Fresh off an extensive Fall US tour with Nine Inch Nails & The Jesus & Mary Chain in support of Black Moth Super Rainbow's latest effort, Panic Blooms, multi-instrumentalist and producer Thomas "Tom" Fec AKA TOBACCO has returned with Malibu Ken; both a collaborative effort and newly-formed rapper/producer group with long-time touring mate and world-renown emcee Aesop Rock. TOBACCO & Aesop Rock, actually, first worked together on "Dirt" from Fec's 2008 anticon CD/DVD F*cked Up Friends. Later that same year, Aes & Tom "worked together" again on a mash-up/remix project called The Hood Internet vs. Tobacco & Aesop Rock "featuring" Breeze Brewin, Cage, Mr. Lif, The Mountain Goats' frontman John Darnielle, Zaid Maxwell, Camp Lo, Rob Sonic, and El-P. The Hood Internet's Aaron Brink & Steve Reidell implemented a similar style on 2010's The Hood Internet X TOBACCO X Felt, remixing tracks from both TOBACCO's Maniac Meat with Slug & MURS' Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez, which was produced by label mate, Aesop Rock. Remarkably, both Aesop Rock & TOBACCO have, arguably, had the greatest successes of their careers, in recent years: Aes with his three collaborative 2015-17 LICE EP's with partner-in-rhyme, Homeboy Sandman and TOBACCO with 2017's Ripe & Majestic (Instrumental Rarities & Unreleased Beats) out-takes comp. and this past year with Black Moth Super Rainbow's aforementioned album, Panic Blooms.

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Around September through November 2007, Aesop Rock went on "a massive, two-month North American tour," as then described by XLR8R with Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, Cage, Blockhead, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and The Octopus Project. It was right around the release of Aesop's critically-acclaimed None Shall Pass (2007) as well as Black Moth Super Rainbow's Dandelion Gum, Blockhead's Uncle Tony's Coloring Book, and Rob Sonic's Sabotage Gigante. Although, F*cked Up Friends had still yet-to-be-released, one would almost assume TOBACCO & Aesop Rock would have treated their fans to a live version of "Dirt." Now, roughly 10 years later, Aesop Rock & TOBACCO have reunited to form Malibu Ken and will unleash their debut self-titled full-length on January 18, 2019 on Rhyemsayers Ent. Just yesterday afternoon, we were unknowingly treated to the first audiophinic taste of Malibu Ken by way of "psyche-warping" teaser single, "Acid King." Malibu Ken's progressively repulsive animated "Acid King" video was directed by frequent collaborator Rob Shaw with character designs/art direction from James "GUNSHO" Quigley and 2-D animation from Jesse McManus. Aesop Rock & TOBACCO Are Malibu Ken is currently available to pre-order from Rhymesayers' Fifth Element web-store in either die-cut gatefold LP, CD, and digital formats.

"TOBACCO and I have thrown around the idea of doing a project together since we first toured over a decade ago. I find his production to be something special and always wanted to see what I could bring to it. We recently found time to record some songs and MALIBU KEN was born. I brought a few stories to the table, but also, did my best to let the production dictate the subject matter throughout. We hope you like the soup... Huge love and thanks to anyone checking this music out. It means the world! Love you, @maniacmeat."

- Aesop Rock (@AesopRockWins)