Jahmanji

British hip-hop has been more interesting than American hip-hop for about ten years now, and Jahmek Power (aka Jammer) shows us why on Jahmanji. One of the pioneers of the grime scene, Jammer continues to push its boundaries and redefine its essence on this album; most Yanks won't be able to understand a word, but it hardly matters. The lurching beats on "10 Man Roll" (which features the excellent Boy Better Know crew) and the reggae-inflected "Bad Mind People" (featuring Lickle J and Newham Generals) are completely irresistible, and the guest productions by Toddla T are a welcome addition to the program as well — even if the awkward house setting on "Back to the 90s" is less than a complete success. Perhaps the album's saddest track is the one that features the tragically deceased Shiv Lizzy; the most compelling is the final entry, a midtempo scorcher titled "Better Than." And "One 4 Me," which features vocal contributions from Jammin, Frisco, and Hanzey, is a surprisingly successful example of what can only be called lovers grime. Through it all, Jammer's death-defying flow scampers and skips and trills over the heavyweight beats, holding all of the album's disparate musical elements together like a golden thread.