Original Pirate Material
British rapper Mike Skinner\'s debut album is a snapshot of UK lad culture during the early \'00s. Over innovative, grimy electronic beats, Skinner\'s spoken-word misadventures see him hopping public transportation, swaggering around the pub, and ending his nights with a mix of impending violence and greasy 3 a.m. takeout grub. Check his cheeky Brummie brogue coming to the fore on the skanking \"Let\'s Push Things Forward,\" while the squelch-funk of \"Too Much Brandy\" provides the perfect backdrop for his tipsy witticisms.
Hey, did you hear? Hip-hop is a world phenomenon now! Yes, spend some time poking around your favorite music magazine ...
Facing an entire full-length of Streets tracks hardly sounded like a pleasant prospect, but Skinner's debut, Original Pirate Material, is an excellent listen -- much better than the heavy-handed hype would make you think.