Aesop Rock at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in June 2007. Photo: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic

Oh, the confusing world of rap nomenclature! A$AP Rocky broke out only last summer, and many had the murky impression that he pinched the name of a certain NYC rap veteran. It’s a non-issue now since Rocky showed that he has a different, pop-oriented style altogether.

The “original” Aesop’s last project was Hail Mary Mallon with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. Now he’s readying his first solo release since 2007’s None Shall Pass with “Zero Dark Thirty,” the first official single from Skelethon. Aesop still has the mentally consuming, slightly daunting storytelling style that made him an underground staple: “Zero Dark Thirty” comes across like a countdown, its meaning buried deep under a mound of poetic, visual non-sequiturs. The marching drums, peculating synth and somber violin riff drive this feeling of movement towards an ambiguous, dim future — Aesop’s made a career harping on this, and he isn’t letting go of it anytime soon.

Skelethon is out July 9 on Rhymesayers. Stream “Zero Dark Thirty” below: