Uncle B

Dappy, Tulisa and Faze are a trio of young rappers/vocalists from Camden who have been working hard to build up a solid UK fan base, putting on energetic live shows and diligently touring British secondary schools. Their work ethic has paid dividends, since the trio are now regarded by many as teen pop idols, and rightly so: their debut album, Uncle B, is an immediately likeable record that manages to blend big, hooky pop choruses with some serious ‘urban’ credentials - despite the group’s age and radio-friendly lyrics. The production – r&b mixed with UK-grime-lite rather than straight up rap – is equally compelling, with coruscating melodies and stuttering beats providing an edgy yet appealing soundtrack for Dappy and Faze’s London twangs and Tulisa’s powerful vocals. Faster tracks are broken up with ballads like “Ouch” and “Secrets,” and though the rapping is occasionally awkward and the lyrics sometimes clichéd (The Streets they are not), this is a confident, mature and highly impressive debut. --Danny McKenna