Rizzle Kicks

Stereo TypicalIsland ***

There’s always been a likable strain of hip-hop that’s as much about exuding pop smarts as it is about keeping it real. This is where Rizzle Kicks come into the picture. From Brighton via a spell at the fabled/maligned Brit School, Harley Alexander- Sule and Jordan Stephens specialise in bright, breezy, exuberant jams with plenty of infectious, sugar-rush hooks to bring musical youths screaming to their side. However, beyond the sassy swing and sway of such tracks as When I Was a Youngster, there’s not a lot going on. While Rizzle Kicks take an obvious lead from Daisy Age sages A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, there’s not enough here to suggest they’re capable of emulating the lyrical suss and bite of Q-Tip in his prime. For now, enjoy an energetic, likable walk on the pop side.

See rizzlekicks.com

Download tracks: Down With the Trumpets, When I Was a Youngster