Chipmunk - Transition
Second albums are never easy. Chipmunk, however, is an exception to that rule and his rise and rise will continue unabated.
Second albums are never easy. The impulses that spurred an artist to make their breakthrough debut have usually been subsumed beneath the earthier delights of pop success: all too often, the river of ideas runs dry. Chipmunk, however, is an exception to that rule and his rise and rise will continue unabated.
The Tottenham-raised MC has employed the much-respected talents of collaborators such as Chris Brown, Keri Hilson and Trey Songz among others.
Their input has helped him bridge the gap between grime and pop with ease. Happily, the 20-year-old has also ditched some of the ill-serving arrogance of his 2009 debut, I Am Chipmunk, although without losing any of his charisma. Humour, confidence and a new lyrical maturity underpin a sharp, dark and intricate pop-rap record.
The boisterousness of Follow My Lead and self-referential contemplation of Take Off are among many highlights on his taut, hip-hop-infused production. The fledgling star clearly has bigger ambitions than home nation success and seems to be positioning himself to take on elite, upper-echelon-ranking rappers like Jaz-Z and Kanye. It's time for Chipmunk to go global.
Available Monday.
Review by Andy Richardson
