In the great pantheon of Southern hip-hop, we already have Miami bass, Lil Jon marking Atlanta, Georgia out as home of crunk, and Virgina giving birth to Timbaland/The Neptunes’ phuture phunk. Now Tampa, Florida spews forth something as dense as its swamps, only these aren’t alligators biting you in the ass.
Anyone who bought Neon Neon’s Stainless Steel will be aware of Shunda K and Jwl B’s guest turn on Sweat Shop, a steamy muck-in that gave little away as to what FS… NBA would become. On their debut LP, Yo! Majesty concocts something as close to contradictory and idiosyncratic as Prince’s Lovesexy. On the one hand they’re “touch[ing] your soul” on Don’t Let Go, before other celebrating some of the grubbier sexcapades since Spank Rock’s 2006 YoYoYoYoYo on the likes of Hott.
In among the sex’n’spirituality is abrasive electro-punk opener Fucked Up, a stalker’s diary/ invitation to ruck that almost chases you out of the house before the album’s even started; hilarious bling-baiting Leather Jacket and something of a modern day Night Of The Living Baseheads in Night Riders. Sexxxy, unflinching and a challenge to everything that gives hip-hop a bad name, definitely crown Yo! Majesty new additions to hip-hop royalty.
