Flo Rida - R.O.O.T.S.

Almost a year to the day after debut record 'Mail On Sunday' was released, Flo Rida quashes the myth of the "difficult second album" syndrome. In recent times, the rapper has found his niche merging electropop and hip-hop to great success - and it's a partnership explored heavily here.

No finer example than the shinier, poppier side of the genre is the recent Dead or Alive-sampling number one 'Right Round', or next potential hit 'Sugar' - a track that collides fast-flow rhymes with a reference to 90s one-hit wonder 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' by Eiffel 65.

When not incorporating Europop in his work, at the other end of the spectrum on 'R.O.O.T.S. ("Route of Overcoming the Struggle") is the more traditional 2000's hip-hop of 'Jump' (a duet with Nelly Furtado), the Southern rap of 'Never', and the Danja-produced 'Gotta Get It (Dancer)'' - a tribute to mid-80s electro - all Vocoder vocals, clattering drum machine percussion and beats.

The best guest appearances come not from Ne-Yo, Akon or will.i.am, but from the lesser known rising stars; Kesha, Wynter Gordon and Pleasure P, proving status doesn't necessarily make for good listening. Sticking his neck out to introduce the newcomers has worked with wonderous results.

Despite the title reference, Flo Rida isn't struggling to compete with a debut that spawned hits like 'Low' and 'Elevator'. Instead, he recorded a much stronger sequel.