[mp3] and you like it just enough to let me

The Controls - "Shere Khan" (mp3)

Very early in Aesop Rock's career, he did this guest appearance for a New York trip-hop duo called the Controls. (The song also appeared on his first album, Music for Earthworms.) Aes Rock could make a lot of money reissuing those early records, so I assume it not happening means he actively dislikes them for some reason-- I thought I understood that a few years ago, when his vocal style seemed to be consistently moving away from his roots, but aside from the friendliness of the production, this now sounds to me like something he could record today.

(I always thought the sampled lyric was "You can come and be my lover..." but, searching the web now, it seems to be from a dicey-sounding Mike Batt rock opera about the heartlessness of technology called Zero Zero: "You can come and meet my mother any day you like; system 605, unit 91.")