After a series of EPs that carefully evolved his sound, while each bordering on album length, Kojey Radical has crafted a definitive statement on debut LP ‘Reason to Smile’. In much the same way that Roots Manuva’s ‘Brand New Second Hand’ stepped out from the prevailing trend of UK Garage and Two-Step in the late ‘90s, Kojey Radical goes against the grain of Grime and Drill and delivers an album of Hip Hop that draws from a more singular place. Weaving through themes of masculinity, Black identity, family, and the definition of success, Kojey Radical is joined by a broad cast of collaborators and producers but never deviates from complete control over the flow. Album highlight ‘Pusher Man: BWI’ is a lyrical and musical journey from a Funk bassline through brass, strings and keys, to the line “I think the agents wanted Pop hits, but this ain’t that”. He’s right, ‘Reason to Smile’ is so much more.