14 October 2026 – Aesop Rock and Blockhead Release Coyote Summer With Hanni El Khatib

Independent hip-hop veterans Aesop Rock and Blockhead have released "Coyote Summer", featuring singer-songwriter Hanni El Khatib, as another preview of their forthcoming collaborative album Trouble Mountain. The record arrives November 13 through Rhymesayers Entertainment and represents only the second full-length project officially credited to the longtime musical partners as a duo.

Their creative relationship stretches back decades, with Blockhead contributing production to some of Aesop Rock's most influential recordings. Trouble Mountain develops an unusual conceptual foundation inspired by television advertisements for holiday resorts in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. Those commercials formed part of the musicians' childhood experiences growing up around New York, providing a nostalgic starting point for the album's fictional world.

"Coyote Summer" combines relaxed boom-bap production with Aesop Rock's characteristically elaborate lyrical imagery. Hanni El Khatib contributes to the chorus, introducing a melodic contrast to the rapper's densely constructed verses. The accompanying music video, directed by Evan Gütt, presents Aesop in a holiday setting that reflects the project's central concept. Additional album guests include Open Mike Eagle, Cavalier and 4-IZE.

Aesop Rock remains one of independent hip-hop's most distinctive lyricists, frequently constructing verses that reward repeated listening and occasionally require listeners to consult a dictionary. Blockhead's production provides an accessible foundation without simplifying that approach. "Coyote Summer" suggests that Trouble Mountain will combine childhood nostalgia, surreal humour and sophisticated underground rap. It is probably the most elaborate artistic tribute ever created to regional holiday advertising. Discover more beat-driven stories in our hip-hop portal.