Mobo presents Urban Beats 2003

"To start things off - lets be realistic, no compilation or mix-tape has a seamless list of genuinely quality tracks and this is definitely the case with MOBO 2003. BUT don't let this or the exceptionally cheesy cover put you off. Many of the forty tracks listed are definitely destined for future classic status and with a bit of programming on your CD player you'll be able to lose the weaker tracks and be able to listen to some purely phenomenal tunes. For around £15 you'll get some of this years' best Urban/ R'n'B cuts that deservedly should have really be bought in their own right. There's real depth and variety too, Lumidee’s 'Oh-Ooh', Joe Buddens 'Pump it Up' and Busta Rhyme's 'Make It Clap' are all guaranteed hip hop floor fillers. Whilst Snoop Dogg's 'Beautiful' and Wayne Wonders 'No letting Go' are downtempo bliss, perfect for the morning after. Dancehall gets a nod with selections from Bounty Killer, Sean Paul & Elephant Man, whilst UK garage gets to show its voice in the form of MJ Cole and Jaimeson.

MOBO Urban Beats 2003 has a truly star-studded line-up including Pharell, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, R Kelly and features productions from the likes of the Neptunes (three of them), Timbaland and Irv Gotti. In fact, it's these real innovators and worthy global megastars that make other tracks by some of our home-grown talent sound very poor in comparison (Big Brovaz, Lisa Mafia). Some tracks also ironically seem already really old, such as Punjabi MC's 'Mundian To Bach Ke', The Streets 'Don't Mug Yourself' and 'Put Him Out' by Ms. Dynamite. So it's a smart move to include Mercury Award winning Dizzee Rascal and The Roots to counter this.

This double CD has some genius beats and rhythms, used as a musical sampler its bound to lead the buyer into further investigating some of the artists individual albums. It also sparks debate as to whether the UK urban scene will ever be able to directly compete against the mighty USA.

So all in all, 40 tracks giving great value for money and encapsulating the variety of urban/R'n'B hits released this year.

40% Future Classics, 35% Superstar Talent, 25% Cheese." - Toby Austin

The track listing for the CD is:

CD1
Mary J. Blige feat. Method Man - Love @ 1st Sight
Ashanti - Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
Jay-Z feat.Beyonce Knowles - 03’ Bonnie & Clyde
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell - Beautiful
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
Mis-Teeq - Scandalous
Jennifer Lopez feat. Jadakiss & Styles - Jenny From The Block
Big Brovaz - Favourite Things
Terri Walker feat. Mos Def - Guess You Didn’t Love Me
Floetry - Floetic
Kelly Rowland - Stole
India Arie - Little Things
Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
Jaimeson feat. Angel Blu - True
MJ Cole feat. Vula - Wondering Why
Jamelia feat. Rah Digga - Bout
Nivea - Laundromat
J’Nay - Soul Glo
Ja Rule feat. Ashanti - Mesmerize

CD2
Joe Budden - Pump It Up
Sean Paul - Shake It
Busta Rhymes - Make It Clap
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up Look Sharp
Lumidee feat. Busta Rhymes & Fabolous - Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)
Bounty Killer - Sufferer
Elephant Man - Log On
Lisa Maffia - All Over
R Kelly - Snake
Cam’Ron feat. Juelz Santana - Hey Ma
Ms Dynamite - Put Him Out
The Streets - Don’t Mug Yourself
Heartless Crew - Why
Punjabi MC - Mundian To Bach Ke
The Roots feat Musiq - Break You Off
Jay-Z feat. Pharrell - Excuse Me Miss
Eve - Satisfaction
Charli Baltimore feat. Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vita - Down 4 U
LL Cool J feat. Amerie - Paradise
Ludacris - Act A Fool
N.E.R.D feat. Lee Harvey & Vita - Lapdance

MOBO PRESENTS URBAN BEATS 2003 IS RELEASED ON 22/09/03