There’s something strangely satisfying about hearing veterans of the underground flex their muscles without a care for conventional expectations. On Everybody Eats!, the trio of Kool Keith and Boston’s 7L & Esoteric—known collectively as Stress Eater—serve up an album that feels like a raucous banquet of oddities, raw rhymes, and wildly creative beats. This isn’t a meal for those seeking easy digestion. Instead, it’s an unapologetic plate of left-field boom-bap that’s messy, unpredictable, and entirely their own.

Kool Keith, the eccentric Bronx emcee who helped shape Hip Hop’s abstract corners with Ultramagnetic MCs and his Dr. Octagon persona, is no stranger to sonic weirdness. Paired here with the sharp-tongued, cerebral Esoteric and the versatile beatsmith 7L—stalwarts of the Boston underground scene who made their names through their duo work and as core members of the comic-inspired Czarface project—the trio feels like a natural collision of chaos and precision. They’ve worked together before, but this album feels like a space where their quirks thrive without restraint.

The sound of Everybody Eats! is anything but predictable. The beats, largely handled by 7L and Czar-Keys, range from slow-burn boom-bap to funk-drenched experimentation. The opening track, “Rocket Science,” sets the tone with heavy basslines and a deliberately paced rhythm that lets Kool Keith and Esoteric rip into lesser emcees with surgical disdain. You can almost hear the smirk in their voices as they declare lyrical dominance, their bars dripping with bravado and surreal wit.

Then there’s “Here’s Some Homicide,”, with an appearance from Ice T, a beat-driven slugfest of boom-bap energy. Kool Keith’s signature non-sequiturs meet Esoteric’s machine-gun flow, creating a track that feels like a love letter to battle rap. The interplay between the two is electric—Keith’s off-kilter style perfectly offsets Eso’s more straightforward verbal aggression, making for a dynamic listening experience.

Interludes pepper the album, adding to its chaotic energy without feeling like filler. “People Want Sugar” and “Off the Bones” provide moments of brief, almost absurd detours before diving back into the madness. The structure of the album feels deliberate in its unpredictability, keeping listeners on edge but never losing its rhythm.

Tracks like “Willrow Hood” and “Mecha & the Sole Brother” are rich with references and nods to Hip Hop’s roots and pop culture. The former, with its funk-laced production, name-drops obscure Star Wars lore while staying firmly grounded in lyrical sharpness. The latter pays homage to Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s classic Mecca and the Soul Brother, twisting the nostalgia into Stress Eater’s bizarre universe.

“Space Cowboy” is a standout, its pulsing boom-bap beat anchoring a track where the trio proclaims themselves as sheriffs of Hip Hop’s strange frontier. The combination of spacey metaphors and gritty lyricism feels quintessentially Stress Eater—otherworldly yet grounded.

The album’s humor shines brightest on “Top Men of Rap.” The title itself hints at tongue-in-cheek grandiosity, and the lyrics are no less playful. Littered with wrestling references (shoutout to Paul Wight), the track feels like a celebration of bravado and absurdity. It’s self-aware without ever being self-deprecating—a balance few artists can pull off.

Mega Ran’s guest verse on “Aladdin’s Castle” is another high point. Known for his nerdcore prowess, Mega Ran slides effortlessly into Stress Eater’s offbeat world, his playful energy meshing perfectly with the organ-laced beat. The track’s nostalgic arcade references and relentless wordplay make it a joyride through the trio’s shared love for pop culture.

Despite the album’s chaotic energy, there’s a surprising cohesiveness to Everybody Eats! The beats feel meticulously crafted, layering gritty textures and unexpected samples. Kool Keith’s bizarre storytelling and Esoteric’s laser-sharp delivery somehow gel into a unified whole. Even on the closing track, “Giving Back to the Universe,” there’s a sense of reflection beneath the surface. The mellow boom-bap beat provides a softer landing after the frenetic energy of the earlier tracks, wrapping the album with a nod to Hip Hop’s soulful roots.

The mood of Everybody Eats! is irreverent, inventive, and undeniably fun. Stress Eater doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but their technical prowess and creative ambition are impossible to ignore. This is Hip Hop made by artists who have nothing to prove and everything to explore. Kool Keith, 7L, and Esoteric revel in their shared weirdness, creating an album that feels like an unfiltered expression of their collective creativity.

Everybody Eats! isn’t trying to fit into any box—it’s wild, unpredictable, and brimming with personality. For listeners willing to embrace its eccentricities, it’s a pure Hip Hop feast worth savoring.

8.5/10

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