Critique: Music> Reviews.

It's refreshing to hear a rapper spit about the everyman's lifestyle, rather than the typical obnoxious ramblings of Gangsta Rap in today's musical market. But that's what London-based rapper Da Brakes (real name Ewan Alman) is developing a well-respected reputation for with his third official album release Clean But Still Street. Characterised in form by spoken word lyricism and party inspiring production, Brakes demonstrates a talent for creating positive, thought-provocative Hip-Hop in a pleasingly unforced quality.

Immediately from the opening track 'Hip-Hop Loving', Brakes boasts that he's gonna take the music back to its essence. Admittedly, I felt a little cynical at first, considering that I've been disappointed a number of times by a majority of emcees using such a line, in a bid to enhance their already tarnished statuses as music artists.

There is, however, a definite old-school feel (circa 1979–1984) to the entirety of Clean But Still Street that really makes you remember why you fell in love with the culture in the first place. The simple rhyme scheme means that the verses are easy to recite after a couple of listens; add to that some smooth Funk and R'n'B-based production, and you've got yourself an album that you wouldn't be ashamed of bumping in front of your mates.

The diversity in subject matter and innovation in the execution feels so fresh that it makes the music great fun to listen to. Even if you don't class yourself as a 'Hip-Hop lover', lines such as "You know me, my skills go deeper than a knife to slice," ('Rhymes & Music') will make the ignorant think twice about the culture's negative, aggressive stereotype.

Brakes, himself, will no doubt admit to a definite Will Smith influence here. Voicing his experience of relationship break-ups, family relations, and the process of creating music, he has managed to create a serious album that will gain respect from the true Hip-Hop heads; though fuelled with a kinetic, pop energy that will also appeal to the mainstream masses.

Definitely recommended.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.