Messiah J & the Expert

Dublin, Ireland duo Messiah J & the Expert have been producing intelligent but commercial hip-hop almost as long as they've been out of the school system. Influenced as much by alternative rock -- Radiohead and the Smiths being the most noticeable references -- as they are by the understated, melodic rap of Nas and Sage Francis, the pair has invited not unfounded comparisons with 2006's indie success story Gnarls Barkley. However, while there are obvious similarities between the melody oriented production styles of the Expert (aka Cian Galvin) and DJ Danger Mouse, Messiah J (r...