Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives

Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives is an EP by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. Released via the Definitive Jux label on February 22, 2005, the record is produced by Blockhead and Aesop Rock himself, with the former producing three tracks and the latter producing four, with one track produced by Rob Sonic. Vocals are handled by Aesop Rock, with guest appearances from Camu Tao and Metro of S.A. Smash and Definitive Jux label head El-P. All scratches are performed by DJ Big Wiz.

Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives
EP by Aesop Rock
Released	February 22, 2005
Genre	Hip hop
Length	30:41
Label	Definitive Jux
Producer	Blockhead, Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic
Aesop Rock chronology
Bazooka Tooth (2003) Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives (2005) None Shall Pass (2007)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	69/100[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Austin Chronicle	[3]
Blender	[4]
Pitchfork	7.9/10[5]
Spin	B[6]

Release

The initial pressing of the EP on CD (catalogue number DJX106) was packaged as a slimline CD case inside a cardboard cover along with an 88-page booklet named The Living Human Curiosity Sideshow, which contained the EP's lyrics as well as the never-before published lyrics to Aesop's other in-print records, Float, Labor Days, Daylight, and Bazooka Tooth, and new photographs and artwork.

The record's art as a whole, in keeping with the title of the lyric book, is designed around the theme of an early 20th-century freak show: "The Most Peculiar Creatures in All The Land", proclaims the back cover, while a triptych of blackly humorous portraits on the inner CD case depict Bruce The Giant Baby ("7 years old & 600(+) pounds"), Three Legged Louis ("3 shoes, 6 laces, 15 toes") and Ms. Sally Small ("the world's tiniest woman").

The subsequent pressing of the EP (catalogue number DJX117) omitted the lyric booklet but included a bonus track, "Facemelter".

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Fast Cars"	Blockhead	4:34
2.	"Number Nine"	Blockhead	4:05
3.	"Zodiaccupuncture"	Aesop Rock	4:21
4.	"Holy Smokes"	Blockhead	3:51
5.	"Winners Take All"	Rob Sonic	4:45
6.	"Rickety Rackety" (featuring Camu Tao and El-P)	Aesop Rock	4:30
7.	"Food, Clothes, Medicine"	Aesop Rock	4:35
8.	"Facemelter" (DJX117 only bonus track)	Aesop Rock	5:05

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[7]	190
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8]	21
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[9]	9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10]	100

References

1. "Fast Cars, Danger, Fire And Knives (EP) - Aesop Rock". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
2. Bush, John. "Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives - Aesop Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
3. Gabriel, Robert (March 18, 2005). "SXSW Records". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
4. Weiner, Jonah. "Aesop Rock: Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives". Blender. Archived from the original on April 3, 2005. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
5. Macia, Peter (February 22, 2005). "Aesop Rock: Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
6. Matos, Michaelangelo (March 2005). "Busdriver: Fear of a Black Tangent (Mush)/Aesop Rock: Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives (Definitive Jux)". Spin. Vol. 21 no. 3. pp. 85–6.
7. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
8. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
9. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
10. "Aesop Rock Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.

External links

• Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives at Discogs (list of releases)