Figgas 4 Life

On this, their international debut, Major Figgas exhibit plenty of self-aggrandising statement but not enough in the way of old-fashioned substance.

That’s not to say these six guys – and one girl – display nothing of worth. The vocals are sharp, the music complementary and sometimes, as on ‘Is It My Style’ and ‘What U Know ‘Bout Ballin’?’ actively genre-bending in its blend of eighties synth with vociferous rap.

What Figgas 4 Life lacks is distinction between the seven voices on display. Although the clan are tight, there’s no harsh rasp of a Busta Rhymes going off, no crazy whine of Beastie Boys-style madness. The words race in one ear and proceed just as quickly out the other.

There’s little, in short, to lift these Philadelphian rappers out of the ordinary and into the mould they’ve cast for themselves.

Respect has to be earned.