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The answer to that one is a big yes even if teaming up with Ronson was one of the many highlights of Bestival Festival. Mr. Brown’s live act clearly upsets this guy in the ‘Intro’ but Doc (aka Ben Smith) hits back with the anthemic ‘Superstar Movement’, where he has a go at the celebrity game. Forget your champagne bling stereotypes of hip hop, Doc is a man of the people. And with his younger brother Luc Skyz they tell it like it is on ‘What Else Can We Do?’ (where’s that sample from?)

From the streets to the Albert Hall we go as ‘Nothing To Lose’ adds rap to classical strings; does it work? Yes it does, as he reminds us he is “the one to watch”. Currently loaded on MySpace and the first single, is the classical music sample the way to get onto Radio 4?

No way, this guy isn’t about gimmicks. By the time we hear his interview with Melvin Bragg (!) we already know the Doc has an education and verbal dexterity in excess of most. He explains that he’s interested in putting over a message that people can understand.

He might “Wot, Wot” on ‘Smash That” but the lyrics are clear that he’s an intelligent MC who’s into positive images. Just to enforce the point, ‘Wake Up!’ (with Mr. Thing) is aimed at discouraging sleeping around.

I’ve never been too keen on The Isley Brothers’ ‘Summer Breeze’ and ‘My 1st Show’ gives a bit of background on how he started out in spittin’ competitions in North London (see links below). Just to prove he can do it live, “so you’ve got the balls to get on stage and interact with the crowd.” The debut album Document promo on Kane FM has the Doc’s freestyle rap “off the top”. This is ridiculous(ly good) but he just gets higher and higher on his own vibe. They feel it in the studio and this is how he is live.

The album finishes of with some collabs with Mr Ti2b, Stylah and Yungun. ‘Baby’ is one for the ladies in tempo but it’s about a one-night stand. The theme of finding true love returns on ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘The One’ and are more on the soul tip.

If this album is a document, it’s probably a portfolio where Doc Brown shows off the best of his work and the different styles he can works in. Apart from Melvin Bragg, fans include Radio 1’s Ras Kwame and friend of Fly, Huw Stephens. It’s all about communication and Doc Brown is one of the best, on stage and on CD. ‘Gone’ but he’ll be back.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘What Else Can We Do?’, ‘To My Health’, ‘Baby’

Reviewed: Doc Brown — Citizen Smith Vol. 2: Nothing To Lose (Hiptones) Cat. No. HIP0029 Release date: 9th October 2006
Tracklisting:
1 Just Another Citizen (0:56)
2 Superstar Movement (4:40)
3 What Else Can We Do? (3:35) Featuring Luc Skyz
4 Nothing To Lose (2:52)
5 Smash That (3:05)
6 Wake Up1 (2:39) Featuring Mr. Thing
7 Summer Breeze (2:31) Featuring Mr. Drastick
8 My 1st Show (3:05) Featuring Lowkey
9 Kane FM Freestyle (Live) (4:14)
10 To My Health (4:19)
11 Baby (4:08) Featuring Mr. Ti2bs
12 Stand By Me (3:14) Featuring Mr. Ti2bs & Stylah
13 The One (3:49) Featuring Yungun
14 Gone (3:45)
15 Melvin Bragg vs. Brown (Live On BBC Radio 4) (3:03)

Links:
www.docbrown.co.uk
www.myspace.com/docbrownpoison
www.wishbaby.com
Doc Brown 11.02.05 on www.ukhh.com
www.lowkeyuk.com
www.janomi.co.uk
Bethan & Huw :: Tracklisting 15/01/04 ::
Doc Brown — ‘Mad World (Donnie’s Lament) (White Label)
www.bestival.net
What Else Can We Do?