The downside is that it’s often difficult to capture that energy on record. That disparity is evident throughout Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, the third album from the ponderously named, slam-influenced rapper K the I??? Boasting densely layered, polysyllabic lyricism and a rapid-fire flow that brings to mind KRS-ONE in full-on “teacher” mode, K the I??? is unquestionably a skilled MC. He has a poet’s ear for wordplay, packing his streams of consciousness with clever internal rhymes, surreal imagery and unexpected verbal twists. (“Life is what you make of it, you idiot / Cry me a river bank / Empty tank polluted / With devil sticks to the chest / Rest in peace / Isolated / You’re tempting me to intrude the interlude”). It’s a deft delivery that rewards close listening. It probably kills on the stage, but the album only works intermittently.

That’s partially due to seasoned studio figure (and Mush label mate) Thavius Beck’s low-fi production. The simple beats and left-field samples are plenty solid, giving the project a down-and-dirty feel that sometimes hints at U.K. grime. The trouble is that the beats and words don’t always mesh, creating a weird, disjointed sound, sort of like a YouTube mash-up that doesn’t have the tempo quite right. That off-kilter effect may be intentional, and it does enhance the album’s grungy aesthetic, but it’s off putting nonetheless. Alienating the beats from the rhymes only underlines the idea that K the I???’s act is best served by a slam format.

But when it works, it works. The apocalyptic visions of “Marathon Man” roll along with an eerie creep and ominous vocal samples, while “Sabbath Faster” (“We distorted those fighter jets / Minor threats / Look at the architect through the eyes of prophet before I forget”) rides a burbling electronic beat that almost verges on danceable. A well-chosen roster of underground guest rappers (Busdriver is probably the biggest name here) lends muscle and provides some welcome departures from K the I???’s steady staccato. As hip-hop albums go, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow has plenty going for it, but it works best as an advertisement for K the I???’s reputedly exceptional performances.