Jay-Z has Watch The Throne, and Aes has Are You Gonna Eat That?, his collaboration album soundalike with fellow Def Jux vet Rob Sonic. Both records are louder, more exuberant creations than anything else in their respective discographies. Light on the social commentary and heavy on shout-along hooks, Are You Gonna Eat That? sounds like a birthday party, but was released quietly on Rhymesayers in 2011 in the wake of Def Jux’s dissolution and four years after Aes’ last album. Aesop has collaborated with a who’s-who of underground hip-hop luminaries, including El-P, Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox, and Slug from Atmosphere, but he frequently outshines his guests, who can match his lyricism, but not the manic quality of his delivery. Aes found his perfect foil in Sonic, who had shown up twice on his previous album, None Shall Pass. Sonic writes more straightforward rhymes than Aes, but can equal his partner’s syllables-per-minute. The chemistry between the two is palpable: They emulate prime-era Beastie Boys as they trade barbs on “Grubsteak,” a short-but-sweet laser blast of a song that sets the peppy tone for the remainder of the record. Sometimes the proceedings run too chipper, such as on “Breakdance Beach,” which throws only the same irritating hook over and over without so much as a weave or a dodge. It’s the closest thing to a filler track on any Aesop Rock record. Songs like “Meter Feeder” and “Mailbox Baseball” walk the line between big hooks and lyrical content better.

Aes has made no bones about including Hail Mary Mallon songs as part of his repertoire, even if it’s not part of his solo work. Sonic has toured with Aesop frequently since his comeback, and the two often incorporate multiple tracks from Are You Gonna Eat That? in their sets. According to Aes’ Twitter, he and Sonic are collaborating on a second Hail Mary Mallon album as I write this. Hopefully it will boast some more intellectual content than this tasty, but saccharine, album.