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Home , Beverley Knight, Estelle discography, Gangsta Blues, Go Gone, Internet leak, Jeanius

PAGE 22 • VARIANT • VOLUME 2 NUMBER 22 • SPRING 2005 Beautiful Struggles and Tom Jennings

‘Life is a beautiful struggle / People layers (spoken and/or sung lyrics mainstream politics and religion. search through the rubble / For a and choruses), but whose origins Meanwhile, the sheer brilliance suitable hustle / Some people using sit squarely in dance music.2 The of the arrangements transcends their noodle / Some people using most recent and wildly successful the weakness of his MC voice—as their muscle / Some people put it all phenomenon here is the does the raft of ranking guests. together / Make it fit like a puzzle’ synthesised Deep South ,‘I Try’ minimalism of Atlanta party hip- Highlights of Low Lives hop, exemplified in Lil’ Jon’s ‘I’m tired of the hunger I see on Among those whose hip-hop credentials rest anthemic ‘Get Low’ and double Juice. people’s faces / Tired of the animosity purely on their MC shoulders, though, there’s The precursors of this lowest between the races / Tired of nothing wrong with ’s vocal cadence— denominator (and no worse for it) approach, corruption in high and low places … / and her skills place her right up there with the however, are more varied. When copyright holders Maybe life ain’t as bad as it seems / cream of the wordplay crop.6 Her 2004 output increasingly interfered with and suppressed hip- But if dreaming is the best I can do / Then I’ll be includes a second full length release, This Week,7 hop’s original sampling and repetition of broken dreaming my whole life through’ which, although patchy in terms of production, beats in the 1990s, further displays exhilarating lyrical dexterity and range. ,‘What A Day’ fascinating and fruitful Born in South Africa to pianist Abdullah In many ways 2004 has been one of paradigm shifts ensued: Dr Ibrahim and singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, and the worst years in living memory, for Dre’s G- meticulously having majored in singing at NY’s La Guardia all sorts of depressingly familiar manipulates instrumental ‘Fame’ School, her frustrating travails in hip-hop reasons in the fields of politics, samples and studio have tempted retirement while also honing her economics and the sheer ballooning orchestration; Timbaland’s hunger. Now with the option of joining the Philly scale of human misery and hypnotically sultry bass and hip-hop ensemble and live-instrument champions suffering. Things in the sphere of percussion alchemy highlights , her solo status will soar if only an the mass media have also been far organic recorded fragments;3 appropriate recording and performing jigsaw from hot—for popular music in and the genius of the puzzle can be assembled. This Week contains particular given the relentless Neptunes creates compelling highly infectious germs; perhaps the next album advance of vacant pretty pop idols and their stripped-bare synthetic beats capable of (wholly produced by the gifted 9th attendant trivia masquerading as culture. But, resonating with virtually any style known to Wonder) will release a Grae epidemic. scratch the apparently ubiquitous naffness of humanity. If Jean Grae’s breakthrough is overdue, Masta surface, and a surprisingly rich texture comes to Ace has long been a hip-hop hero—in the light—with, for example, some of the most Quality Quirks legendary and then for two early ‘90s outstanding mainstream releases of recent times Together with the classic NY breakbeat structure rap classics: Slaughtahouse and Sittin’ On Chrome. in all regions of the Black Atlantic rap/R&B/ and along with the slower jazz-inflected The reflective 5th release, A Long Hot Summer, nexus appearing in the course of this benighted arrangements associated with Philadelphia will be his final album because “it’s time for me to year.1 The fact that such intelligent, troubling, production and nu-soul, this vastly expanded hip- live through other people”.8 Fortunately it’s a uplifting, hard-hitting, heart- hop palette has facilitated the reincorporation of superb bowing out, full of sonic poignancy, sober warming, honest and challenging musical and cultural traditions that its artists have maturity and wisdom. The magical first single, material can coexist with long aspired to. Now, with the twin leverage of ‘Good Ol’ Love’ is possibly the most heartfelt widespread popular appeal in commercial success and (relatively) independent affirmation of love for humanity, with absolutely musically sophisticated, exciting status, hip-hop is itself overflowing into other no piety or sentimentality, you’ll ever hear. And a and imaginative formats is genres. Discounting Common’s misfiring tribute deep, wry, affection for the warts-and-all potential testament to the creativity and to 1960s psychedelia (Electric Circus), Atlanta’s of lower class guts shines through Ace’s Summer persistence of its makers as well Outkast have led the way, fusing Southern States (i.e. his young adulthood)—with a passionate and as the appetites of sizeable soul and funk with Big Beat and the camp, irony honest understanding of the misguided choices we publics of all ages and and rhythms of disco in Speakerboxx/The Love all make in conditions we cannot control, and backgrounds. Below (2003); Fear Of A Mixed Planet from Shock their ramifications for all of our karmas. In an G4 reimagines both the music and the planetary ideal rap memoir, the consistently excellent guests The Low Down humanism of George Clinton; falters in and producers are privileged to pay tribute. One noticeable trend from the grass-roots has his quest to blend raw electric blues with rap in is something of a veteran, too, but while been a welcome re-emphasis on dance and the the disappointing The New Danger; and, hooking also more seasoned he’s stayed angry, sustaining party—understood as a local, community up with various hip-hop guests, Zap Mama’s an output of cutting edge ghetto hip-hop since the occurrence rather than the favoured corporate Ancestry in Progress is a beautiful rendering of zenith of (1994). His subsequent work has option of the stadium megaconcert. Younger UK African vocal styles and ‘World Music’ in bluesy, often suffered critically—largely through a generations may have spent teenage years in the soulful clothing. persistent misunderstanding of his vision. The rave and jungle scenes but were deeply, if First class honours for innovation, though, go to project has always been to chronicle, critique and subliminally, influenced by the parental record Chicago’s —already a sought-after hit- overcome through musical poetry—mobilising as collections too—of soul and reggae for example. making producer signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella— medium and metaphor his own responses and Now they turn to their other love—the hip-hop whose College Dropout breaks new ground for fun. resonances—the existential anguish arising from they’ve also grown up with—out of a desire to Accelerating classic soul vocal samples is not itself the material and social reality of his people. connect with wider audiences (and possibly earn a unique,5 but West is particularly clever in Street’s Disciple, the new double album, continues living); and DIY and independent labels are mobilising them to suit a range of tempos and and in fact transcends prior achievements by more progressing along a slow but steady learning curve themes, and his rhythmic design perfectly fully approaching a synthesis of personal and inspired by the US experience of playing the matches the vocals. His concept album exploits political spirit. Over throbbing beats he spits fury majors’ game without losing all autonomy. the theme of education to attack the whole at the electoral charade, the damage done by the Across the Atlantic, the economic and cultural panoply of official and unofficial institutions domestic and New World Orders, and the power of the diversified market for R&B and rap which reproduce economic, cultural and social complacent stupidities of media stars and fantasy is well-developed, and its cultural practices more domination. His insightful and very witty lyrics lifestyles. Suggestively interspersed with more routinely recuperated. The production processes reveal personal ambivalence, and the passion, melodic arrangements, allegories of sin and crime of digital sonic design are wholly integrated into pain and hope which persist in the face of the (passion, money, sex, violence, drugs, the compositional complexity of music which—as blight of consumerism and the damaging relationships) culminate in his impending with reggae—prioritises combinations of vocal dishonesties of liberal and ghetto aspiration, marriage9 offered as redemption. Nothing is VARIANT • VOLUME 2 NUMBER 22 • SPRING 2005 • PAGE 23 resolved; as in life—which Street’s arrogance of many peers, his first determined self-confidence, and you get pure Disciple is a magnificent full-length album, Council Estate inspirational soul. The album is full of highlights, representational slice of.10 of Mind, presents an with utterly authentic personal biography more autobiographical odyssey interesting for eschewing self-indulgence. The Revolutionary and structured around dialogue from arrangements are a surprising bonus, with up- the renowned television film tempo gospel flourishes, bass-heavy dance beats, Gangsta? Made In Britain.16 But rather and a deep love of hip-hop, funk and R&B Despite the depth of lyrical talent than rehearsing yet another breaking out all over the place in exemplary and personal exploration all of earnest wake-up call to the liberal fashion.18 these MCs express, however, the middle classes, Skinny shows For ‘soul’ more conventionally political consciousness in their instead how the hardest of hard understood, these shores could work is, at best, confused. To compensate, and times can generate an astonishing degree of also muster a solid Affirmation of with explicit historical and political analysis, Dead rebellious imagination, positivity and ’s diva larynx,19 Prez’ album Revolutionary But Gangsta persistence—valuable resources in countering and a second album (Thank You) impressively showcases M1 and Stic.man’s straight depression, self-hatred and sociopathy, but leading by young pretendress — talking and powerful beats—as in their previous to neither conformist respectability nor whose catwalk looks imply the work.11 But even better for that elusive resignation to domination. With vocal style and adage about exceptions and rules, combination of individual and collective philosophy formed in a West Indian as her musical potential is consciousness in 2004 hip-hop is undoubtedly neighbourhood childhood in Leeds, the reggae considerable. In America Angie Talib Kweli’s .12 This album influence is echoed in musical production, with a Stone’s latest release, Stone Love, shifts current urban music gears with sought-after prevailing mood of laid-back hip-hop reflecting has some decent tunes to show producers and guest vocalists queuing up in the tenor of the lyrics. off her thrilling style—but far support—showing why so many fans Skinnyman’s single-minded intention to shine more filler than the first two; and Anthony name-check Kweli as simply the best.13 While an in music—putting in enormous amounts of work Hamilton’s debut Comin’ From Where I’m From leak of unmastered versions backfired— and with widespread acclaim from jungle, garage, reveals both a depth of secular spirituality and a since the remixes are even better—his and hip-hop enthusiasts, but hitherto rich soul voice to rival Jaheim or D’Angelo. For uncompromising radical politics without financial support—was pure joy, though, Beautifully Human is simply and fierce lyrical prowess embody preceded by years of exclusion majestic. Equally at home soaring acrobatic with a refusal to kowtow to from school, and repeatedly Minnie Ripperton, earthy as Kitt, melancholic as commercial agendas.14 And if his interrupted since by time inside , or whimsically bad(u) like Erykah, vocal timbre lacks variety and for dealing herbal cannabis. This Jill Scott demonstrates nu-soul’s unique capacity depth and the delivery has puts him in a good position to to quantum leap beyond all standards. Any one of difficulty capturing explore the marginalisation of the ‘Golden’, ‘Bedda At Home’, ‘Family Reunion’ or conversational idiom, the direct underclass and the neo-slavery of ‘Rasool’ would make an album on its own; thematic and musical address to the prison system. All the while together they are breathtaking. Apparently she’s the grass-roots remains resolute. the lyrics ooze humility and had a good time in her life since blowing up with What’s really special is that warmth towards the communities Who Is Jill Scott? (2000)20—but if Beautifully the social and political which have nurtured him—while Human is the harvest of happiness, heaven knows implications arising from fully aware of their and his own what will crop up when she gets the Blues … everyday life, society and history shortcomings. Though too modest are broached and dissected with to make such claims for himself, Reggae of the Decade he is a worthy ghetto griot with effortless aplomb—never self- … Speaking of which, for my skills to rival the best in the righteous, patronising, or money, Tanya Stephens’ Gangsta genre. preaching. His honest, deeply Blues is not only the best album Meanwhile, the British drum and bass personal perspective probes ambiguity, conflict, of 2004, but also one of the most renaissance continues to feed hip-hop. UK garage and human fallibility by acknowledging his own significant releases of the exploded Ms Dynamite, The Streets, Craig David mistakes, confusions and limitations. Measuring era—extending and and sundry So Solid Crew cohorts into the your insights and experiences against those of expanding the scope of what mainstream, and now the roughneck exponents of people around you and your/their culture and reggae can do in several unique Grime are stepping up. Both subgenres showed traditions facilitates the avoidance of moral directions simultaneously. This love to those like Skinnyman in temporary exile posturing and sophistry, narcissistic self- multiplicity of innovation is even from rap, and it’s clearly a reciprocal process. aggrandisement, and all the other simplistic more adventurous than Buju led the way back with a strange stupidities and dangerous duplicities that plague Banton’s Til Shiloh (in relinquishing his prior cockney speed-squawk which, when slowed down political philosophies and practices (not to nihilism), Capleton’s Prophecy (in heights of enough to make sense of, revealed prodigious MC mention rap). production sophistication), or the similarly strong skills. And judging by her debut, Diamond in the Instead a pragmatic ethic stitches the personal and ground-breaking work of, for example, Bounty Dirt, Shystie not only has that competence to to political (without reducing one to the other) Killer, and Anthony B. And whereas other spare, but things worth saying as well. Equally at with no hint of hierarchy or superiority. Anger, crossover attempts have had largely commercial home in hip-hop, R&B or the mania of junglism, sadness and determination are present and motivations—abandoning along with the she revels in elaborate spiralling lyrics which are, correct along with exuberance, spirituality generic conventions21—Stephens stays true to her as yet, unfocused while still in thrall to a wounded (irrespective of religion) and all the productive St Mary’s roots while excelling as riddim rider, teenage ego. Even so, the underclass feminism of varieties of love in a mature race-, gender- and lyricist, and social critic. All these ‘Woman’s World’, the contemplative, gospel- class-consciousness. Alternately (or forceful personality facets were already infused ‘Can’t Play’ and ‘Somedayz’, and the simultaneously) angry and joyful, encouraging abundantly apparent from her previous singles singles ‘One Wish’ and ‘Make It solidarity and direct action, Kweli and .22 This time they’re fully integrated Easy’ bode very well indeed. regularly advocates revolution— into a thoroughly satisfying whole. Grittier angles are also handled seeing the beauty in struggle Throughout the set her with complete conviction and from its prefiguring of the results gorgeous mesmerising contralto ease—hinting that if she develops (a.k.a. ‘creating a new world in and consistently sharp poetics are more ease with herself, Shystie the shell of the old’). For seamlessly enriched by musical could be sensational. seriously pleasurable, street-level, depth—looking forward via the contemporary music throbbing lush production possibilities of with passion, intelligence and Not-so-new and Nu dancehall and harking back to integrity, Talib Kweli remains a Soul roots, dub, the blues and R&B beacon in US hip-hop. heritage and the barefaced Two other UK debuts of 2004 cheek of calypso.23 The sprang from slightly older heads. Grime Pays UK uninhibited humour of her sexual Veteran MC Rodney P (ex- patter always favours female British hip-hop too has had outstanding Posse), delivered The Future—an empowerment without ambassadors for a while, without breaking out of accomplished, languorously soulful set with lyrical degenerating into caricaturing partly self-imposed shadows. Now finally flows built on dub basslines. Even better is either men or women,24 yet the maturing into a genuine art form in its own right, ’s exuberant —a long-awaited disappointments of romance highly distinctive figureheads abound. Among treat for those who’ve witnessed her fearsome, never dampen her spirit. The intransigence of the 2004’s notable releases were Tommy Evans’ committed and effortlessly top-ranking MC spots material world and its politicians in allaying politically acute New Year’s Revolutions, and the on guest verses for those brave enough to host a suffering come in for harsher, more pointed scattershot stand-up comedy of Pitman’s It Takes A strong woman who suffers fools gladly, not.17 But 15 attention—but here too familiar cliches are Nation Of Tossers. However, Skinnyman is if her lyrics can blow away the best, her singing avoided while the historical and class (as well as probably the most talented UK rap lyricist and style has that rare raw quavering emotionality gender) awareness rings true and clear as a bell. performer yet. Pushing roughly past industry that can make you weep. Mix in passionate One tiny caveat with Gangsta Blues is that I’d indifference and the self-indulgent adolescent intelligence, an activist’s ardour and a very PAGE 24 • VARIANT • VOLUME 2 NUMBER 22 • SPRING 2005

have lapped up more of the driving, pounding, and imperialism”. Or, to Stic.man, “Revolution is bring-the-house-down grandstanding of her best based on the victims of a certain society— party tunes.25 But then, she’s already been there government—that recognizes that they are being and done that, better than anyone else, for a used and abused by the system and it’s not in decade (apart from three years their best interest … seizing control over the institutions that are oppressing the people such as purgatory in the Swedish the court system, police department, military alternative rock wilderness!). In system and educational system all together. Food Tanya Stephens’ own words: “If and all the things needed for life are being you want a collection of played- exploited and people recognize that you have to out singles—don’t buy this album. have control over these things, so revolution is the If you want a bunch of recycled process in which you seize that power” (interview lyrics—don’t buy this album. If in www.thetalkingdrum.com/rbg.html). you’re looking for innovation and 12. Following the innovative underground hip-hop free flowing creative juices, classic (with fellow MC Mos Discography prepare to be blown away”26 … Def), the sublime jazz/blues/soulful Reflection Fair enough; I was. Eternal (+ producer Hi-Tek), and Quality’s DJ Tomcat’s Top Ten 2004: powerful R&B/funk. Gold:Tanya Stephens, Gangsta Blues (VP) 13. Including Jay-Z and —commercial Silver:Talib Kweli, The Beautiful Struggle (Rawkus) Notes superstars not often noted for their political 1. Those pictured constituting my ‘Top Ten’. acumen—as well as Nas. Bronze: Estelle, The 18th Day (V2) 2. See my ‘Dancehall Dreams’, Variant 20, 2004. 14. Kweli doesn’t object to piracy for those who can’t Joints: Jean Grae, This Week (Babygrande) 3. E.g. a stallion’s whinny, signalling female phallic pay, just lack of respect for half-finished art. : A Long Hot Summer (M3) power in ’s ‘Hit Em Wit Da Hee’; an Anyway, a bigger obstacle was the Beatles sample infant’s chuckle, evoking the nurturance of love in not being cleared on the fantastic ‘Lonely People’. Nas: Street’s Disciple (Ill Will/Columbia) Aaliyah’s ‘Are You That Sombody?’. Missy Elliott Even without this track, The Beautiful Struggle is Jill Scott, Beautifully Human:Words & Sounds Volume 2 has recently pioneered the move back to strong from start to finish. (Hidden Beach) simulated ‘old school’ party beats, using only 15. Another reference to Public Enemy, this time It Shystie: Diamond in the Dirt (Polydor) synthesised basslines and percussion—starting Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. with the 2001 single ‘Get Ur Freak On’. SkinnyMan: Council Estate of Mind (Low Life) 16. Directed by Alan Clarke (1982); following Tim 4. Prime joker of California’s legendary Digital Roth’s delinquent youth through an official Kanye West: College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) Underground, here critiquing both white racism ‘system’ whose callousness, hypocrisy and Others: and black nationalism (e.g. Public Enemy’s Fear of brutality inevitably produce a vicious anti-social Aaliyah:‘Are You That Sombody?’ (I Care 4 U, A Black Planet). thug. The album title refers to a benchmark for 5. uses a similar technique with, if the ghetto poet MC—‘New York State Of Mind’ by Blackground, 2003) anything, even more haunting results—see his Nas (from Illmatic)—and rather than Buju Banton: Til Shiloh (Island, 1995) work for Jean Grae, Masta Ace and any number of Queensbridge, Skinnyman riffs on his travails in Capleton: Prophecy (Universal, 1996) others artists. Outstanding examples of voice and around Finsbury Park, London. Standout cuts manipulation in College Dropout include include ‘Hayden’, ‘Love’s Gone From The Streets’, Common: Electric Circus (Universal, 2003) ‘Spaceship’, ‘All Falls Down’, ‘Slow Jamz’ and ‘Life In My Rhymes’, ‘No Big Ting’ and the title Danger Mouse: The Grey Album (2003) ‘Jesus Walks’. outro. Dead Prez: Let’s Get Free (Sony, 2000); Turn Off The Radio 6. Not only having one of the best female flows ever— 17. Noticeable in her part-embarrassed, part pissed- (Holla Black, 2002); Get Free Or Die Tryin’ (Boss Up, 2003); rivalling Roxanne Shante, , MC Lyte off, part-fatalistic acceptance of ‘Best Newcomer’ Revolutionary But Gangsta (Sony, 2004) and Lauryn Hill—but potentially the level of awards; and on the record in, for example, the poetic complexity, attack and attitude of a Nas, impatience of ‘Dance Bitch’, the imperious ‘Don’t Missy Elliott:‘Hit Em Wit Da Hee’ (Supa Dup Fly, Elektra, MF Doom, Jay-Z or . See, for example, Talk’, the urgent feel of ‘Change Is Coming’ and 1997);‘Get Ur Freak On’ (So Addictive, Elektra, 2001) This Week’s ‘Not Like Me’, ‘Supa Luv’, ‘Going the urgings of ‘Why Don’t You?’. Estelle:‘Freedom’ (B-side of ‘Free’,V2, 2004) Crazy’ and ‘Whatever’. 18. Why ‘Freedom’ (featuring Talib Kweli)—b-side of Tommy Evans: New Year’s Revolutions (YNR, 2004) 7. Plus the viciously apposite The Grae Mixtape— second single ‘Free’—was not included is a joshing a slew of hip-hop pretensions, including mystery. It would have been the pick of the album, 50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ (Shady Records/Interscope, Jay-Z and Danger Mouse scavenging the Beatles both musically and lyrically. Estelle’s voice is also 2002) (in The Black Album and The Grey Album on fine form in ‘On And On’, ‘I Wanna Love You’, Jean Grae: Attack of the Attacking Things (Third Earth, respectively). Going for the thug jugular, the and ‘Free’, and the lyrics are especially powerful 2002); The Bootleg Of The Bootleg (EP,Babygande, 2003); forthcoming Jean Unit mixtape further flays the in ‘1980’, ‘Hey Girl’, ‘’ and ‘Gonna Win’. The Grae Mixtape ([White], 2004); Jeanius (forthcoming); fashion for gangster narcissism (as in 50 Cent’s G- 19. Regrettably, record company shenanigans may be and Jean Unit (mixtape, forthcoming) Unit). The previous releases are Attack of the messing with Beverley once again—with an awful Attacking Things, and The Bootleg Of The Bootleg rock power ballad version of ‘Come As You Are’ Anthony Hamilton: Comin’ From Where I’m From (Arista, EP. released as first single. That’s no way to treat a 2004) 8. From an interview in Philip Mlynar, ‘His Masta’s proverbial ‘national treasure’, now is it? Jamelia: Thank You (, 2004) Voice’, Hip Hop Connection, Jan/Feb 2005, pp.70-73. 20. With material covering her round-the-way-girl Jay-Z: The Black Album (Roc-A-Fella, 2003) Now busy building his own M3 label, Ace youth; followed by a live double, Experience, emphasises that he’ll continue to write and guest showcasing her quest for maturity and justifiably Beverley Knight: Affirmation (Parlophone, 2004) perform for others, as well as nurturing the emphasising her awesome stage presence. Talib Kweli: Black Star (with Mos Def, Rawkus, 1998); flowering of newcomers—so thankfully his 21. Famous examples include and (with Hi-Tek, Rawkus, 2000); Quality measured dulcet tones will not disappear from the Patra. Beenie Man learned from their mistakes (Rawkus, 2002) ether altogether. and maintains parallel careers in softer R&B Lady Saw: Give Me The Reason (Diamond Rush, 1996) 9. To R&B singer Kelis, who he woos with overseas and hardcore at home. biographical tales of his overlong adolescence and Lil’ Jon & The East Side Boyz:‘Get Low’ (, 22. Big Tings A Gwan, Too Hype and Rough Rider.The excess as a pledge of present change and future TVT, 2002); (TVT, 2004) Jamaican tradition is that a rapid turnover of growth—see, e.g. ‘The Makings Of A Perfect single releases keeps a reggae artist hot. Tanya : Slaughtahouse (Atlantic, 1993); B****’, ‘Getting Married’ and ‘No One Else In The Stephens’ hits since 1994 would fill several Sittin’ On Chrome (Delicious Vinyl, 1995) Room’. And if the listener may occasionally cringe albums, any of which would likely be considered (perhaps with self-recognition)—well, that’s part Mos Def: The New Danger (Universal, 2004) superior to all comers. of the process. Nas: Illmatic (Columbia, 1994) 23. For down and dirty blues variations, hear 10. Aided nobly, by production in tune with the especially the heart-rending ‘Sound Of My Tears’, Outkast: Speakerboxx/The Love Below (Arista, 2003) concepts—a potted history of hip-hop over the the vicious ‘The Other Cheek’ the mournful ‘What period of Nas’ career being made explicit in the Pitman: It Takes A Nation Of Tossers (Son, 2004) A Day’ and the defiant ‘’. Unusual track ‘Unauthorized Biography of ’ (Nas’ twists on calypsoesque subjects can be found in Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us prime MC influence); and with valiant vocal ‘Little White Lie’ and ‘Tek Him Back’. Back (Def Jam, 1988); Fear Of A Black Planet (Def support from Scarlett, Quan, Kelis, Emily—and Jam,1990) jazz trumpeter Olu Dara (Nas’ father) in ‘Bridging 24. Something which can’t always be said of the most the Gap’s generational meeting of psyche-somas. popular and celebrated female exponent of Rodney P, The Future (Riddim Killa, 2004) slackness—Lady Saw—whose own push for 11. The superb Let’s Get Free and two excellent Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott:Words & Sounds Vol. 1 (Hidden seriousness, the more spiritual Give Me The mixtape CDs—Turn Off The Radio and Get Free Or Beach, 2000); Experience (Hidden Beach, 2002) Reason, was largely ignored by the grass-roots. This Die Tryin’—the latter playing on 50 Cent’s may have been due to its relative lack of lyrical Shock G: Fear Of A Mixed Planet (SG, 2004) fashionable NY gangster rap nihilism in Get Rich and musical imagination compared to the sheer Or Die Tryin’). Stic.man and M-1’s latest release Tanya Stephens: Big Tings A Gwan (X-Rated, 1994); Too magnetic power and commitment of Gangsta Blues. continues their hard-hitting juggling act— Hype (VP,1997); Ruff Rider (VP,1998). translating their political activism into commodity 25. Really only kicking in ‘Boom Wuk’, ‘Good Ride’, : Stone Love (J Records, 2004) form without losing the plot or pandering to ‘We A Lead’, and especially in the lustful, wistful commercialism. According to M-1, “the critical ‘It’s A Pity’—riding the old-school ‘Doctor’s Darlin’ Zap Mama: Ancestry in Progress (Luaka Bop, 2004) part of revolutionary struggle is taking power out beat most familiar from Gregory Isaacs’ ‘Night of the hands of people who stole it from us all Nurse’. these years and returning back those resources … 26. Quoted from the unusually accurate press release a conscious worldwide struggle with decisive for Gangsta Blues. victory won in the area of defeating capitalism