Riz MC: MICroscope – review

Overlooked when it came out early last year, this accomplished debut by Riz Ahmed is being rereleased as a deluxe package, with added remixes, by his new label Tru Thoughts. Though better known as a film actor – he recently starred in Trishna and ill Manors – Ahmed radiates ambition and promise as an MC. No question his lyrics are smart – spiked with sardonic humour on All in the Ghetto ; nuanced and refreshingly honest when he tackles Islamophobia on Sour Times – but they can sound studied, valuing intricacy over flow. Once Ahmed fully eases into his MC alter-ego, the day job had better watch out.