Albums to watch

Freedom Of Speech

Speech Debelle

Freedom Of Speech

Second hip hop album from South London rapper whose debut won the Mercury Prize

ADM rating[?]

6.8

Label
Big Dada
UK Release date
13/02/2012
US Release date
21/02/2012
  1. 10.0 |   The Skinny

    Absorbing, epic, heartfelt and delicately nuanced – a marvellous album
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  2. 8.0 |   Mojo

    From the get-go Freedom Of Speech takes no prisoners. Print edition only

  3. 8.0 |   The Fly

    After three frustrating years, ‘Freedom…’ should finally allow Speech Debelle to be taken at face value – as a valuable, innovative voice with plenty to say
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  4. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    Her debut promised much; Freedom Of Speech sees Speech Debelle delivering on that promise
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  5. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    An ideas-laden statement of intent
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  6. 8.0 |   The Observer

    The album is refreshingly outspoken and, with help from producer Kwes, musically daring
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  7. 8.0 |   The Scotsman

    There isn’t likely to be a more politically engaged record all year
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  8. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    A classic, soulful winner of an album
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  9. 8.0 |   All Music

    Speech Debelle is now the most interesting and possibly the most exciting British MC on the scene
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  10. 8.0 |   hhv.de mag

    The lifeblood and the unconditional will to cross borders can be heard in every single note
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  11. 8.0 |   God Is In The TV

    These songs are proud, hopeful and mightily free
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  12. 7.0 |   Clash

    Carries the same lithe-lipped style that captured the Mercury judges’ imagination but beefed by the production work of the increasingly impressive Kwes, her typically bold wordplay hits with controlled purpose
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  13. 7.0 |   DIY

    This album does what it set out to do - make people think
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  14. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    As a work of art, it’s sometimes sketchy, always pleasant and gentle, often uplifting, skilled and technically confident. As a statement, it’s a bold one, without screaming
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  15. 6.0 |   NME

    There moments when her A-Level Debating Club earnestness gets the better of her, but there's still three quarters of a great album here
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  16. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    A pleasantly surprising, if patchy, return
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  17. 6.0 |   Uncut

    The odd gauche moments remain, but her plaudits are not undeserved. Print edition only

  18. 6.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    There's enough on the London rapper's second effort to show that she wasn't a one-album wonder
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  19. 6.0 |   Q

    She remains a significant talent. Print edition only

  20. 5.0 |   BBC

    Anyone who wasn’t convinced by her debut is going to find far more to take issue with on Freedom of Speech
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  21. 5.0 |   Rave Magazine

    Having already told the story of her life on album number one, album number two feels like Speech Debelle casting around for a new theme, but not really finding one
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  22. 4.0 |   AU Review

    With turgid arrangements and often weak lyrics elsewhere, she’s curiously struggling for inspiration
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  23. 3.0 |   PopMatters

    Confuses artistic seriousness with topical seriousness
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Speech Debelle: Freedom Of Speech

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Studio Backpack Rap £0.99
  • 2. Live for the Message £0.99
  • 3. Blaze Up a Fire £0.99
  • 4. Elephant in the Living Room £0.99
  • 5. X Marks the Spot £0.99
  • 6. Angel Wings £0.99
  • 7. Shawshank Redemption £0.99
  • 8. I'm With It £0.99
  • 9. The Problem £0.99
  • 10. Collapse £0.99
  • 11. Eagle Eye £0.99
  • 12. Sun Dog £0.99
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