Pryor Stroud: The fifth single released from Konnichiwa, “Man” succinctly showcases Skepta’s nimble, fist-clenched flow and idiosyncratic approach to English grime. The burbling synth-whimper that runs through the track sounds like a severed cable hanging from a telephone pole; it sways back and forth, ominously, shooting white-hot sparks across a street known for illicit activities and surreptitious exchanges. Likewise, the beat — a complex of low-register brass and speckled, hard-knocking bass — sounds like it’s gesturing toward something malevolent hanging just past the track’s end. Perhaps this beat is an illicit substance itself, something Skepta bought under suspicious conditions or concocted himself behind closed doors. [7/10]
Emmanuel Elone: There really isn’t much to say about this song. “Man” has a banging beat and aggressive lyrics by Skepta that deal with his struggles and his crew, topics as superfluous in the hip-hop community as trucks and beer are in country. Nothing on this track is particularly bad, but nothing is particularly memorable either, and the result is as middle-of-the-road as it can get. [5/10]
Chris Ingalls: The grime genre is a refreshing take on hip-hop in that it adds new sonic elements, in addition to British accents that give traditional hip-hop an international dimension. Skepta is an expert rapper and his rhymes fit well with the dense, dramatic atmosphere of this track. American hip-hop could learn a thing or two from Skepta — this is fresh, lean and ripe for repeated listening. [8/10]
Chad Miller: I really didn’t find the lyrics very interesting here, and the flow was pretty stagnant the whole time. I was stuck hoping for Skepta to change things up every once in a while then left hoping for him to change it back due to how awkward the attempt was. [5/10]
SCORE: 6.25