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100% Publishing finds Roll Deep Eskiboy Richard Kylea Cowie (aka Wiley) out of his East London comfort zone (the album being recorded in Toronto) and unlike Jammer’s Jahmanji album of this time last year, this is almost exclusively a solo album.

Inevitably there’s a ‘Better Than’ style track here and there. Ok lots as there’s the title track, ‘I Just Woke Up’, ‘Your Intuition’, ‘Boom Boom Da Na’ and ‘Numbers In Action’ to name them but that’s not to say that they, or the subject matter, dominate this album. And in contrast to the street hard image of the cover photo, Wiley can be almost a cheeky chappie.

Big Dada say he’s “the Lord Byron of rap” which is quite silly really but there’s so many quick witted and sharp lines over the 13 tracks (one of the highlights for Ms. Haider, “some days I’m asking God but the Internet is quicker” - ‘Information Age’) but the flow on ‘Pink Lady’ is lively little story that raises a smile.

On the musical front, this is very much in the digital age> ‘Pink Lady’ is a bouncy plinky R&B groove and ‘Yonge Street’ is minimal bounce (if you’re ever on the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, check out Gilles Peterson’s favourite record shop - see links below).

‘Talk About Life’ is pretty mainstream as we find Wiley in a lovers mood (one for the ladies) as this is Wiley the grown up version, this track featuring the only guest appearance, his four year old daughter, Leah. This more mature approach doesn’t slow him down on ‘Wise Man And His Words’, well it does but in a cool bass electro jazz piano lounge way.

I can’t say I care too much for the circus clown backing tune of ‘Boom Boom Da Na’ but there’s so much more on this album than the excellent single, ‘Numbers In Action’.

Wiley’s mix of jokey rhymes, dark, surreal confident flow that it reminds me of a younger version of XL’s Richard Russell winner of last year with Gil Scott-Herron, I’m New Here. Wiley expects £ and $ signs from his 100% Publishing right and don’t be surprised if he gets them.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Numbers In Action’, Pink Lady’, ‘Wise Man And His Words’, ‘I Just Woke Up’.

Review: Wiley - 100% Publishing (Big Dada) Cat. No. BDCD180 Release date: 20th June 2011 (NA 19th July 2011)
Tracklisting:
1) Information Age (1:37)
2) 100% Publishing (2;59)
3) Numbers In Action (3:24)
4) Boom Boom Da Na (3:15)
5) Your Intuition (2;47)
6) I Just Woke Up (2:47)
7) Wise Man And His Words (3:00)
8) Talk About Life (3:28)
9) Yonge Street (1,178 Miles Long) (2:59)
10) Pink Lady (3:49)
11) Up There (3:30)
12) One Hit Wonder (3:37)
13) To Be Continued (2:59)

Links:
eskiboy.com
www.ninjatune.net
Wiley’s new album ‘100% Publishing’ (so called because Wiley produced, wrote and performed everything on the album…almost) will be released 20 June (EU)/19 July (NA), on 2LP/CD/download. Featuring the massive single ‘Numbers In Action’, it’s available to pre-order now. Ninjashop orders can enter an exclusive Wiley remix competition too…
e-edition.metro.co.uk/2011/06/20/index.html?p=40 Album of the Week 4/5 “Some catchy little numbers” Arwa Haider
Recommended Record Stores
Play De Record, 376 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario tel: 416-586-0380 Web Site: www.playderecord.com
Gilles Peterson http://www.bbc.co.uk 25 May 2011 02:00-04:00 BBC Radio 1 Gilles co-hosts with XL Recordings’ label boss Richard Russell