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Average: 4.5 (17 ratings)
- Date Released: February 24, 2004
- Genre: Hip-Hop/R&B
- Style: Soul
- Label: Shanachie Entertainment Corp. / The Orchard
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We Say...
She was born in Zambia and lives in North London, but former biochemistry major Hil St. Soul (born Hilary Mwelwa) has always purveyed a distinctly American style of music — "Street Soul," as her name would have it, the kindly British term for hip-hop-influenced, jazzy neo-soul. 2002's Copasetik + Cool follows up her first solo album, the excellent Soul Organic. Barring the title track with Roots Manuva guest-rapping in his British brogue, she sounds more American (including a breezy cover of the Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You"), but less street, even with a pillbox's worth of tracks where beats hit hard with UK hip-hop crunch, courtesy producer Victor Redwood-Sawyer. Hil's tone, a warm, thin alto, lurks somewhere around the Macy Gray/ Angie Stone range, though she's far more conservative with her embellishments, vibrato and melismatic curlicues, riding mostly on straight-shooting delivery and lyrical verisimilitude — modest expressions of love, distress and poverty. She shines, though, when she lets loose, aiming straight from the diaphragm on the gorgeous, regretful chorus of "Pieces"; the wilting harmonies of "Mad Love"; the sky-gazing optimism of "Lonely Road."
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They Say...
Copasetik & Cool is another strong showing from Hilary Mwelwa, who remains one of the best contemporary R&B performers around right now. Anyone familiar with her voice will be pleased to hear more of the same; this means accomplished, non-showy vocals and well-rounded subject matter. As on Soul Organic, the arrangements backing her are well crafted and executed with skill -- with lush hip-hop, acoustic folk, uptown soul, and relatively gritty disco-funk all playing roles -- but they err on the side of over-politeness and occasionally lack oomph. The hourlong length can be draining as well, but when it comes down to it, Mwelwa and her partners have made a second enjoyable, multi-dimensional album.
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You Say...
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| 01. |  |
Copasetik & Cool feat. Roots Manuva |
3:50 |  |
| 02. | |
All That (+ A Bag o' Chips) (Strings Mix) |
4:34 | |
| 03. | |
For the Love of You |
5:42 | |
| 04. | |
Alright |
4:00 | |
| 05. | |
What's Goin' Down? |
3:55 | |
| 06. | |
Pieces |
4:37 | |
| 07. | |
Shine |
5:08 | |
| 08. | |
Blue Tears |
4:15 | |
| 09. | |
Mad Love |
4:45 | |
| 10. | |
I've Got Me |
3:42 | |
| 11. | |
Lonely Road |
4:25 | |
| 12. | |
Think Again (Radio Edit) |
3:46 | |
| 13. | |
Reach as One |
3:47 | |
| 14. | |
All That (+ a Bag o' Chips) (Mustaq Remix feat. Iceberg Slimm) |
4:21 | |
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14 Total Tracks, 60:47 Total Length
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Credits
- Dave Clarke - Engineer // Ed Raso - Programming // Ed Raso - Engineer // Ed Raso - Mixing // Lucy Wilkins - Violin // Michael Kearsey - Trombone // Michael Kearsey - Horn Arrangements // Paul Powell - Bass // Paul Powell - Guitar // Sara Wilson - Cello // Iceberg Slim - Rap // Jonathan Quarmby - Mixing // Chris Athens - Mastering // Oliver Kraus - Cello // Howard Gott - Violin // Mike Pelanconi - Engineer // Paul Samuels - Executive Producer // Roots Manuva - Rap // VRS - Drums // VRS - Keyboards // VRS - Programming // VRS - Vocals (Background) // VRS - Engineer // Ben Edwards - Trumpet // Ben Edwards - Trumpet // Guy Holmes - Executive Producer // Kevin Bacon - Mixing // Hil St. Soul - Main Performer // Hil St. Soul - Main Performer // Ruth Gottlieb - Violin // Jason Hazeley - String Arrangements // Dave "Soulfingers" Williams - Violin // Iceburg Slim - Rap // Steve Hamilton - Saxophone // Victor Redwood Sawyerr - Producer // Victor Redwood Sawyerr - Executive Producer // Sophie Sirota - Viola // Streaky - Compilation // Streaky - Mastering // Robert Spriggs - Viola // Darryl Lavictoire - Mixing // Nasser Bouzida - Drums // Bishop Brad - Keyboards // Bishop Brad - Organ (Hammond) // Bishop Brad - Fender Rhodes // Keeley Burton - Vocals (Background) // Steve Corley - Piano // Kristina Hasland - Photography // Aaron Hercules - Executive Producer // Richard Molyneux - Bass // Hilary Mwelwa - Vocals (Background) // Hilary Mwelwa - Executive Producer
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