Original Pirate Material

by The Streets — 10 February 2003 — music — 4/5

As per usual, some of the best avant-rap comes from a skinny white git from the UK. Mike Skinner has a deliver unlike any I've heard before. He's just behind or ahead of the beat enough to keep you on the edge. Sticking to the "write what you know" approach, he raps working class England daily life and captures it beautifully. Simple, self-effacing, and with a strong positive message he drops funky beats and fairly lush orchestration that frame his observations on what Americans might refer to as frat mentality (geezers going to get plastered and fight at the pubs every weekend), drug usage, relationships, and getting through the day. Very very nice.

Hot spots: Stay Positive, Sharp Darts, Let's Push Things Forward, The Irony Of It All, Weak Become Heroes.