Vertically Challenging EP
Label: Chocolate Industries
Rated: NONE
WorkNameSort: Vertically Challenging EP
Lady Sovereign’s “Ch-Ching” might have been one of the UK rat pack’s scorchers on this year’s Run the Road grime compilation, but its place on the Vertically Challenged EP is quite secondary. Though only 19 years old and just over 5 feet tall, the British MC suffers no disadvantage in her game and spits hurriedly over the club-ready synth wails of the Medasyn-produced opener “Random.” Arguably the most commercial-sounding of the Run the Road collection, Sov’s comparatively lighter pop aura doesn’t detract from her vicious rhyme skills. On “The Battle,” Sov goes up against MCs Frost P, Zuz Rock and Shystie, all over Medasyn’s Dre-like looming synth strings. Even though Shystie kills it, managing to drop “PMS” and “Shakespeare” in the same breath, Lady Sov makes the lot look like JV benchwarmers. She’s a far cry from a south London council estate native here, and burns through quips at dancehall velocity, clearing away amateurs for a promising forthcoming LP.
This article appears in Nov 16-22, 2005.