Ellington

Dressed in a design of bold, primary colors and amateur photos, Humdinga!'s album, "Use What I Got," seems unworthy at first glance. It is an obviously homemade project that has not seen the inside of a fancy production studio. This unorthodox production, however, proves to be one of the album's strengths. There is nothing slick or commercial about "Use What I Got."

The colorful sounds of the album arise from the artist's history as a string orchestra and steel pan instructor. Humdinga! himself is distinctive, and his eclectic music encompasses a range of styles.

Bouncy, rhythmic, feel-good tracks, such as title track, "Use What I Got" and "Major Moves" are deserving of a good dance. Others have not only aesthetic value, but are empowering as well. Unlike much of today's popular music, Humdinga!'s lyrics are both respectable and entertaining. Few rappers take time to renounce credit-card use for a more honest form of possession, as with "Debt-Free." The track "Dark Skin Cuties" has a groovy pace and harmonious sound, along with beautiful lyrics that stimulate the soul and the mind. Humdinga!'s approach to music leaves behind the money, violence, and madness to embrace and probe the real world.

Humdinga!'s music is a liberation from what is popular and humdrum. The sound is a unique and welcome addition to Mississippi music.