2 Nice, Badness, Big-E-D, Bruza, Capa, Cyclone, DDark, D-E-Velopment, D.O.K., Elrae, Gemma Fox, Joci, Krucial, Loudmouth, Magnum Force, Mz Brat, Redz, Royal, Specs, Terror Danjah, Tinie Tempah, Triple Threat. 20artists, 1 label, 20 tracks, 1 album. Shock to the System puts together both established and new up and coming UK MCs and lyricists on one disc.
With most of the artists having already brought out solo releases, like Bruza's Doin' Me and Gemma Fox's numerous more than successful UK Garage tracks, the abilities of the aforementioned are hardly a secret. But when they come together, are they able to complement each other in a manner worthy of causing an aftershock?
The tracklisting shows a variety of genres, running from the soulful upbeat R'n'B of Raeman, taking a right on to the UK Garage route with tracks from Gemma Fox's Think I'm in Love and Feeling's Grow, and taking an abrupt entrance in to the Grime scene before hitting the Hip-Hop wall.
Now, don't get me wrong, in its entirety, this album is worthy of its placement on the CD rack of UKG and Grime fans, but it fails to live up to the solo releases and skills shown on the Lord of The Mic compilations that these MCs have featured so heavily on.
There are a few good songs, such as Badness' 10 Out of 10, with ragga influenced rhyming and tone, aided by Gappy Ranx's inimitable vocals, and the highly addictive Creepy Crawler, which features no less than 10 MCs including Shabba, Skiba, and the Raga Twins.
Mz Bratt breaths a little life in to the tail end of the album with Future's Bright, a collaboration with Tinie, Youf, Joci and Elrae, and show cases D.O.K.'s UKG abilities, which he shows to be his forte on this album, having also produced Over, Shola Ama's contribution to the CD.
In all, whilst calling this album a classic would be a little generous, I can't help but think it's got a certain je ne sais quoi, but lacks the capabilities to stop the listener skipping a few of the tracks.
Shock to the System is out now on Aftershock Records.
Rating: 3/5
Record label: Aftershock Records
Useful links: http://www.a-shockmusic.com
Words By: Andrew Milner
