Lady Sovereign

Another U.K. "semi-rapper" riding a huge wave of industry hype, Lady Sovereign flips a similar style as her predecessors M.I.A., Ms. Dynamite, and The Streets. High-speed, heavily accented rhymes collide with unpredictable beat arrangements, while traditional rap formulas are thrown out the window. Her debut has critics and adventurous listeners salivating.

Horizontally challenged as well, both voicewise and beatwise. But grime minimalism suits the female register--voice and beats fit together nice and snug. And though her wisdom is hemmed in by her accent and the youth she puts on the auction block, this shorty has more cheek than Dizzy Gillespie, never mind Dizzee Rascal. (Grade - A-)