It's something of a musical sport these days, trying to become the next queen of hip-hop. Over the last decade or so, femcees great and small have lunged their harpoon at that whale of a crown, with outcomes ranging from interesting to ridiculous. Vh1 even has an entire show dedicated to the process.
Estelle Shines on Her U.S. Debut
In the post-MC Lyte/Lauryn Hill era, female rappers made their mark by being either too tomboyish (Remy Ma) or too raunchy (Trina). None has ever come close to capturing our hearts as U.K.-bred Estelle Swaray. Estelle's 2004 debut, The 18th Day, barely made a dent on the U.K. chart, but her sophomore set (her first in the U.S.) will surely leave an indelible impression on many memories.
Shine unfolds vigorously with the will.i.am-laced "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)," where Estelle makes it clear that she's not one to give it up on the first night. Ah, a rapper with some self-respect. How refreshing. Then comes the breezy smash single "American Boy," alongside Kanye West. Estelle's honey-coated singing coupled with Kanye's self-congratulatory chops make for one heck of a palatable tune.The Next Lauryn Hill?
The real question is how much of her strengths are less substantial than Lauryn's. Like Hill, Estelle is as much at home with a cathartic reggae-tinged R&B jawn ("Come Over") as she is with a ball-busting rap chestnut ("Wait A Minute"). A woman of many flavors, she even offers a slice of patois swag on the Bob Marley-inspired "So Much out the Way." You know the whole story about Hill's obsession with Jamaican culture and her marriage to one of the Marleys.
Fear not, purists: Estelle is still about 12 sizes shy of L'Boogie's gigantic high-heels. Aside from being a profound lyricist, L is more vocally dynamic. Estelle also lacks Hill's expansive artistic vision. L'Boogie rhymed about the romantic just as much as she did the political and the spiritual. It's true that Estelle, on the other hand, is much more comfortable--and convincing--examining the complexities of relationships.
An Ecclectic Hybrid of Rap & R&B
Despite the album's bigwig cast of producers (Mark Ronson, Wyclef Jean, will.i.am, and Swizz Beatz), it's its artist's seductive soul and sharp wit that make Shine instantly gratifying. Her superb songwriting and eclectic vocal stylings help keep the album grounded. Shine is one of the best hybrids of hip-hop and R&B we've seen in the last 10 years.
Outstanding Tracks- "No Substitute Love"
- "American Boy"
- "So Much out the Way"
- "Pretty Please (Love Me)"
