The review of 'Bobby & Nihal Present', a compilation album featuring all varieties of the desi music scene. Its been reviewed by Richard who tries his hand at the vocab that the Radio 1 presenters are fast becoming legendary for. Dynamic duo Bobby Friction and Nihal have had a whirlwind past few months, beginning with their show being promoted to a primetime slot on Wednesdays, appearing at nearly every gig in the UK, never mind Desi DNA and now their first compilation album, ingeniously titled 'Bobby Friction and Nihal Present'. The 2-disc release offers a much better variety of music ranging from the down right desi of Gurdas Maan, through Asian rap from Jay Sean and the sounds of the urban underground from Nitin Sawhney amongst others.

The album kicks off with the special edition of 'Das Ja', put together especially for this album by DJ Sanj. If you've never heard the original (yeah right!!) then this is an ok track, but I'm afraid it's another case of trying to improve on an already top tune and missing the mark. It's more of an urban flavour but the simplistic desi tones of the edition of 'Hype' make this track untouchable.

Next on the card is Mentor's mix of 'Cop That Ish' by Timbaland, Magoo and Missy Elliot, with this mix featuring Juggy D on the Panjabi tip. This has to be one of my favourite of the 2point9 mixes of hip-hop tracks, with a definitive bhangra feel oozing through the track. Missy's lyrics kill it as well: " In one ear and right out the other, 'hey Missy you ugly'….Yeah ya mother." As Nihal would say, 'heaavvvvvvvyyy'.

Juggy D stays online for number three, 'Dil Di Rani', one of the under-rated tracks from his album. The happy singing and desi flex are typical of Juggy and this tune fits right in near the top of 'B & N Present.'

Track four is the bhangra mix of Tigerstyle's 'Do The Thang Thang', which has vocals from Shakti and Bikram Singh. This is a top tune and this mix is decent, good to dance to but Blitzkrieg's influence on the full version was next level ish.

The next track is 'Talkin' coming from Roach Killer, who raps over the Acapella of Dance With You. The nomadic Canadian adds some annoying pseudo-dancehall vocals and just too much noise for my liking.

Hip-hop takes effect for track six, with the Sona Family taking a lighthearted look at everything that is 'Indian Style'. Chatting about discounts, showing off and a hook proclaiming 'put your hands up and twist them' its pure funny stuff.

Now, not many people know that Nihal once tried to be an MC for Lil Sach under the pseudonym Rowdy Brown, so if you've not heard the brother on the mic before, you can on track seven, 'Naina'. The tune itself is decent.

After the slight dip from rap attack, the MC onslaught continues with TY & Roots Manuva putting together 'So U Want More' which has a Hindi sample. It's nothing special and to be honest the Asian influence has become a little same old same old, and this track is a prime example. Hear this: looping a Hindi sample doesn't give you an Asian track.

Jay Sean is next to step to the mic on the simply hilarious 'Who Is Kamaljit'. When I first heard this I instantly thought Jay was trying to be the Indian Eminem with these witty and funny lyrics. Take the opening line of the verse: "back in the day when I was just a little minor before my mom even spat me outta her vagina". Now some say he should make his mind up whether he's a singer or a rapper, but the truth is he can do both.

Mos Def jumps on the Indian bandwagon for track ten, the Kurtmasta Kurt mix of 'Wylin Out'. Remember what I said about TY & Roots Manuva? If not, read back.

Things improve when we get Indian people doing Indian music, with DSI & Desi Underground on hand for track eleven, 'Be There'. I love this tune, pure heaviness and serious beats with powerful vocals and it was unlucky to only be released previously on Urban Fusion and a crappy Envy compilation album from a year ago.

The track doing the damage across all networks is next, the Rouge track 'Don't Be Shy'. Now this is hectic, with Zeus's production skills there and the Rouge girls doing the business on vocals. Only bad thing I can say is that every Civic on Soho Road is pumping this at the moment. If you want to pick up the three London girls then do it on this compilation, not on D-Unit. Please.

We've seen hip-hop people doing desi, now we see true a true desi doing a hip-hop track. Bohemia is a rapper from Punjab, rapping on Punjabi over some seriously deep beats. Production is cool and its fresh to hear Punjabi rap even if it does sound a little weird at first. I rate this a lot and I look forward to seeing more from this inventive individual.

Bally Sagoo is next, with 'Botallan Sharab Diyan', a devout desi affair to get moving to. Another track where simplicity is effective with nothing sticking out as incredible apart from SURINDER SHINDA'S vocals, but the whole track kicks ass.

Timbaland's most well known Asian foray is track fifteen, with Raje Shwari on 'Indian Flute'. I thought this track was a little over-rated when it came out, another case of hip-hop people trying to be desi.

Next up is the Panjabi Hit Squad with 'Mittran De', which has man of the moment Lembher Hussainpuri on vocals. Not an amazing track with Lembher the only one making things happen.

The final track of CD one is a rare cut from Raghav, titled 'To Be The One'. I really like this track; with its slight reggae rhythm it's typical of the Canadian superstar.

Flip over to CD 2 and you get treated to some of the finest urban underground sounds out there, kicking off with 'Uzi's Rap', a hectic drum n bass lick from Nitin Sawhney and UK Apache. The MC'ing on this is wicked, from the totally nonsensical "mad mad mna mna mad, mad mad mna mna mad" to the quick time verses with some choice vocabulary in there.

Track two is not so underground but is without a doubt one of the tracks of the year. The Swami crew have broken ground on their 'DesiRock' album and the title track appears here. Fresh, urban sounds with a perfect desi element, Lembher's vocals are militant as are Taz's, which for me make the track near the end. Sarpanch is on hand to give some intelligent MC'ing.

I didn't rate DJ APS's album some months ago but did say that 'Tabba' was a hectic tune and it's rightly found its way onto this compilation. Good big party beats and two different singers are the foundations to this level of sickness on a track.

Tigerstyle and Bikram Singh's 'Taakre' was a big tune from last year and Navdeep's refix is track four. The New York producer has totally flipped this one around from the desi level into a crazy drum n bass blast, which is as harmonious as the original despite being totally different. I love this tune and its one for repeat.

The drum 'n' bass edge stays on for Shana Kay's hook up with Killin' Time called 'Pushkar'. A lengthy intro just delays the entrance of a mental b-line that will drive you crazy in a club. Its good stuff but just gets a little repetitive.

Now this track deserves an AMA for most artists working on same track. OZ, J Keys, Kinetics, Carrera, Salman and Hemina all somehow got together for the totally ill 'Back To My Other Life', one of the best tracks to hit the Asian underground for a while. Bobby & Nihal deserve immense credit for getting this track to the level it did, as it is totally pure militant ish. The change of vocalist's mid-track means it never gets boring and you will nod your head through all of it.

When you talk about contemporary Asian beats that aren't bhangra, the godfather must be Nitin Sawhney. The multitalented producer and songwriter demonstrates all aspects of his underground edge on this mix of 'Raag'. The long yet totally compelling intro would be more at home on top of 'Warner Brothers Present' on a film like Troy, never mind as a cornerstone of a drum 'n' bass track and it shows Nitin's skill as a film score writer. You're totally sucked in by the intro but when the flute gets a bit mad and the beat kicks in you'll become totally euphoric as you sway your head in all directions. It's a truly brilliant instrumental, thank you Nitin.

The D&B gets a bit more industrial for track eight, called 'Zubeida' which is by Ges-E and Social Security (don't tell Master Rakesh about them…). The track combines subtle Indian elements to give a pretty good demonstration of what the Asian underground scene is doing at the moment.

The Sonik Gurus are quite hot property at the moment as we await their debut album, and it would be wrong for them not to feature here. 'Aa Taya Hoja' is an underground track to listen to, with some excellent piecing together of the vocal over a rapid b-line.

Track ten is 'Ali' by Oojami with remix material by Transglobal Underground. More militant bass lines and frantic vocals are present along with what I guess are crazy Spanish and French boliyan interludes to make another good track.

Tim Deluxe picked a great vocalist to work with on his first attempt at Asian house. Shaheen Badar's wail at the start of 'Mundaya' give a sign of the mad Punjabi vocals to follow on what is the definitive Punjab house tune. I love this, its got everything that is bhangra, yet over a house beat. Militant fusion in effect.

The tempo slows and we go totally desi on track twelve, Panjabi MC's chilled out 'Kori (Giddah)'. Taken from Dhol Jageero Da album, this simple boliyan will act as a warm down from the mad shit you were just listening to with the gears changing to act as a reminder.

We've totally lost the underground element now with J-Skillz's 'Mankeh.' I rate this tune a lot as Nimarita's vocals are still fresh and when I heard this again I had forget how good it is.

The true desi master ends proceedings with 'Punjeeri'. When you're talking militant desi's, Gurdas Maan must be the General, Admiral and Prime Minister all in one and this tune is typical of the man despite being a bit of a freshy track, but the 'hadipa's are wicked.

If this album set out to represent all corners of our desi market then it has achieved in everything. There's Asian R&B, hip-hop and underground beats as well as traditional bhangra beats and all tastes are catered for. My favourite CD is the second one, and I think it will be a great door to underground sounds for many people and the general quality of the music is better there than on the first CD which has more inferior tunes from big name artists. With value for money it's spot on as well, as you get two discs crammed with 31 songs.