as surely as she nails devotion ("I'll Stand by You") and like any master, makes it all seem easy.

Heirs to Hynde by way of the Runaways, L.A.'s L7 are righteous riot grrrls. Chief songwriter Donita Sparks and company kick inter-gender butt by means of power chords and grunge abandon. But they also flash humor (the chugging, twangy "Riding With a Movie Star," with its single, repeated lyric) and accord respect (a tribute to drag racer Shirley Muldowney). "Fuel My Fire" and "Questioning My Sanity" are more typical L7 – blackboard-scratching guitars and vocal snarls – and they are smart, hard neopunk.

Produced by Atlanta's Jermaine Dupri, the force behind junior rapsters Kris Kross and soul queens Xscape, Da Brat's debut is a brassy charmer. With the title track, Windy City native Shawntae Harris throws down bright, clean rap with pop appeal. But she's just as much fun when she gets bold ("Da Shit Ya Can't Fuc Wit") or rhapsodizes about herb ("Fire It Up"). (RS 698/699)

PAUL CORIO