The best hip-hop can be easily shoved into one of two categories: On one side, there’s the thinking man’s hip-hop (Non Prophets, Sole), and on the other, the stuff that makes you wiggle your ass in the kitchen whenever it comes on the radio. Yet DM* (Danger Mouse) *& Jemini, bizarrely, spread their legs and straddle the two without so much as breaking into a sweat.
The Sadat X-assisted ‘Ghetto Pop Life’ remix is a glossy rump-bumper that’s guaranteed to have you shakin’ that ass, but the guys want you to use your grey matter as well as your moves; the raps are socially-conscious observations that thankfully fall way short of coming over all Bland Eyed Peas. A cheeky Beastie Boys sample ("so whatcha whatcha whatcha want?") drives the track along, ensuring that you’re more likely to be bumpin' 'n' grindin' than taking notes on growing up in the ghetto. The soulful _‘Ghetto Pop Life II’_ meanwhile is an easy-going wind-down number that must have the R&B royalty seething at its slickness. All told, all gravy (ouch!).
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8Mike Diver's Score