Kid Sister, Ultraviolet [REVIEW]

Kid Sister
Ultraviolet
(Universal Republic)

Beats: L

Lyrics: M

Originality: M

With a dearth of material coming from female rappers, Chicago’s own Kid Sister steps to the plate with her debut album, Ultraviolet. You may have caught the charismatic femcee in early 2008 on her Kanye West–assisted single “Pro Nails,” a cheeky romp that hit No. 21 on Billboard’s Single Sales chart. A year later, the party vibes continue, with an accompanying batch of electro-fused, dance-friendly tracks.

The lead single, “Right Hand Hi,” sets the stage: a synthy, stabby cut aimed directly at the club. The flashy “Life on TV” and the mesmerizing “Big N Bad” stick to the up-tempo theme, as Kid Sister delivers catchy hooks in her signature cartoony Midwest drawl. Collaborations with Estelle (“Step”) and Cee-Lo (“Daydreaming”) are also much welcomed—they break up the album’s repetitive feel, as the dance-heavy disc becomes a bit much, before gradually losing steam near the end.

Save for the occasional spunky, flirtatious zinger (“I got a Coca-Cola shape with an onion in the back”), don’t look for Ultraviolet to appease hungry listeners looking for lyrical food for thought. Still, Kid Sister’s feminine perspective is a much-needed addition to hip-hop’s current all-boys club. —Nat Thomson