Beauty And The Beat
by Edan

Really underrated imo. Great album with creative lyrics

An album that heavily focuses on production. The lyrics are seconday, though they do add to the surreal scenery ("Pour the hourglass sand in the rusted tin can The looking glass man dressed in robes from Japan", or "I frolic in the sand with a colony of ants My particles expand building oxygen in plants From Rakim to Caz, to Lakim Shabazz I logically advance with the knowledge of the past Motivate a giraffe, wrote a page-and-a-half Known for paving a path in the waves with a staff The music is rap, my favorite color is math The plan of attack is bless a planet with wax The caterer, the Darth Vader of the cross fader You should never be afraid of the arm from all laborers"). What separates Edan from other producers that made a breakthrough at about the same era -let's say start of the 21st century- (notorious examples who also happen to appear in this tournament being El-P and Aesop Rock) is that in extreme contrast to their futuristic vibes, he has his eyes set on the past. His influences are not hard to spot. It's meant to be trippy ("My word systems turn your scene to tangerine The kid sees colors flashing wild on his movie screen"), so psychedelic music is the name of the game. There are moments where it rocks, at points it approaches conventional hip hop, but it always maintains a sound funky at its core. He can effortlessly fit many different styles without overdoing it or losing the balance. Many standout moments, if I were forced to pick one I would probably go with Murder Mystery. It somehow reminds me of Chinatown (the movie I mean). Too bad it was released a little too late (only 30 years) to be included in the soundtrack. One thing that stops me from listening to this more often, is that his above mentioned influences are so good themselves I might find myself listening to them instead.

From Medelsvensson 10/23/2019 09:55 | #244034

Unconventional in all the best ways. Like nothing else.

From Graeme2 11/27/2013 10:49 | #94874

Great record this. If you like classic hip hop over psych beats give it a go!