Love Her or Hate Her?

Just like Marmite you either love or hate Lady Sovereign. Most English folk that I have conversed with seem to find her very irritating, whilst Americans are just getting their first taste of the Sov and are, for the moment, embracing her.

So why did the yanks vote her #1 on MTV's TRL show? Novelty factor: everybody in England knows at least one Lady Sovereign (mouthy chav, latest sportswear, chunky gold jewelry, often wearing a hoodie etc.) Chavs do not exist in the USA, and you know Americans can't resist a piece of novelty especially if it has a foreign accent.

Maybe it was the appearance of Missy Elliott on the track Love Me or Hate Me which propelled it up the chart? Or was it simply the buzz of Jay-Z signing his first white British midget? Will Ess Oh Vee be added to a long line up of artists who tried and failed to crack America? Only time will tell my friends! She has just finished her tour over there and will be gracing our shores very soon.

My jury is still out on this girl, she's got some infectious tunes that you can't help but sing along to, however I have a strong desire to harm her when I see her pulling silly faces on the TV as she just reminds me of all those pointless chavs out there that need abandoning on a remote island. I must say though, I did see her in a club a few years ago (she was out partying, not performing) just as she was becoming mainstream and she wasn't acting like an arse so she gets street cred points for keeping it real. Brap.

Man of 2006

"The boy HOVA
Who you know could talk over tracks like that
Guess what,
New York New York We back"

Why did he leave the old folks home? Was he bored? Was he sick of the food? Did he not like the 7 o'clock bedtime? Or was he actually ejected for being a bad influence on fellow resident Betty 'Bad Ass' Jones?
Betty 'Bad Ass' Jones posing for a snapshot in OakWood Rest Home

One thing I do know is that Jay-Z came out of 'retirement' in spectacular fashion, and this is why he is my Man of 2006.

He toured the world bringing Lupe Fiasco, sidekick Memphis Bleek, Beyonce, and former foe now friend Nas along for the ride. Jigga stopped off at The Royal Albert Hall to create history by being the first hip hop act to play there. He came, he saw, he conquered with his 25 piece orchestra; he suprised when he brought out Chris Martin to sing the chorus on Heart of the City (Ain't No Love), and he jaw droppingly shocked when he introduced Gwyneth Paltrow as the woman who had been singing all the way through Song Cry! Only a few people at the side of the stage had actually recognised the Hollywood filmstar. £55 well spent on a standard Jay-Z show however, considered an absolute bargain given the line up and quality of the evening.


He took the tour to Afriiiikaka to highlight the need for fresh water supplies. The man pictured in the hat was so eager to meet Jigga but didn't have a backstage pass or tickets to his gig. He had a flash of genious and decided to name a road in Nigeria after Jay-Z and have a ceremony so that he felt obliged to come! It worked - nice work sir. Take a left at the traffic lights and continue down Shawn "Jay Z" Carter road until you see a crossroad.........

The end of November brought great joy to music fans across the globe as Jay-Z dropped the highly anticipated album Kingdom Come. It's a top class album, can't take it out of my cd player (yes I don't have an ipod - i'm not that cool or rich just yet). My favourite track being Lost One - Jigga has feelings ya know; he's a deep soulful brother.

Almost 40 years old and still taking the rap game from the young pretenders, showing them exactly how it should be done, how to have longevity in such a vicious industry, and more importantly how to wear flip flops on a beach and still look fly.

Jigga man, I salute you!

"Not only NYC
I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow
You might owe me a favor"