Disc-Overy

A super-confident and adventurous collection of songs, Disc-Overy is the sound of an artist completely on top of their game, which could finally help the distinctly British grime scene go worldwide.

It has some outstanding musical qualities, an author with a unique voice, a solid enough narrative and hit singles.

A sensational debut from the British rapper. Tempah's wit, imagery and rhythmic flow is offset by schoolboy humour and a tendency to build raps from non sequiturs.

His use of simile and metaphor is questionable but with an irrepressible energy and guest vocal spots from Kelly Rowland (Invincible) and Ellie Goulding (Wonderman) on top of three top five hits, this Peckham born rapper might just have made the most fun pop album of the year.

The astonishing thing is that on any other record, the two above low points [Snaps and Invincible] would be stand-out tracks. With Tinie, only the best will do.

Despite its flaws, the good bits of the album sound like the work of a major talent, who might get better when he realises that he doesn't need to follow trends, that he's at his best when he's being himself, and his producers are making music to match.

his Stateside bow is way more schizophrenic, loaded with future-funk R&B (''Illusion''), club-friendly house (''Miami 2 Ibiza''), and skittering street sweepers (''Obsession''). That sometimes makes it hard to keep up, but on Disc-Overy, at least he has the decency to reject inscrutable British slang in favor of references to the cast of The Hills.

While Tinie's obviously talented, I honestly can't hear what all the excitement is over. Sure something will get lost in translation, but even on mega hit Written in the Stars I'm just not catching any lyricism that stands out. Then again, maybe that's what makes Tinie so popular.

The closer to hip-hop he gets, the better.

Disc-Overy displays plenty of potential and willingness to experiment, but suffers a bit from its ambition, ignoring cohesion or a clear statement of purpose in favor of popular appeal.

The album is a good listen, but it isn't anything the world hasn't heard before.

Looking to make a convincing splash across the pond, Tempah offers up a hearty sample of talent and charisma with the aptly-titled debut album Disc-Overy.

Turn a deaf ear to the Cowell-connected producer Labrinth's uninspired Brit-hop beats and instead concentrate on the surely intentional comedy of Tinie's "I've got so many clothes I keep some of them in my aunt's house" and "I've been to Southampton but I've never been to Scunthorpe" (both from number-one single "Pass Out").

The best tracks are the more thoughtful reflections on youthful memories, such as "Illusion" and "Snap"; the worst is the turgid pomp-rock-rap crossover "Written in the Stars", ominously scheduled as his next single.

It's a super-confident debut breadth-wise, but a misfire in terms of depth--it stretches too far and ends up light on substance and personality.

All but a handful of the tracks on Disc-Overy are quite ruined by this appalling Black Eyed Peas gloss.