Independent hip hop icon Aesop Rock has just released a new song, “Roadwork Rappin’,” a youth-geared anthem dedicated to the towering machines of roadside construction. Out now digitally via Rhymesayers Entertainment, the track will also be available September 12 as a limited edition die-cut 7” picture disc — available for pre-order — in the shape of an oversized construction vehicle tire. Alongside the release, Aesop Rock will also be dropping exclusive merch, including a “Roadwork Rappin’” coloring and activity book and lunchbox. 

Written, produced, and performed by Aesop Rock, “Roadwork Rappin” continues the playful thread teased in kid-forward fan favorites like “Long Legged Larry” and “My Belly.” This latest entry brings that spirit to the street—literally—paying sing-along tribute to bulldozers, barrels, cones, steamrollers, and the chaotic joy of infrastructure. Featuring original artwork by longtime visual collaborator Justin “Coro” Kaufman, the release also arrives accompanied by a cheeky video directed by Marmo Films and starring comedian Jack Shaw.

“A few friends of mine have children who are completely fascinated by large construction vehicles,” Aesop explains. “They know all the names and functions, and will cheer as trucks drive past. This song is for all the young people out there fascinated by these massive vehicles and their work.

Released hot on the heels of Black Hole Superette—his dazzlingly dense and critically lauded full-length LP from earlier this year —“Roadwork Rappin” shows another side of Aesop: joyful, grounded, and tuned to the imaginative frequency of kids and their grown-ups alike. Whether you’re 4 or 44, there’s something here to chant along with.