The Bottom Line
- Funky production
- Appeals to a variety of listeners
- Lacks depth
Description
- Public Warning is Lady Sov's US debut.
- Production comes mainly from Medasyn and Basement Jaxx
- With the exception of Missy Elliott, there are no guest features on Public Warning.
Guide Review - Lady Sovereign - Public Warning (Def Jam)
Lady Sovereign's Public Warning is not our first taste of U.K. garage--a fast paced, dance-driven music genre--but it's the first to garner so much interest away from home. Like most garage artists, Lady Sov sticks to the original blueprint: conversational flow style of rap meshed with the tempo and energy of dancehall, plus a serious but entertaining edge (hence the comparison to early Eminem). Add the electronic pulse pounding house beat, courtesy of the likes of Medasyn and the Basement Jaxx (some of the godfathers of modern House and electro music), and you're left with the raw reign of Lady SOV.
Although Sovereign is far from the most prominent act in the U.K, she still manages to hold her own on standout tracks like "9 to 5" and the power single, "Love Me or Hate Me." If this your first experience with garage rap then Public warning does a good job of introducing you to it. However, if you've already been exposed to the likes of Sway Dasafo or the So Solid Crew (Magaman, Asher D and Ms Dynamite), this album will instil a sense of excitement that garage is making it to the States. That said, Lady Sovereign's Public Warning is an solid debut. It manages to do what other U.K grim and garage albums haven't been able to achieve, that is interest a large U.S audience. Bravo Sov, bravo.
