Softly spoken truths

SPEECH DEBELLE:The Academy 2, Dublin Sat 9pm 13.60 01-8779999

Sometimes, they really do come out of nowhere. Having sold a few thousand copies on its initial release, Speech Therapy is now being rightly lauded as one of the year's best acoustic hip-hop albums, and its creator, Speech Debelle (real name Corynne Elliot) one of the year's best UK female talents.

Winning the Mercury Prize, however, was never the intention of the 26-year-old Londoner; rather, it was making a record that spoke reasoned truth instead of displaying wild bravado. So, not your usual, average, declamatory rapper with inalienable bragging rights. Think conversational raps on topics ranging from parental neglect to the travails of the homeless.

can’T see ThaT? caTch This

Joan as Police Woman Tuesday, Dublin