Dilemma?

Their second album indicates that Alex "Oxide" River may be Britain's most original dance producer. Most dance music chases its own tail, endlessly regurgitating tired breakbeats and disco samples. It attempts to charm with familiarity. River, however, takes risks, drawing in audiences with innovation. 2 Stepz Ahead sounds unlike anything else...If 2 Stepz Ahead is a difficult album to listen to, it isn't because of River's jarring, experimental production, but because of rapper Mark "Neutrino" Oseitutu. His partner may be forging ahead, but Oseitutu remains stuck in a rut... Self-pitying whining about envious "haters" is matched by leering descriptions of So Solid's wealth and fame: the subject of Oseitutu's Porsche comes up so often, you begin to suspect product placement. An obsession with violence and guns rubs shoulders with complaints about police harassment. It would be funny if it weren't so evidently devoid of irony.

Hip-hop has always thrived on braggadocio and threats. The tradition of the MC "battle" stretches from rap's 1970s roots to Eminem. But the point is less the insult than the humour and intelligence of its delivery. When rapper Xzibit calls producer Jermaine Dupri "a cock-eyed midget with a Napoleon complex", it's hardly subtle satire. Yet it sounds like the work of Peter Cook when compared with Oseitutu's efforts: "Your IQ must be about three", "You're like Mr Blobby", "You're fucking pricks." This is less lyrical battling than the witless hectoring of the playground bully. It's Gripper Stebson goes clubbing.

But Oseitutu's way with a withering bon mot is nothing compared with the charm he displays when dealing with the fairer sex. "I don't know her name, but let's call her a slapper," suggests current single Dem Girlz. Rap Dis II outlines his delectable seduction technique. "Bitch wants to fuck 'cause I'm famous, see, after I'm done can't chill with me," he cries. "Get the fuck out, no lift from me, no cab fare, not even bus money."

So Solid Crew apologists like to claim that anyone offended by their lyrics is too middle-class, old or white to appreciate that they are simply reflecting reality. But there is nothing illuminating about 2 Stepz Ahead's misogyny. That has nothing to do with race, class or age: it's just a bloke being vile about women in the hope that morons will laugh.

This illustrates the staggering disparity at the heart of 2 Stepz Ahead. The musical content sets its sights high, hurtling off into uncharted territory with a thrilling disrespect for the conventions and traditions that are smothering dance music. The words set their sights so low, they render a groundbreaking album virtually unlistenable.

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I know we had some sort of a "do lyrics matter?" thread but can we discuss it specifically in relation to this? How far for you would lyrics have to go before they rendered "a groundbreaking album virtually unlistenable"? Can you ignore the misogyny and braggadocio and just get off on the beats? do you like the misogyny and braggadocio? Do you think the likes of Neutrino should stop trotting out the same ol' sub-gangsta shit and write some lyrics that match the imagination of the music? or do you think that middle-aged, middle-class broadsheet journalists with no understanding of street music should fuck off and listen to peter gabriel's new lp? Thoughts, please.