Grant JonesThe Office. Undercover Boss. House of Cards. There are many examples of British television shows being remade in the United States, and lasting far longer before inevitably getting run into the ground. There aren’t many examples of the reverse, where a British show is a remake of the American original, and it lasts longer. One does exist, though, in the form of The Rap Game, which ran for five seasons in the US as a talent show for budding emcees. The X Factor for rap. Considering the era of Simon Cowell judging and belittling the public has pretty much left the mainstream arena, I always found it odd that there would be a version for rap, considering how formulaic and false the concept is. The traditionalist in me just doesn’t get The Rap Game. A reason why I think the UK version succeeds, even if it is a bit of a niche concern (it’s not on prime-time on a Saturday evening) is because the judges are Krept and Konan – two successful rappers that clearly value the craftsmanship that goes into writing and delivering lyrical rap. The third judge is DJ Target, a long-time DJ with a background in garage and grime, which gives it a different perspective.
Meduulla was on Series 3, back in 2021, and on that show she admits to shifting from being a poet to a rapper. There was a scruffiness to her flow back then that had largely been ironed out by 2023 EP “Oblongata”, and the Manchester emcee is now the polished article on her debut LP “Tabula Rasa”.
Just to touch on 2023’s “Oblongata”, because it’s a really good first EP that made me sit up and take notice of this new album. If you want to nod your head, “Money Manifesta” featuring battle-tested Lunar C is an unusual partnership that succeeds at introducing Meduula’s skillset – the rhymes, wordplay and flow are all up to par, but it’s her confident delivery that makes it work. “Spinney Drive” similarly cracks you around the head with its heavy kicks and snares, but “Mish Muulla”? Ooh wee, that’s my shit right there.
This chemistry with production partner Ethan Hill is something that the duo look to recreate on “Tabula Rasa”. At 27 minutes, it’s still one of the shorter LPs this year, but it continues to demonstrate why Meduulla is one to keep an eye on. Everything from the artwork to the more soulful production gives off neo-soul vibes rather than the in-your-face boom bap tactics I’d heard previously, and it sounds like she is more comfortable over these beats. The playful presence and Northern accent, her two identifying traits, remain ever-present and it separates her from the regular London output international audiences may be more familiar with.
Cooking and food are a recurring theme, driving songs like “New Kid” and “Gizdodo”. While some of the hooks don’t always succeed, and some of the rhymes could have done with longer in the oven (“I’ve got bars on tap, they callin’ me faucet” makes me think of the superior execution by GZA on “Fame”), I don’t think Meduulla is operating in that super-lyrical level that Sa-Roc and Rapsody preside in. Although there is a Rapsody shoutout on the final song, and I can see how the North Carolina emcee is an inspiration.
“Wolfpack” contains a howl on the hook, dedicated to her core friend group that stuck with her. “We’re Blu-Tac”, she proclaims. We need more stationery references in rap. My favourite track here is tied between “Melanin Monroe” and “Good Food”. Ethan Hill has got a knack for creating earworms with short bursts of horns, and I wouldn’t be remiss in saying Q-Tip or Pete Rock would slowly nod their head in respect of these instrumentals. The latter track, in particular, Gio Genesis KILLS it. If you like Children of Zeus albums, or songs like DRS’ “Irreplaceable“, this is similarly addictive. Man, the UK is on a run with the Hip-Hop Soul.
“Good food like this don’t come by often
You’ve been on my mind tryin’ to get you off and riiight
Think I like you a lot and got a hard shell
And I think you can soften miiine
Heard you need you a sidekick
I’m a Bonnie and I think I need my Clyyyyde
Me and you sounds sweet like Andre 3′ on a boom bap beat
It’s niiiice
Yeah, it’s nice
Smart women don’t hurt your pride
You a fiend for that intergalactic type
Waist beats, hips move like elastic type
homie, lowkey, not a beast for the hype
Maybe we can kick for the night
Read palms and eat ramen, ’til we’re full
I’m tryin’ to know the inner you, I’m skippin’ all the bullshit
convos don’t hit like they used to
hard to come by like Likes on YouTube
or cracks on my hue, or leftover stew
talk is cheap, converse like skate shoe”
Sitting snugly between the tomfoolery of Lady Leshurr and the pensive affability of Little Simz, Meduulla has quickly proven she’s no quick-fix reality rap star. She’s got something to say. She’s found production that fits her style like a glove. And it’s delivered with the maturity and conviction of a veteran. If this is Meduulla and Ethan Hill just getting started, it won’t be long before they’re crafting classic Hip-Hop records. That’s the last thing I expected to come out of a reality TV show.