'The DJ from Sheffield who plays dancehall riddims…'

"Sonically, I'm right serious about the music. It stresses me, but it's gotta be a laugh. Otherwise, what's the point? I might as well work in a bank." Toddla T

Through 2008, Toddla's Do U Know?, Soundtape Killin' and Manabadman singles, and brilliant Ghettoblaster No.1 mixtape, announced him as British dance music's brightest new talent.

2009 see the release of new single Shake It in collaboration with Herve and Toddla's debut album Skanky Skanky on May 25.

His influences - that "clangy Sheffield electronic sound" first minted by Cabaret Voltaire; local speed garage variant, bassline; early Warp Records' bleep techno - may be peculiarly South Yorkshire, but Britain hasn't heard party music this raw and vibrant since early Basement Jaxx.

Skanky Skanky is an album that, in its genre-smashing irreverence, laugh-out-loud rhymes and jump-up, energy, undoubtedly has something significant and positive to say about modern Britain. "I want it to represent how I was brought up, where it, literally, didn't matter who you were," explains Toddla. "My neighbours are Jamaican, British white, an Asian kid. I want it to represent that."

Toddla grew up in Sheffield, on the same road ("Bleep Street") as Warp co-founder Rob Gordon. As a kid, Toddla loved "Biggie and right boyish hip-hop". Aged 15, he was already making rudimentary bedroom beats, and cultivating his love of reggae and dancehall.

At 19 he had started frequenting parties run by local beat botherers Winston Hazel and Pipes which helped shape his musical meanderings. "I didn't like techno or house until I heard it put together in that certain way. It's the electronic sonics of it, I think. They'd play garage, dancehall, techno, whatever, but the music would always have a bassline, and it'd be quite tough, but still wiggly for the girls. It was amazing." Not that that was the only Sheffield influence seeping into Toddla's music. Simultaneously, he was absorbing the rise of niche, or bassline, and also exploring another side of Sheffield's love of "tough riffs and bass".

Skanky Skanky pools all these influences and some. To get the very most out of the ideas in his young head, Tom enlisted an impressive line up of friends, DJs, vocalists and co-producers to help turn out the magic. Collaborations include tracks with Roots Manuva, Tinchy Stryder, Artic Monkey's Matt Helders, Hot Chip's Joe Goddard, infamous Rasta poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Herve. Not forgetting his now regular vocalists MC Serocee, (Toddla's hype man when he DJs), Trigganom and Mr Versatile.

He's also a man in demand as a remixer (Esser, Little Boots, Ladyhawke, Hot Chip, Tricky), collaborator (Roots Manuva, Herve & Sinden, Roisin Murphy) and DJ (everywhere).

Conjured up in his bedroom during mostly the sleepless wee small hours and honed into shape alongside Ross Orton at Badman Palace studios in Sheffield, Skanky Skanky is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring and refreshing British debut albums from this home grown digital dancehall deviant you'll hear for some time.

Get on it.