Vertically Challenged

Lady Sovereign

Lady Sovereign is a young, incredibly-talented MC from northwest London. Her first stateside release is a greatest-hits hodgepodge with one new tune and several remixes that bring the guest stars and are actually pretty great. She may be 5'1" but there's nothing small about her talent; Sov's hyper-hyper flow is Ritalin-ready and often as self-deprecating and hilarious as it is barbed. As she sings on "TK TK," "Now, look at me, the multi-talented munchkin." The strength of her call to arms "Random" and the wiry, awesome "Ch Ching" is undeniable. She's got a great backstory: born and bred in rough and tumble projects, she became the sole female performer of note in the testosterone-soaked grime scene, and word is she's signed to Def Jam via Jay-Z at the age of nineteen. She's no politico really, which explains why she's been called M.I.A. Lite, while those who call her Feminem might be up to something. The difference of course between her and the Slim Shady is that her vitriol runs far less deep; she's much more interested in getting the party started. Vertically Challenged is a swell and short debut, but if you expect great things from Lady Soveriegn in the future, odds are you'll not be disappointed. –Mike McGonigal

Vertically Challenged Album: