Little Jackie

The Stoop

I'm loving this at the moment. Imani Coppola ('quirky' New York pop soul chanteuse) had a minor hit a few years ago with Legend Of A Cowgirl. Her album was packed with great tunes, she was obviously absurdly talented and had an image that was odd enough to stand out but without frightening the horses, a bit like Neneh Cherry maybe. I remember writing at the time that we'd be hearing a lot more from her.

And then nothing. Apparently she fell out with her record company and got dropped. Now she's back as half of Little Jackie (with multi-instrumentalist Adam Pallin). The Stoop's a riot of catchy melodies, hip-hop lite rhythms, all kinds of now-you-hear-it-now-you-don't musical references and buckets of pizzazz. It sounds like Motown might have sounded today if they'd focused on Smokey Robinson's workplay and social observation rather than Stevie Wonder's mawkish sentimental ballads.

Imani flits effortlessly between tricksy vocal pyrotechnics (no high-flown melisma, just rapid, spot-on lyrical delivery), well-articulated raps and something in-between. The lyrics are great too, and often very funny - on Liked You Better Before's she muses on her own bad influence on a once-cool boyfriend: "I liked you better before, Your friends started calling me 'the psycho'... It's like Jekyll and Hyde, I've created a monster - it's alive!" Actually, it sounds much better the way she does it. Or Black Barbie (probably not about Naomi Campbell, just out-of-control celebs in general) - "I've never had to watch my weight, Just call my publlicist, she'll get my story straight."

There are a couple of videos on YouTube, but there's not a duff track on the album. And with Amy Winehouse missing in action, this does more than fill the gap for funny, sassy, lyrically spot-on pop with a retro twist. This time, surely, Imani Coppola's back to stay.

Black Barbie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG57tFbWjug

The World Should Revolve Around Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcpek8k8Mmo

 And more on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/littlejackiemusic

Hi Dave,

I loved Black Barbie...it's fun.....

There is an interview with her  ( RH MUSIC) makes interesting reading.....she says "she's into clasical music....she's a genuine woman.

http://www.rubyhornet.com/index.php/the-tree/interviews/21-interviews/849-imani-coppola-of-little-jackie-finding-a-home

Hi Dave,

This is her My Space site:

http://www.myspace.com/imanicoppola

Springtime, This is My Chicken, I Love Your Hair, JLia To YO

I can't fault her artistic ability but her humour may be lacking makes a comment about being happy to smoke crack to please her record company...probably tongue in cheek...BUT.

Hi Dave,

This is an amusing article on "The World should revolve around me"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/08/little_jackie_the_world_should.shtml