Straight from the heart of South London has risen a new generation of MCs. Someone who combines all the best qualities of any truly poetic lyricist with instrumentation just like The Roots (with a different but much the same musical caliber of course). But it’s so unique that placing her and her debut album in a limited category can be an insult. This, of course, is Speech Debelle and her album is called Speech Therapy.
What this talented young rapper delivers are lyrics in such a style that you almost forget it’s rap you’re listening to. Each rhyme is thought-provoking and often uttered, usually line after line after line… after line. She is also very dynamic, as even when she is cheerful, she can still pack punches that will blow your mind.
Instrumentation is important on this album, too, with no synth-pop crap rearing its head thanks to production from Australian-owned Wayne Lotek and Plutonic Lab; yes, there is nothing but live music here in every sense of the term.
The most hearty instrument you’ll hear here is an acoustic guitar that plays very chill, crisp melodies (and provides extremely smooth intros), especially on Buddy Love, Live and Learn, Searching, and Go Then, Bye. Along with electric guitar, piano, live drums, and the occasional saxophone, the album has a very organic feel where you can really vibe from your heart rather than your butt.
Each song is deep and meaningful, so no brainless party anthems here. The Key sees a funky jazz groove laying the musical foundation for Debelle to explore the concepts of ambition…and lack of ambition: “For every Malcolm X there’s a President Bush/For every ambitious soul there’s a sedentary.” Her presentation is direct and concise, yet often witty and humorous, and she never loses her thought-provoking sense.
The world of Hip Hop is, without a doubt, very patriarchal, and we see these man-on-man fights, usually between testosterone-fueled rappers…and occasionally with the absent father of a child. But hearing a woman’s take on growing up without a father is something that tends to be underrepresented in Hip Hop, and Debelle isn’t afraid to delve into such a lyrical world with a very soft yet sharp guitar/organ combo. in Daddy’s Little Girl. . A rarity in Hip Hop, this cut just brightens up an area that has barely seen it.
As mentioned before, Hip Hop is very patriarchal. The inequality in representation between male and female artists is staggering, yet with Speech Therapy, Speech Debelle rises to the challenge with a bang and shows that integrity doesn’t have to be replaced by constant explicit sexuality to gain recognition. Joined in just two joints (Roots Manuva on Wheels In Motion and Micachu on Better Days), the unique way this girl spits razor blades is sure to cement her place on the UK scene and hopefully the world. .
