I ain't got the biggest breast-ises/
But I write all the best disses, Lady Sovereign raps on her
TRL-topping "Love Me or Hate Me." It's a cute line, but it misrepresents the diminutive lyricist's strengths. London's Lady Sov actually struggles when it comes to clever insults: Her best zinger might be the abstract
You're starting to look like the sunrise, from the monochromatic fake-bake rant "Tango." But whereas diss specialists clutter amateur rap battles, playing the dozens for dimes, Sovereign sports unique skills. Like Missy Elliott, with whom she collaborates on the "Love Me or Hate Me" remix, she excels when reciting jubilant gibberish over frenetic beats. "Hoodie" recalls Elliott's "Gossip Folks," turning a bouncy, baby-talk chorus (the only decipherable phrase is
boogie woogie with me) into a refrain so irresistible that listeners will risk sounding ridiculous to sing along. Her chipper, quick-paced flow works best with upbeat backdrops, which here include jaunty ska and arcade bleeps. The album's scattered drony tracks interrupt the party atmosphere like a bobby banging on the door.
— Andrew Miller
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