2 track taster from C-Mone's critically acclaimed debut album

One of the most refreshing dimensions to our hip-hop scene is the prominence of women rappers. Ms. Dynamite, Shystie, Estelle and Lady Sovereign are shattering mainstream US hip-hop’s limiting representations of woman as booty-shaking, video eye candy. And Nottingham’s C-Mone (pronounced Simone) is another example of a female emcee providing unflinching honest rhymes, and fresh perspectives. Originally with Nottingham’s established Out Da Ville crew, C-Mone has spent the last few years developing as a solo artist and guested on The Streets’ LP, ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’. Forthcoming single ‘Second After Second’ proves C-Mone to be a deep, conscious rapper with an unhurried, nimble flow threading together smart observations on aid in Africa, treatment of refugees, council tax and pensions over a subtle rock backdrop.
One To Watch
Metro 22/11/05

Because she’s honest. Because she’s funny. Because she’s possessed of a ferocious intellect yet a compassionate enough heart to not talk down to anyone, just demand that you think your way up to her level. Because ‘Second After Second’ sees her ripping into political apathy, liberal guilt, and her own fragile mix of hopelessness and idealism in the face of reality. Because, like all the finest voices in hip-hop, she’s able to switch from the abstract to the concrete and back again within the space of a syllable without ever seeming like she’s not honestly reflecting where her head’s at. Because the Marga Boyz have laced together a pulverising rock-hard backdrop of fuzz guitar, thumping beats and sub-bass that makes the whole thang damn near irresistible. Because the freestyle on the flip damn well does take your breath away. Because for all the cobblers that’ll be written about her being the best femme-c in the UK that really don’t matter. C-Mone is one of the best MC’s, male or female, in the UK and there really aren’t that many others who I think can step up and get close to how fantastically righteous, blazingly original and humanely honest as she is right now. Buy this and get ready for the album in 2006. C-Mone should be a star.
5/5 Sureplayer
DJ Mag 24/11/05

How can I party and bullshit 24-7 when Sudanese children go to sleep and wake up in Heaven?’ asks C-Mone on a track that gracefully walks the line between thought-provoking and neck snapping. Get this lass a guest role on Smallville’ [what?]
HHC Jan/Feb 06

Solo female Notts-based MC C-Mone drops a highly politically-charged and energetic single with ‘Second After Second’ but it’s the more contemporary-sounding B-side ‘Article 5’ that enables her to showcase her extraordinary skills to better effect. You should cop this.
4/5
iDJ Dec 05

Let’s not front, Nottingham’s princess of the posse C-Mone is the total package – brains, beauty and talent. With the wait for her debut solo album ‘The Butterfly Effect finally over next year, the former Outdaville femcee is allowing sleepwalkers one final chance to wake up before she drops her full-length with the release of ‘Second After Second’. Lacing a persistent Marga Boyz track , C-Mone continues to carve out her own place in the UK rap scene with quiet determination, her social commentary and informed worldview balanced by an inclination for colourful lyrical imagery: ‘I landed in a spaceship millions of years ago, Now I rock Reebok Classics with an afro..’ Peep www.sonrecords.com

Blues & Soul, Dec 05