Quite a surprise all round on the winner on the Mercury Music Prize with Speech Debelle, who many considered to be the token urban act, came through and picked up the prize. Whilst her album doesn’t always hot the right notes with me I do appreciate what she’s doing surrounding herself with great musicians and bringing hip hop away from the pure production studio environment that has defined it for much of recent history. It’s a airy, breezy acid jazz to all intents and purposes, with Speech Debelle throwing some ‘honeyed’ south London rap on top.
Here we’ve got the lady herself helping on a Pete Lawrie track which has a bit of bluesy Gomez about it.
BUY Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy @ Phonica | Rough Trade | Amazon UK | Play
Pete Lawrie feat. Speech Debelle – Black & Blue (That’s How I Feel About You)