Jackman. Review

The response to a bad album was to make a small one, and it works. Ten tracks, no features, no attempt at radio, mostly built on dusty soul samples with drums that stay out of the way, and the change of setting immediately makes him sound serious. Common Ground is the one people argued about, a white rapper writing directly about suburban kids consuming Black culture, and whatever you make of the conclusions it is at least a real attempt at a difficult subject.

They Don't Love It is the technical showcase and includes the boast that got him a fortnight of arguments. Denver and Is That Ight are unguarded about family and doubt. It is slight by design and the production is more tasteful than exciting. But at twenty four minutes it never outstays anything, and it is the first evidence that there is a writer in there.