Edan 'Beauty and the Beat' LP

While Edan's critically acclaimed debut Primitive Plus was both an unorthodox and unabashed celebration of hip hop's golden age, his sophomore LP, Beauty and the Beat, is a vast musical collage that contains many different influences; hip hop, rock, pop, dusty breaks, hazy loops, luxurious off-kilter samples and curveball tempo changes that are all commingled into one brilliantly cohesive piece of art. Though Edan's vivid lyrical imagery and technical wizardry (he also self-produced every track) alone make Beauty and the Beat a standout LP, Edan's guest roster includes two of Boston's finest, as Def Juxie Mr Lif graces Making Planets and Edan's musical partner in beats and rhymes, Insight, rekindle their undeniable chemistry on Funky Voltron and The Science of the Two. Legendary Bronx emcee Percee-p also makes a noteworthy appearance on the kinetic Torture Chamber.