Ladi6's new album from the outset is strikingly magnetic, titled Automatic, the moment the intro begins with deep, slowly shifting beats which are flawlessly continued through out the entire album. The sound possesses both a raw and yet smooth quality. Launching into Ikarus, the opening track, the familiar Ladi6 audio envelops you and brings about a compulsion to move with the beat. While Automatic might not have that same pop/hip hop styling that The Liberation Of did, but with its innovative beats and creatively empowering vocals, Automatic is a mature evolution of the Ladi6 sound. The beats fuse seamlessly with Ladi's voice, from a silky smooth hip hop queen to a fierce world-wise woman.
Produced by Parks and Detroit-based beat-maker/producer Waajeed one half of the Platinum Pied Pipers, they create a perfect combination of cymbals, synths and deep pulsating bass. Similarly, the lyrics are perfectly constructed around a theme of deep strength and survival. The album introduces rising Detroit rapper Invincible who features on the track Slow Ride which is a beautiful collaboration. Starting out with sharp drums and infused electronica organs, the track lays the infamous Ladi6 rap even though it's not her rapping over Ladi6's distinctive vocals. It doesn't hurt to have cousin Scribe and Tyra Hammond doing their thing on Ready To Fly, reinforcing that Ladi6 definitely has not lost her hip hop roots. Ladi6 then drops some verses about ‘trust in God’ on the next track, Burnin’ you can hear the impact of a life spent struggling but thriving.
Diamonds will be a favourite after listening to it once and clapping along, although it is also a song about being broke, it's happily hopeful in a classic doo woop sort of way. The familiar track Shine On continues with the sentimental motown sound and the album ends with the upbeat title track Automatic rounding out a brilliantly constructed album, and my favourite of the year.
Ladi6 (Karoline Tamati) is one of New Zealand's premier vocalists and MCs. Starting her musical career in Christchurch, Ladi6 was part of the all-girl hip-hop group Sheelahroc. Sheelahroc had the hit track 'If I Gave You The Mic' and Ladi6 was nominated for Best Vocalist/MC at the 2003 bNet Music Awards.
Ladi6 then moved to Auckland with her band Verse Two who quickly gained a reputation as a top New Zealand live soul/hip-hop group. They won the bNet Best New Act Award in 2004, toured New Zealand with packed shows and supported international acts such as The Roots and De La Soul. Ladi6's vocals feature on stand-out tracks by some of Aotearoa's finest talent, including Shapeshifter, Scribe, Fat Freddy's Drop and 50Hz.
"There is something about her (Ladi 6), something about her voice and something about the way she carries herself and her attitude that is so nice and so beautiful". - Sam Trevethick, Real Groove