Dirty Harriet
At Rah Digga's best, ripping lines on her single "Tight" or showering you with disrespect on "Straight Spittin', Part II," she recalls a youngMC Lyte--before her lipstick and rouge phase--a street-smart tomboy with the right blend of talent and attitude to hold her own. It doesn't hurt that Digga's blessed with one helluva voice--a coarse, rough-hewn flow that's strong enough for a man, but made by a woman. Little wonder that she throws her lot in with the roughnecks, but wisely avoids most (though not all) of the standard thug clichés. Production--handled by an assortment of producers, includingBusta Rhymes, DJ Premier, and Rockwilder--is consistently strong, especially on cuts like "Lessons of Today," "Tight," and even the crossover pitch "So Cool," with croonerCarl Thomas. Her time with the lacklusterFlipmode Squadis best forgotten--let Digga stand on her own.--Oliver Wang