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When hip hop of the British extraction is mentioned
nowadays, invariably Rodney Hylton’s name comes up.
As Roots Manuva he has been Kicking The Cack
for several years now, and is attempting to push over
the foam wall marked Acceptance Here.
He’s doing it all on his own terms, mind you. It isn’t
as though he hired 45 dancers to flank him on a studio
lot as he pretends he’s a gangstuh, or flashes plastic
pistols in videos with big bootie bitches, etc.
Beanie Sigel complains of paper cuts “counting money”,
but my guess is that Hylton’s only recent ones are from
actually reading books, and it’s rather evident in songs
like 'Witness' or 'Swords In The Dirt' (with assistance
on the track by Niara, Danny Vicious,
Rodney P, Blackitude, Big P and Skeme).
It’s not going to ever be easy topping 1999’s Brand
New Second Hand, but this comes absurdly close.
You make the call. I’m too busy listening to both.
Review by Jason Thornberry
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