Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The young east-London rapper Ben Drew, aka Plan B, has been widely hailed as the future of UK hip-hop, and not without good cause; though whether this is a future one can look forward to is another matter. Drew's worldview is unrelentingly grim and violent, his delivery splenetic and expletive-laden, and while he's undoubtedly more articulate than the average threatening leisurewear dolt, his world isn't one I want to visit often. As he says in "Sick 2 Def", "I talk morbid/ Just to make you feel awkward". Accompanied by little more than his acoustic guitar and a simple beat, he rails variously at his absent father ("I Don't Hate You"), his mother's crackhead lover ("Mama"), the ravages of addiction ("Everyday") and the contemptuous mentality of teenagers ("Kidz"); rehearses fantasies of violent retribution on would-be muggers ("No More Eatin'" and "Sick 2 Def"); tells the true story of a girl beaten to death by her fundamentalist father for showing an interest in Western ways ("Tough Love"); and derides wannabe gangstas, singling out the impact of 50 Cent for criticism in "Where Ya From?".
DOWNLOAD THIS: 'Where Ya From?', 'Sick 2 Def', 'Tough Love'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments