5 out of 5

Label: Rhymesayers, Epitaph

Produced By: Brent “Abu Siddiq” Sayers, Eyedea & Abilities

It’s a tough lot in life when your breakout album turns out to actually be your best, and when your breakout single turns out the same.  Then again, it’s pretty awesome to have breakouts in both regards, and Eyedea & Abilities – following up on First Born – had a pretty excellent baseline established from which to spring to a “best,” so maybe I’ve exposed this intro as the prattle it is.

Were I more keyed into the highs and lows of hip-hop, opener “reintroducing” – which is what it sounds like – would theoretically have more context.  Regardless, Eyedea’s “you probably got rid of our first CD but we’re back” snark sets a good tone, and establishes why Larsen’s battles were so sharp: While his boasts might toe the same line as any other rapper’s, there’s a hint of good-natured undercurrent, and enough left and right turns into intelligentsia to raise an eyebrow.  Which all comes together on “Now,” the duo’s tongue-waggling, infectious and layered track.  It’s something of a battle track as well, but the scope is broad, and when Abilities transforms the beat into rock for its final passage, the thing becomes a through-and-through proof of mastery of skills.

The rest of the album ain’t no slouch either, even if it does end up leaning rather heavily on “I’m the best” sentiment; E’s varied and expressive deliveries and Abilities’ wealth of awesome samples and beats make this plenty worthwhile, though.  The meat of the experience, however, and what lasts beyond the blast of “Now,” is the stretch of tracks in the middle, during which the group exercises frameworks from all corners of the hip-hop map and Larsen gets to espouse his worthwhile thoughts on society, on interrelationships.  Everything syncs together here – tight production, creative wordplay, well-used guestspots – such that, despite lacking another intense verbal blast as in that single, E&A makes an indelible impression, a deal that’s sealed when we get to our concluding track, “Glass,” which again mixes rap and rock elements to achieve something pretty damn impactful.

E&A was my gateway to Rhymesayers – and thus a lot more hip-hop – and it’s a fine starting point, evidence of how one can straddle the line between backpack style raps and battle-worthy credibility, and samples from Hal Hartley movies as well as old school rap.