Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 5033197278322
Format: Import
Label: V2
Manufacturer: V2
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: V2
Release Date: 2004-10-25
Studio: V2

Heaped with praise from all corners of the media, three time winner of the UK Hip Hop Awards, & the most respected female rapper in Britain, Estelle has had a lot to live up to. Regarded for some time as a future star, the young MC finally lived up to the hype with her debut single '1980', one of the huge summer hits for 2004. With her debut album 'The 18th Day' she's set to complete her mission to take on the mainstream & win. Unlike other Brit-hop contenders she doesn't feel the need to use the 'from the ghetto' template & is instead content to let the positivity of her music 'keep it real'. So on 'Free' we see her call on the nation's youth to do something with their lives (like 'Why Don't You' for the new millennium), whilst 'Change Is Coming' teaches life's lessons with majestic success & 'Gonna Win' works as an anthem of self-belief for anyone feeling down trodden. 'The 18th Day' is a huge milestone in British hip-hop - a credible record that never panders to the 'Americanisation' of the scene. Estelle is set to be around for a long, long time. V2. 2004.

Customer Rating:
Summary: impressive debut
Comment: from rapper/singer Estelle. This cd has been huge over in Europe and various songs are rocking on the 18th Day as well.

1980
Free
Go Gone
Dance *****es
I'm Gonna Win

Its even more impressive being that she wrote every song on her debut cd and each song has a purpose and some meaning. Along with a great beats and flow whether rapping or singing. Estelle is an artist that folks should pay attention to for real.

Check out The 18th Day and see what the fuss is all about.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Brit Hop!!
Comment: Estelle is the new hip hop sensation from the UK and she's mega talented; think Lauryn Hill meets Mary J Blige, with a British accent. She flows from rapping to singing (very clever lyrics) with amazing ease, over eclectic music filled with strings, piano, hand claps and a bubbly bass line.

A delicate piano/string intro transforms into a sunny upbeat hip hop track `1980', the title refers to the year of her birth and reminisces about her years growing up with references to Dynasty, Dallas and hair plastered down her forehead.

`Change is coming' tells about people in council housing struggling to pay the rent, and you have the choice to your life, the power to determine the course of your life. Excellent harmonies and Mary J Blige like vocals in the chorus. A similar message of self belief/assertion is found in the clap-a-long retro sounding `Free' featuring Megaman ( with lyrics urging one to spread love), and the horn laden `I'm gonna win'.

`Go gone' is a fiery (faintly) rock tinged Motown style song, about doing her best and being who she is going to be despite the nay Sayers. If you've got nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut!! A highly addictive dance song.

The downtempo `I wanna love you' features acoustic guitar and tight harmonies. Still keeping the tempo down are the piano sprinkled `Maybe' (with a haunting bassline), `Crazy', the excellent string filled `Hey girl' (with a Marvin Gaye-like chorus, and a beautiful acoustic guitar/vocal outro), the retro sounding `All over again' featuring Royston, and the harmonica laden neo soul feel of `Dance with me'.

`On and on' begins with sped up vocals and again features tight harmonies and piano.

Bonus track `Freedom' is a beauty; filled with piano, strings and lyrics about being true to oneself to be truly free.

A smashing debut with a promise of even greater stuff in future.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Estelle is on fire
Comment: This album is funky, fresh, hip hop, R&B, dance, pop and soul..She mixed all types of elements.I really enjoyed this album.

Best songs are

Free 10/10 classic record
1980 10/10 great meaningful hip hop track
Go Gone 8/10 great dance track

Estelle is one of the best writters around. I gotta give her props.Hope she will get big.

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