Ms Dynamite: 'Neva Soft' - Single review

In our recent chat with Ms Dynamite, she said that her new material has the "hard lyrics" of her Mercury-winning debut but is overall "more fun, bubbly and vibey". Given that her new single marks her first solo commercial release since 2005's Judgement Days, we expected a degree of softening in the intervening years she spent playing mum, but have we in fact lost Ms Dynamitee-hee altogether?

"Original bad girl pon the radar," she spits over juttering percussion and minimal D&B beats courtesy of oh-so-trendy hitmaker Labrinth, whose production is brimming with earworm hooks - including an anthemic, hands-in-the-air "Woaah-Oh" chant. The result? When she informs us, "Know me she were neva soft ya know," reflecting on her ten years in the biz, it's hard not to think, 'You could have fooled us love, but we're glad to have you back!'

Watch Ms Dynamite's 'Neva Soft' music video below: