Dancehall artist Busy Signal has released his latest album, 'D.O.B.' and once again shown a versatility that many within the scene struggle to match.  Having come up under the tutelage of Dancehall veteran Bounty Killer and been a part of The Alliance along with Elephant Man, Mavado and Wayne Marshall it may seem easy to judge which direction Busy Signal's style will take.  Indeed, on tracks like the strong 'How U Bad So' Busy Signal; drops classic modern Dancehall styles, however he is quick to switch matters up with the latin flavored 'Picante.'  Busy Signal lets the Bounty Killer influence shine through on 'My Money (Money Tree)' and brings a nod towards Mavado with the strong 'Yes Dawg.' However, he once again confounds with the strong 'Busy Latino' and adds something of a pop twist with 'Gal Dem Song.' By the time 'Sweet Love (Night Shift)' with it's Commodores interpolation and the weed smoking ode 'Hi Grade' are done it is certain that Busy Signal is playing to his own style with this latest release. Free to go where he will, Busy Signal even offers his take on Phil Collins' 'One More Night.'  There is a good selection of more radio-ready hits and those aimed at a more hardcore Dancehall crowd, such as 'Nuh Fraid,' ensuring that everyone stays pleased with Busy Signals diverse efforts. Busy Signal shows his lyrical skills and flow with the strong 'Peace Reign' before taking the bold step of finishing the album off with the acapella 'Nuh Boy Caan Buy Wi Out.'  Fans of modern day Dancehall should certainly check for this strong release with it's versatile tracklist and feel as Busy Signal shows a confident display.  However, this is certainly worth a check for those less accustomed to the Dancehall heritage as Busy Signal serves up enough flavor to see this album as a good introduction for the uninititated.

Busy Signal - D.O.B.

© 2010. All Rights Reserved. All Original Works of WWW.Grindmodeconnect.com. No Duplication or Reprint without Written Permission. (07.27.10)

Having dropped three highly successful albums already Miami's Rick Ross has seemingly been more prolifically in the news for his legal battles with the former drug dealer of the same name, lyrical beef with 50 Cent, controversy over his image and his former occupation as a corrections officer and shots taken at him by John Gotti's grandson.  However, with 'Teflon Don,' Rick Ross gets a chance to let people concentrate on his music. Highlights of the set include the standout single 'Superhigh' featuring Ne-Yo, while elsewhere he gets some high profile help from names including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Chrisette Michele and Raphael Saadiq.  In fact it is hard to get to Rick Ross across the 11 tracks as the vast majority of them have guest vocals.  While the album is short by today's standards and has a phenomenal amount of guests on the hooks, bars or verses it is far from bad.  Down South production and Rick Ross' trademark boss rhyming show that he knows when he is onto a good thing and there simply is no room for filler on the tight tracklisting. Lyric-wise Rick Ross stays close to the streets with tracks like 'I'm Not A Star' while Jay-Z's illuminati addressing verse on 'Free Mason' perhaps overshadows Ross' still solid display. Elsewhere, Ross continues his Maybach series with the strong 'Maybach Music III' while he also branches out with the strong and soulful 'Aston Martin Music.' There are some slightly weaker moments, such as the underachieving 'Live Fast, Die Young,' but these are easily made up for with the rest of the album.  While Rick Ross has stuck to the program and certainly bolstered his own impact with a slew of guests this is still a fine album and is likely to earn itself more than a couple of plays.  Rick Ross has done nothing to harm his reputation for making good quality music with this latest release and is sure to get the right acknowledgement from his existing fanbase.  This is another solid album to add to Rick Ross' existing collection.

Rick Ross - Teflon Don

Hailing from Peckham in London, Giggs is hot property in UK hip-hop right now.  Free of gimmicks, his uncompromising style has seen him move thousands of mixtapes and now you can catch up with the release of his second album - and his first major label release.  Where many other acts are crossing over for sales, Giggs stays close to the UK streets as his slow rolling flow allows his words to hit with an impact that is seldom heard on UK shores these days. With tracks like 'Hustle On' and 'Get Your Money Up' Giggs brings an internationally open appeal while staying true to his roots.  Giggs also does without high-profile guest spots, opting instead to showcase some of London hip-hop underground's finest.  However, when you learn that Giggs has a solid street rep of his own, including a prison bid, it is of less of a surprise that he stay strictly hardcore.  While the single 'Look What The Cat Dragged In' has a little radio appeal it stays as tough as Giggs, a man who saw police cancel an entire 2010 tour.  However, don't think that Giggs is another glorification and story-telling type MC as he shows a different side with tracks like 'The Loves Still There' and 'Little Man And Me.' Elsewhere highlights include the firing 'Matic' and the dub laced crime story 'Up, Up And Away.' Production-wise the album maintains a coherency as Gan Juan deftly handles all beat duties, while managing to flip styles from the hard edged to some Down South style movers and the more musical minded, like 'The Way It Is.'  If your experience of UK hip-hop in 2010 is all about crossover party hits and R&B laced radio fare then switch up and feel some of the ghetto heartbeat with the fine 'Let Em Ave It.'

Giggs - Let Em Ave It

© 2010. All Rights Reserved. All Original Works of WWW.Grindmodeconnect.com. No Duplication or Reprint without Written Permission. (07.13.10)

Underground hip-hop fans can mark your diaries for the release of Super Chron Flight Brothers' new album, 'Cape Verde.'  This, the third album of their 'World Tour' trilogy sees the duo bring a mixture of political thinking, street swagger, tragic lyricism and comedic styles.  However, the Super Chron Flight Brothers' schizophrenic views tie together perfectly as they use TV samples to underpin the entire affair.  The album features guest spots from a host of underground luminaries, including Bigg Jus (Company Flow), Vordul Mega (Cannibal Ox), Lord Superb (Wu-Tang / Supreme Clientele), Masai Bey, and labelmates like Hi-Coup, Pastense and Zesto - all adding to the changeable feel of the 20 tracks.  A glance at the track names also seem to show a contradictory edge, as 'Good Country People' gives way to 'Guns And P*ssy.'  But let's not get confused, Super Chron know who they are as they deliver thoughtful and engaging lyricism over some strong production.  While the beats where all handled by just three names (Bond, Willie Green and NASA) they are the make or break of some of the tracks here as Super Chron flip from a straight b-boy stance to a Pharcyde flow and on to a deeply sparse, lyrics-come-first, Company Flow style while also integrating elements of street swagger and Public Enemy awareness.  At it's best the production sees soulful samples mesh together with piano loops, head nodding beats, strings and more to create a glorious back-drop for the lyrics while, at it's least effective, tracks like 'Wheel Of Fortune' bring gratingly tedious sounds that increase the skippability of the track. Clearly this is not another run-of-the-mill rap album as The Super Chron Flight Brothers stay true to themselves over chasing trends.  Distinctly underground (read: no populist nods here) this album should find many fans as well as some detractors.  A case of hate it or love it perhaps - but well worth checking for that fact alone...

THE SUPER CHRON FLIGHT BROTHERS - CAPE VERDE