Ms. Dynamite — A Little Deeper
A Little Deeper by Ms. Dynamite is a remarkable debut. With powerful storytelling, exceptional song writing and strong messages; it rightfully earns a place alongside other iconic albums like Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Ms. Dynamite
In Hip-Hop it can be scarce to find rappers who are multifaceted, and Ms. Dynamite is undoubtedly one of those scarce rappers. Hailing from North West London, Ms. Dynamite's versatility as both a singer and an MC was evident from the start. She burst onto the scene with the underground Garage hit, "Booo!", a collaboration with DJ/Producer Sticky in 2001. This track has become a huge staple and a classic to come out of both the Garage music scene and Pirate radio. Her popularity continued to rise when she joined forces with So Solid Crew on "Envy," where she delivered two exceptional verses that stole the show. These early collaborations with both Sticky and So Solid Crew showcased her ability to both sing and rap. Leading to her debut album, A Little Deeper, which graced the UK music scene in the summer of 2002.
A Little Deeper features two UK Top 10 singles; the thought-provoking "It Takes More" and Ms. Dynamite's biggest solo track to date, "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee." The album itself reached an impressive number 10 on the UK charts. Although, predominantly showcasing her singing abilities, Ms. Dynamite does offer a compelling soulful rap performance on "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee," where her storytelling is vivid and deeply relatable. Ms. Dynamite's song writing prowess takes centre stage on A Little Deeper, as she holds writing credits for the entire album, except for the 13th track, "Too Experienced," featuring the legendary Jamaican artist Barrington Levy. The project delves into a range of essential topics. For instance, "Put Him Out" addresses the need for women to break free from toxic relationships, while "Seed Will Grow," featuring Ky-Mani Marley, discusses the importance of nurturing future generations of children.
The album's consistency is remarkable, with the first eight tracks being nothing but short of phenomenal. "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee," as mentioned prior, paints a vivid picture of Ms. Dynamite's upbringing as a young girl. This track provides a relatable narrative for many listeners, as she raps, "Yo, I'm that same little girl that grew up next door to you, went through all the things a teenage girl goes through”. "Put Him Out" stands out as a major highlight, showcasing Ms. Dynamite's exceptional writing skills. The song exudes power and empowerment for women. On “It Takes More” Ms. Dynamite commands self-respect, whilst also challenging materialism and superficiality. "Brother" adds a heartfelt dimension to the LP, as the song is dedicated to Ms. Dynamite's younger brother, Akala.
The second half of the album should not be overlooked, boasting multiple standout tracks. "Seed Will Grow" remains a fantastic record, alongside other gems like "Now U Want My Love" and "Gotta Let U Know”. While A Little Deeper doesn’t boast huge amounts of rapping, the album does have a great feature from Akala on the second half of the album’s last track, “Get Up, Stand Up”. The only track that may feel slightly dated is "Krazy Krush", with the production sounding trapped in 2002. Though, credit must be given to the album's producers, especially Salaam Remi. Salaam played a significant role in crafting the majority of the tracks, and his production credits also include iconic records for legendary artists like Nas and Amy Winehouse.
In conclusion, A Little Deeper without a doubt is a classic album. It’s a phenomenal debut with so much heart and integrity. Ms. Dynamite deserves high praise and recognition, and should be revered similarly to other female artists such as Lauryn Hill. Whilst, her debut should be held in the same regard as The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Comparing Ms. Dynamite to Lauryn Hill isn’t strange, and I would view her as the UK version of her. Both artists exhibit remarkable prowess in both rapping and singing, and both have small discographies and left fans craving more. With Ms. Dynamite only releasing one album following her debut, Judgement Day in 2005, and also making memorable appearances on hit UK singles like Katy B's "Lights On" and DJ Fresh's "Gold Dust.". A Little Deeper exemplifies Ms. Dynamite's unique artistry and her legacy deserves to be celebrated, not to mention it also won the coveted Mercury Prize.