Beans
End It All (Anticon)Though he’ll rock a tight staccato flow at the drop of a hat, Beans’ bread and butter comes when the New York abstract rapper abandons all regard for standard rhythmic patterns and unleashes 13 words where seven would usually fit. Such outbursts come with deft frequency on Beans’ Anticon debut, End It All, a tongue-twisting exercise so densely packed that Beans himself probably doesn’t know how many diatribes made the cut. Over trademark minimalist, futuristic beats coming from a stable of 12 producers – though End It All doesn’t lack for a steady mood – Beans spins his own story from the Anti-Pop Consortium narrative, boasting (“Not materialistic but my material is sick,” he raps over syncopated steel drums on “Deathsweater”) and dishing real talk on the industry. “Hardliner” claims that “the audience of most artists is getting Alzheimer’s.” It’s a handful, but like fellow acrobat Doom’s recent efforts, Beans’ll keep you on your toes. (Wed., 12mid, Mohawk)
This article appears in March 18 • 2011.