decay of things throughout the album.

Lyrically, Skelethon is characterized by Aesop Rock's signature dense and complex wordplay, filled with metaphors, allusions, and intricate rhyme schemes. Common themes explored within the album's lyrics include anxiety, societal decay, personal struggles, and observations on contemporary life. The album is generally considered to be darker and more introspective than some of his earlier work.

Skelethon was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Aesop Rock's lyrical skill and production, although some critics found the album's dense and challenging nature to be difficult to penetrate. The album was commercially successful, charting on the Billboard 200 and solidifying Aesop Rock's position as a prominent figure in independent hip hop.