Jigsaw [Bonus CD]

Lyricist: Lady Sovereign.
Personnel: Medasyn (guitar, synthesizer, programming); Ed Page (bass guitar); Ryan Simmonds (drums, percussion); DJ Frampster (scratches).
Audio Mixers: Ollie Olson; Henrik Edenhed.
Recording information: Miloco Studios; Sweatshop Studios, London, England.
With her 2006 Def Jam debut, Lady Sovereign emerged as one of the most talented and charismatic MCs to come out of England's underground grime scene. Her sophomore release, JIGSAW, delivers yet another dose of the S.O.V.'s raucous energy, bumping beats, and tongue-twisting rhymes. Fans seeking killer singles on the order of PUBLIC WARNING's "9 to 5" or "Love Me or Hate Me" might be disappointed, as JIGSAW isn't distinguished by standout cuts. Even so, the production by Medasyn serves up a strong mix of club-oriented tracks (techno, electro, and new wave play a bigger role in the sound here), over which Lady Sovereign spits with plenty of skill and sass. Though it may not quite measure up to her debut, JIGSAW still bests 90% of concurrent hip-hop releases.