“I know it sounds strange, but strange beats normal.” That’s a line repeated by Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman on So Strange Here, a track from their new collaborative EP Lice. It might as well be the tenet for both their careers. Aesop Rock was the main piece in Def Jux’ revolution of the rap underground in the 2000’s, only solidifying his idiosyncratic style when he moved to mostly produce his own albums. Homeboy Sandman is a New York-bred workhorse who’s carved out an impressive discography on Stones Throw, seemingly without the larger public noticing, and who’s mix of non-sequiturs and intense introspection makes for incredibly compelling lyrics.
And while a collaborative project between the two might not have sounded like an obvious choice,once Lice gets going, it makes perfect sense. While their cadences differ widely, Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman are both exquisite lyricists with an absurdist bent and an ability to jump from darkness to humor on the flip of a coin. Aesop might admonish “cats better drink up all their Ovaltine/ and recognize that flow is more important than a smoke machine,” and Sandman muse “honestly/ my fuck-ups turn to gold so much, the thought of fucking up don’t even bother me.” It’s always fun and thought-provoking.
At every turn on this EP, there is a surprising rhyme, an original punchline, or a moving confessional. Whether the duo raps honestly about getting older, spits straight bars, or simply flows stream of consciousness-style, they command our attention and reward us for it. It might not be their most ambitious or innovative material, but the 17-minutes of material on Lice are 17 minutes you’ll want to go back to again and again.
That’s also in no small part thanks to the production. DJ Spinna delivers a doozy of an opener on Vertigo, all thumping drums and dramatic guitar licks; Blockhead reunites with Aesop Rock on Environmental Studies, a moody track that goes back and forth between jazzy head-nodder and bass-driven boom bap; and Alex “Apex” Gale delivers maybe the stand-out track of the EP, a hypnotizing song that combines a silky children’s choir with a synth bass to produce goosebumps galore.
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So, yeah. It might sound strange, but strange beats normal. This EP is the perfect example. As trippy, sure-footed and engrossing as only two legends of the underground could deliver, beating expectations at every turn, but comforting the fan base nonetheless. This holiday season, do yourself a favor and get yourself some Lice.
