Much in the mould of fellow John Peel supported poets that have produced 'music' backed albums, the late poet Laureate John Betjeman (see Betjeman's Banana Blush with Jim Parker) and Mancunian punk poet, John Cooper Clark, Zephaniah is a poet that confronts you in a strangely populist fashion.

He says of Naked, it is "the most personal and honest poem I've ever written. I actually think it's a love poem and this is about the love for myself and the love of truth and reason -- all my life that's been me". He "wants to put the bastards on trial", no surprise for someone who's done time for a crime he didn't commit. He says, "all the politicians he despises are naked"; no surprise then that he publicly rejected an OBE. Much like the other British wordsmith, Roots Manuva's recent single 'Colossal Insight', this is dark with hints of humour in the shadows.

'Superstar' is a brilliant piss take of the problems of being one. The verses are in a spoken word style and he exaggerates his Brummie accent. 'I can't stand champagne' he bemoans. What a star!

More conflicts are evident in the opening track called 'Uptown Downtown'. 'Check out the Punk with the Dreadlock sound', challenging us to whether it really matters if its hip hop or reggae.

The album produced by Trevor Moarais who has also worked with Bob Marley and the biggest 'One Little Indian', Björk. The soulful dubby backing track to 'Responsible' is one of the best examples of where the marriage of the poetry and the music work best. Not sure about 'Rong Radio Station' as a gamelan d'n'b track. 'Touch' is more reminiscent of fellow reggae dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson who has produced some great reggae dub albums since the 1970s.

Well worth a look at BZ's web site where we find that most of his best friends are animals and he's a passionate vegan. He was expelled from school at 13 and his work is now part of the National Curriculum. He never seems too far from a personal challenge. He's moved from Birmingham and now lives next to West Ham's Upton Park in the East End of London whilst he supports another team that play in claret and light blue, Aston Villa (Handsworth is closer to Villa Park than Birmingham City). For fun, he practices martial arts!

The CD comes with a 36-page booklet with images from UK street artist, Banksy.

Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah, another British odd ball poet? There's more to him than that? Enjoy the darkness.

Links:
A Poet Called Benjamin Zephaniah
One Little Indian
Self-portrait - Channel 4
"Rasta poet rejects OBE"
"Special Big up to all the Handsworthians past and present."
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Banksy