In order to become a rap superstar nowadays, it takes a lot more than possessing lyrical wit and needle-sharp delivery. It's also requires having an image (of sorts) and an interesting back story. Truthfully, very few people have that and believe me, Kevin Federline certainly does not have it. However, Lady Sovereign has all of those bases covered and her adventures are just as appealing as her physical demeanor. The English Export dishes out funny, yet personal tales of her life, and a few bangers on her Def Jam debut, Public Warning.
Lady S-O-V's grimy style is just as unique as her hairstyle. She appears to be the non-controversial female version of Eminem, armed with an assortment of British slang. She's also similar to him in the sense that she provides humor, especially when it pertains to serious situations. A terrific example of this is on "My England," where she breaks down the stereotype that all Brits aren't posh and pompous. She spits, "Cricket, bowls, croquet? / Nah, PS2 all the way / In an English council apartment / We don't all wear bowler hats and hire servants / More like 24 hour surveillance and dog sh-- on the pavements."
Clearly, the quick-witted Brit isn't all about sippin' tea and munchin' on crumpets or living the lavish lifestyle for that matter. She is only a 20 year-old girl and she still wants to have fun. On "Hoodie," which sounds like a marching band jingle with the occasional guitar riff, Lady Sovereign recalls a night where she went to a trendy bar, got hit on by a guy who was a nothing but a minger (or a butt ugly asshole) and was kicked out for disobeying the dress code. She also talks about the good times she spent as a youth playing Mortal Kombat, racing bikes and spray painting on "Those Were The Days."
Let's not forget that the self-proclaimed biggest midget in the game (or biggest little person in hip-hop) has used her tiny voice to make a lot of noise. S-O-V spits silly verses on "Love Me Or Hate Me," which is purely entertaining. She may also have some unexpected smashes in the fast-paced title track "Public Warning" and she continuously incorporates many popular song titles (like "Right Thurr," "Move Bitch" and "Tipsy") into "Random."
This is really a sovereign effort and there isn't much to be disappointed about. The production isn't the stereotypical bass heavy hip-hop beat, but more exotic, thus making it difficult to Crip Walk too. Also, while it was nice that S-O-V expressed her humor and some of her life stories, it leaves the listener empty from knowing about her on a personal level. Nevertheless, her style is a breath of fresh air.
Lady Sovereign doesn't need a Public Warning to tell people when she's in town. If anything, a public service announcement about restocking on Heineken may be necessary because when she gets on stage, she will rap and drink the night away.
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