WHO ARE THEY? Not to be confused with California rock duo Best Coast, New York’s Beast Coast are a 10-member hip-hop supergroup collective featuring members of Flatbush Zombies, Underachievers and Pro Era.
WHAT IS THIS? Their refreshingly underhyped and strikingly strong debut album, which was announced just two weeks ago and comes on the heels of just two singles.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? Considering the plus-sized group boasts more members than Wu-Tang Clan, Escape From New York is surprisingly tight, with just a baker’s dozen tracks that clock in at a lean 46 minutes — but still manage to give all the vocalists plenty of room to move without stepping on each other’s toes. What it may lack in length, however, it makes up for in breadth, expanding beyond streetwise rap with doses of reggae, R&B and more.
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? With the list of credits handy.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Expansive, eclectic, moody, stylish, intelligent, gritty, organized, tense, aggressive, nocturnal.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? Ominously heavy thumpers like It Ain’t Easy, It Ain’t Easy, Left Hand, Rubberband and Bones will command your attention, though some of the softer and subtler songs will creep up on you over time.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK? That this band has too many vocalists.
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? Whenever you want a change from the Wu.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE FOOD, WHAT KIND OF FOOD WOULD IT BE? An overly complex casserole that’s turns out to be far tastier and more satisfying than you would expect.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL? If you average out the cost of the disc per member, it’s a pretty good deal.
