Supa Sista

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 7106

Producer
Engineer

Personnel includes: Ursula Rucker, Daniel "Gravy" Thomas, M.A.D., Vicki Miles, U-Love, Ovasoul17 (vocals); Jonah Sharp, 4 Hero, Alexkid (various instruments, programming); Robert Yancey III (various instruments); Tim Motzer (guitar, bass, drums, cymbals); Will Brock (Fender Rhodes piano); Lenny Seidman (tabla); Doc Gibbs (percussion).
Producers include: Philip Charles, 4 Hero, Robert Yancey III, Tim Motzer,
King Britt.
Engineers include: Brad Somatik, Jeff Chestik, Philip Charles.
Recorded at The Studio, Retrofonix, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Reinforced, London, England, In The Shed Studios, Forest Knolls, California.
Personnel includes: Ursula Rucker, Daniel "Gravy" Thomas, M.A.D., Vicki Miles, U-Love, Ovasoul17 (vocals); Jonah Sharp, 4 Hero, Alexkid (various instruments, programming); Robert Yancey III (various instruments); Tim Motzer (guitar, bass, drums, cymbals); Will Brock (Fender Rhodes piano); Lenny Seidman (tabla); Doc Gibbs (percussion).
Producers include: Philip Charles, 4 Hero, Robert Yancey III, Tim Motzer,
King Britt.
Engineers include: Brad Somatik, Jeff Chestik, Philip Charles.
Recorded at The Studio, Retrofonix, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Reinforced, London, England, In The Shed Studios, Forest Knolls, California.
Spoken word poetry is something of an acquired taste, and the debut from Philadelphia native Ursula Rucker, though promising, is unlikely to bring many new converts to the movement. The poetess has made quite a name for herself over the years, working with artists ranging from techno titans like King Britt and Josh Wink to hometown hip-hoppers the Roots and Bahamadia. On Supa Sista, she gets her turn in the spotlight, with a subdued speech pattern and sultry vocal cadences well-suited to the airy trip-hop grooves that back most of the tracks. Songs like "What???" and "One Million Ways to Burn" work wonderfully, the former matching aggressive lyrics about the state of black music today against 4 Hero's urgent rhythms, the latter pairing her sexy voice with a sensual funk groove from Jonah Sharp to create a perfect soundtrack for horizontal entwinement. But on some tracks, repetitive grooves or insistent chants prove irritating, taking the listener out of the mood the other tunes worked so hard to create. Still, all in all a fine debut. ~ Bret Love

Q (10/01, p.129) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A fine debut..."
Alternative Press (11/01, pp.91-2) - 7 out of 10 - "...Rucker continues to push her poetry into difficult places...over a collection of smoothed-out beats..."
The Wire (10/01, p.75) - "...Eerily solemn..."
CMJ (9/17/01, p.22) - "...Rucker has a storytelling gift that puts most rappers to shame..."
CMJ (9/17/01, p.22) - "...Rucker has a storytelling gift that puts most rappers to shame..."
Vibe (10/01, p.155) - 3 discs out of 5 - "...An ambitious debut album that redefines the parameters of poetry..."
Vibe (10/01, p.155) - 3 discs out of 5 - "...An ambitious debut album that redefines the parameters of poetry..."
Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.106) - "...A soothing, thoughful album..."
Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.106) - "...A soothing, thoughful album..."