2002 has been an excellent year for British hip-hop, and now Guilford’s
Diversion Tactics drop the incredible Pubs, Drunks and Hip-Hop - the album
that proves this is no false dawn in the renaissance of UK hip-hop.
Excellent guest appearances from J Zone, Al Shid and Huggy Bear of the Old
Maid Billionaires on the banging Pounds and Cents sees the US emcees just
about managing to hold their own against the Guilford emcees. Yes, the form
book has now been well and truly thrown out the window in this funny old
game of hip-hop.
School Thing is the best example of what this crew is all about - lyrically
clever, witty, and confident enough in themselves that local accents and
references to things as acutely British as school tuck shops and Lyle and
Scott sweaters become par for the course.
It’s not just the lyrics that are tight, however, with DJs Jazz T and Zygote
scratching expertly throughout - most noticeably on the instrumental
scratch-ups Music Box, Roll Call and Problems.
Pubs, Drunks and Hip-Hop may well lead to DT being billed as the British
Ugly Duckling, on account of their funky beats, lyrical dexterity, and their
willingness to bring the fun back to hip-hop. Essential.
www.diversiontactics.co.uk
www.zebratraffic.co.uk
Reviewed
by Fraser Syme
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