Having met while earning their music degrees, The Beast’s exceptional rhythm section (pianist Eric Hirsh, bassist Pete Kimosh, drummer Stephen Coffman) had played together for over six years by the time they joined forces with emcee Pierce Freelon (son of Grammy nominated jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon). The quartet quickly discovered a powerful synergy and developed songs that have been praised as "eclectic and intricate Hip-Hop shot through with soul and Afro-Cuban influences” (The Independent Weekly).

The Beast’s debut EP, Belly (buy now on iTunes), captured this genre-bending energy when it was released in September of 2008. The follow-up EP, Catalyst, is a free digital download that showcases The Beast in a live performance setting. Their highly anticipated full-length album, entitled Silence Fiction will be released on October 16th, 2009. Silence Fiction encapsulates two years of progressive songwriting and risk-taking.

The Beast is also dedicated to education and cultural outreach, as the group devotes time and energy to developing workshops on creativity, improvisation, and the history of African-American music. Based on the Blackademics Hip-Hop curriculum founded by emcee, Pierce Freelon, The Beast's workshops have reached children and college students from New York to New Delhi.

(photo of an educational workshop @ the Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival)