Parents aren't supposed to have favourite siblings are they?. But they do. They don't admit it, certainly not in front of the children in question. But they do. It is the same with b-boys and the London Posse. I shouldn't say it but my favourite was always Bionic. Oh, I loved Rodney too but Bionic was always the man.
Of course things change and now Bionic's gone off the rails, changing his name to Mad Dog (?) and swanned off to NYC with Tricky. (He is now off my Christmas card list I can tell you). Meanwhile Rodney is doing us all proud, popping up all over the shop planting lyrical explosives like the emcee equivalent of carpet bombing, I keep boasting about him to my friends when they come over for a coffee and to borrow a catalogue. Which brings us to the review.
It's a 12inch by Skeme, first track 'UK Bubblers' featuring Rodney P and produced by Skitz. (can it be anything but dope?). The whole vibe of this track is that it takes your mind on a trip into a smokey London club. Skeme and Rodney are your tour guides and are quick to point out the wall to wall Jamaican girls with open toe sandals and super flat bellies. (The fact is that I'm more used to sweaty Yorkshire pubs with wall to wall skutters, sporting cheap perfume and legs like frozen chips. But this matters not.)
The beat doesn't so much smash you in the face as tickle you under the chin and it certainly won't be sued under the trades descriptions act when it comes to bubblin'. The chorus has a catchy reggaeish refrain which fits in nicely.
The B-side, this time produced by Mickle, is of equal quality. Similar tempo with a nice piano sounding sample and jittery beat. The chorus (again) is more catchy than foot n mouth, with the lyrics on a social reality type theme.
On both tracks Skeme comes over as a quality emcee, even when pitched against Rodney P and it makes for a good release. Those who live in the capital will relate and love it. As for the rest of you, don't expect anything earth shattering but you could do worse. Certainly Skeme is one to watch as I'm well impressed with his style. Overall it's Roy Walker, good but not quite right.
*Skeme's 12inch 'UK Bubblers' is out now on Titan Records in all good record shops and probably a few shit ones as well.
-
