Curry-flavoured club cuts and bhangra beats aren't exactly at the top of most hip-hop fans' musical menu. But anyone adventurous enough to sample the latest platter from Pan'jabi MC -- aka Coventry's Rajinder Rai -- is sure to come away simultaneously satisfied and hungry for more.

The appetizer is Jay-Z's remix of Beware of the Boys, which sees the New York hip-hop guru spreading a thick layer of his mush-mouthed bling-bling bluster over Rai's snakecharming melodies and sinewy belly-dance grooves.

The rest of this 14-course banquet serves up similar dishes, with Rai tastefully blending the urgency of hip-hop and the silkiness of soul with exotically spiced, traditionally prepared tracks that could have been lifted straight from classic Bollywood soundtracks.

Vindaloo and Hennessy: Two great tastes that -- thanks to Pan'jabi MC -- taste great together.

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[[+3]] Friday, August 8, 2003

Pan'jabi MC cooks