Those who are well versed in album covers - and the fact that Edan is a rapper, not a rock band - may be able to tell what the album sounds like just by looking at the cover. The colorful image is undeniably similar to the psychedelic images which were seen on the LPs of psychedelic rock and pop bands in the 60s. That said, it is obviously not a coincidence that Beauty and the Beat puts up an argument for being one of the most overtly psychedelic albums in hip-hop. The majority of the samples that compose these beats are taken from music that likely falls under the wide umbrella as psychedelia. In fact, an appreciation for this album might double with an appreciation of 60s bands like The Hollies and The Millennium. It is impossible to deny the psychedelia influence on tracks like “I See Colours", with a guitar riff sample as its driving force, or “Polite Meeting", an instrumental piece with trippy effects which features sampled band interviews. Similarly, “Smile" also has a guitar sample as the main attraction and fades out into a vocal sample that definitely sounds like it was recorded in the 60s.
Lyrically this album is a fantastic album for people who have a deep appreciation for hip hop history. It is clear that Edan is someone who loves hip hop culture and history - at times this album comes off as an ode to hip hop. The song “Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme" could be called “Fumbling Through Hip Hop History" as the song goes through the history of rap, referencing the “come up" of artists that have been pivotal in hip hop music and culture, including Melle Mel, Kool Herc, LL Cool J, Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Moe Dee, Lord Finesse and the Wu-Tang Clan:
So Flash formed the Four with the father Melle Mel
Four became Five, more became live
Routines on the breaks, crew kings motivate
After L the brothers became Fantastic
With Theodore they battled the Cold Crush Four
Few had the confidence of G. MCWithout the CCB’s [Cold Crush Brothers] there’d be no Run-DMC
The Funky and the Fearless Four forced emcees to small Spoonie G
And I can’t forget the Treacherous Three MC’s
Additionally, there are various other references to other classic hip hop subjects throughout the whole album. As an MC, Edan has a very direct style with a voice that sounds like it was born to rock the mic, but at the same time constantly brings complex and intricate word play to all of the songs on this LP. Besides hip hop homages, other lyrical content that can be found on this album includes storytelling, with “Murder Story" and dream-like adventure of “Promised Land" being album highlights.
Beauty and the Beat does not have many guest appearances, but every single one fits in with the album perfectly. Mr. Lif, Dagha and Insight all do a great job, but Percee P’s guest verse shines the brightest, absolutely stealing the show on “Torture Chamber", which lyrically is one of the most impressive tracks on the album. Insight has perfect chemistry with Edan on both of his appearance. In particular, how both MCs trade verses on “The Science of the Two" is extremely impressive.
Even the most avid hip-hop head would be hard pressed to find another album that sounds quite like Beauty and the Beat. Although this is not a “traditional” hip-hop album, it is something that should be heard by anyone who has a deep appreciation for the classics of the genre. By the end of its 34 minute runtime, it is apparent that records like Beauty and the Beat are the reason why terms like “underground classic” exist.
