drops raps like a stink bomb on the bus as it pulls up at the traffic lights.

The MC, graffiti writer and out-n-out chatty bastard first appeared on the Lex radar as an illustrator, designing flyers for local club nights and sleeve artwork for Warp Records' electronic pioneers, Plaid. Rolling dues-deep with fellow graffiti veteran Req One - the duo subsequently featured on the 2001 Lexoleum compilation with a raw, lo-fi offering, Rap Dracula.

Continuing the partnership, with Req handling nocturnal-beat-programming and Kid Acne (AKA Ackers, Ken Acid, Kidney Ache) taking care of microphone-grappling and wobble-gob duties, the next few years saw a string of releases on Acne's own Invisible Spies imprint such as Council Pop (2003), Reality Raps (2004) and various 7"s & long players with in-house collective, Toah Dynamic (featuring a rabble of cohorts including Chips for the Poor, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman & Earl Shilton).

A modern day renaissance man, Kid Acne is an internationally acclaimed artist having created his own comic book (Zebra Face 2001), designed numerous record sleeves for the likes of Big Dada & Chocolate Industries, customized spray cans for Montana Colors, an entire T-shirt range for Prada and exhibited in galleries throughout the world.

Don't worry about all of this for now, just concern yourself with is his latest set, Romance Ain't Dead - a short, sharp shock to the lug-holes from a punch-drunk MC messed up on spray-paint fumes, nicking a moped to write his girlfriend's initials and a love heart in her front garden with the back wheel. The 11 track banger, laced with hip-hop, punk and old school rave is the sounds of a illegal party held in the village hall, while someone sicks up Buckfast inside their friends dad's car, listening to Mike Allen on the radio.

With beats programmed by Req and production held down like unwanted puppies in the local river coming courtesy of Ross Orton (the man responsible for M.I.A's hit single, Galang), Romance Ain't Dead is the realization of South Yorkshire Tourist Board's worst nightmare and one the funniest, yet slickest album's you'll hear all year, or at least until his next one...