In 2005 a relatively unknown MC/beat maestro by the name of Edan dropped a bomb on the world of underground hip hop; that bomb was Beauty and the Beat, Edan’s second LP and one of the most original hip hop records of all time. Beauty brought together the minimalist, lyric-focused rap of the late-1980’s with avant garde sample-driven hip hop of the present day, and the result is unlike anything seen since. The record’s success owes itself to a few factors, the first being that Edan is one of the most verbose, lyrically proficient rappers of his time. Cramming in everything from psychedelic space scenarios to basement torture chambers, Edan’s lyrics are anything but run of the mill. He even finds time to present exhaustive histories of both rap (”Fumbling Over Words that Rhyme”) and rock music (”Rock and Roll”). The second is his use of sampling which is extremely imaginative. Mostly he eschews the funk and soul samples preferred by the majority of his peers in favor of rock and psychedelia. “I See Colours” for instance utilizes the Dells’ “I Can Sing a Rainbow,” to impart a hazy dreamlike canvas for his raps. “Smile” samples the Hollies’ “The Clown” to similar effect, and the Music Machine, Pink Floyd, and even Black Sabbath all make notable appearances in Beauty’s endless credits. Edan’s ingenious sonic creations particularly connect when they are paired with guest rapper Insight in both “Funky Voltron” and the record’s highlight “The Science of the Two.” While Edan is formidable on his own, the addition of Insight makes the wordplay’s pace simply astounding. The one major shame about Beauty and the Beat though is that in the four years that have followed it, Edan has pretty much fallen off of the musical map. Whether he is working on new material, resting on his laurels, or maybe working a day job is anybody’s guess. Regardless, even if he never makes another record, Beauty will still stand as one of the best rap albums ever made.

Edan “The Science of the Two (excerpt)” (mp3)

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