Review: Lady Sanity conjures up more rap magic on new single Trappin
If you like your rappers with something worthwhile to spit, Lady Sanity should be on your playlist.
The Birmingham MC has reunited with Fuego, who was on production duties for the excellent Firin’ earlier this year, and once again they make beautiful music together. New jam Trappin is a high-octane rollercoaster ride of a tune, displaying to brilliant effect the qualities Sanity never fails to bring to the table. A gentle piano lulls the listener into a false sense of security before being overlaid with Psycho-esque strings straight from the Bates Motel. A sudden pause and the vocals kick in, nimble as ever, sometimes too fast for the naked ear, and yet so damned authoritative one instinctively knows that wisdom is being imparted, whether one can keep up with the speed of sound narrative or not.
Black Wall Street, the Handsworth riots, Mark Duggan and Black face all get a mention as Sanity cleverly contrasts her deadly serious bars with the sugar-coated shallowness often preferred by the mainstream. The production values of the cinematic video (featuring a guest appearance from Mayday), reach the same dizzy heights as the music; a mysterious package passes through many hands until it’s exact nature is revealed by a young girl in a tense finale. I won’t spoil the surprise but the ending leaves one in no doubt about the currency Lady Sanity deals in. This is one MC who understands the true potential of rap and constantly produces music that is getting closer and closer to fulfilling it.
Having just recorded a Live Lounge version with her full band at the legendary Maida Vale studios, it’s surely only a matter of time until Radio One and 1xtra sit up, wise up and put her on heavy rotation. Sanity is teetering on the edge of greatness and to quote the Lady herself: “They say there’s no room for the conscious? Better make room.”
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Militant anti-racist and Brummie. Lucky to be born in the most innovative musical city on Earth. If I hadn’t been, I’d have moved here by now.