Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Anyone who experienced Emmanuel Jal's stunning performance at this year's Greenbelt festival will know that this one time Sudanese child soldier is today one of the most passionate political voices speaking against the injustices still being heaped upon Africa. This is Emmanuel's big budget album intended to break him in the USA rap scene and although it is unlikely to put him up there with 50 Cent and all the other gangstas, it does show that Emmanuel has now developed to be a powerful hip-hop artist able to integrate African colourings into the funky hip-hop template. Emmanuel's attack on the excess of America's hip-hop scene, "No Bling", is particularly strong as is his cover version of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross". However, it's his extraordinary recollections of his savage childhood which hit home the strongest with "Forced To Sin" and "Warchild" both presenting images that will haunt any listener. The sheer barbarity of the material covered means that this is not an album for the feint-hearted while the track featuring Jah Miracle lashing the exploitation of Africa has a title, "Vagina", and imagery which could offend the prudish. But this is popular music as politically charged as it's possible to get and for me Emmanuel's sheer passion sweeps aside such disquiet.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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