Dizzee Rascal

July 29, 2003 1:49 AM

Fix Up, Look SharpWith stateside hip hop in an unprecedented doldrum, the torch has been snatched up on this side of the Atlantic by 18-year-old Eastender Dizzee Rascal. He's recovering from a stabbing carried out rival fans of a rival garage collective in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The attack took place a few days before being nominated for the Mercury Music prize. Guaranteed not to be everybody's cup of tea, but he's an interesting character and challenging music make it, and his album, worth a look.
posted by hmgovt (25 comments total)

It's rather repetative.
posted by eustacescrubb at 2:28 AM on July 29, 2003

I dunno about that - as hmgovt said, he's not everyones cup of tea - but he certainly is a breath of fresh air in a tired and stale looking UK garage scene...

For those that like a comparison - he's like a really ruffneck sounding 'Streets' - blending heavy duty crunchy beats, electronic bleeps and scratches....with a kind of street, ragamuffin rap...stand out tracks from the album include 'Hold your Mouf' and 'Jus a Rascal'

I'm quite impressed....I played the first single 'I luv U' in the clubs a few times - and it fits well with my younger crowds.
posted by mattr at 2:36 AM on July 29, 2003

He's recovering from a stabbing carried out rival fans of a rival garage collective in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

Hip-hop and violence a winning and tired team. This guy is more likely to 'torch a snatch' than 'snatch a torch'.........next!
posted by kenaman at 3:00 AM on July 29, 2003

I knew that he'd be wacky because of how he spells his name. That was confirmed when the music started and he sounded like a man hollering over a sheet metal stamp.

This Morning A Mefite Saved My Life!
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:24 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop Sucks In `03

....

o/~ it's the money o/~
posted by shadow45 at 4:36 AM on July 29, 2003

What beat is that?
"The Stroke" by Billy Squier?
posted by grabbingsand at 5:28 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop doesn't Suck In `03

Little Brother
The Weather
Count Bass D
CunninLynguists
MF Doom
And of course the Def Jux family
posted by Dr_Octavius at 5:48 AM on July 29, 2003

The beat sounds like the "In a Big Country"

I like the last fifteen seconds.
posted by dydecker at 5:58 AM on July 29, 2003

pitchfork says...
posted by shoepal at 6:22 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop doesn't Suck In `03

Little Brother
The Weather
Count Bass D
CunninLynguists
MF Doom
And of course the Def Jux family

I'll add the instrumentalists: Boom Bip, Jel and Prefuse '73. How the fuck do people presume to judge an entire music genre by what they hear on the radio? Some humility shadow45, please...
posted by Pinwheel at 6:28 AM on July 29, 2003

dydecker: last 15 seconds is taken from the second track off the album "Do it". One of my favourites.
posted by hmgovt at 6:39 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop doesn't Suck In `03

Anticon, Dangermouse, Tes, NMS, Noah 23...
posted by soundofsuburbia at 6:42 AM on July 29, 2003

Correction: from the second track on the album "Stop Dat"
posted by hmgovt at 6:44 AM on July 29, 2003

Buck 65. Please let us not forget Buck 65.
posted by jon_kill at 7:10 AM on July 29, 2003

LOL. Funny how the DJ Shadow paraphrase is getting missed there.

...so defensive!
posted by teradome at 7:14 AM on July 29, 2003

CunninLynguists

They're really called this? Was it a 3-way choice between that, 'Norfolk and Good' and 'Betty Swollocks'? Are they the first pitifully unimaginative pub quiz team Garage collective?
posted by biffa at 7:30 AM on July 29, 2003

The DJ Shadow paraphrase is not being missed at all.

Attention UK people: get someone better than Madlib, then we'll discuss doldrums.
posted by rachelpapers at 7:33 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop doesn't Suck In `03

Mr.Lif
posted by oninochuck at 9:18 AM on July 29, 2003

As much as I liked xxx Rewind track Cunninlynguists did (some incredible lines on there) and Tonedeff's delivery is quite nice. But I found all the beats and some of the songs on Will Rap For Food and that other album they had overall pretty weak. It doesn't carry well .. can't listen to it from beginning to end.

What about Del and Kid Koala?
posted by shadow45 at 10:04 AM on July 29, 2003

and damnit, if you don't know about DJ Shadow and what he's done for hip-hop(warning: Flash enabled) - you should learn. Private Press shines light on areas of hip-hop that have never seen day before. I really think he's going to define what the future brings us for this genre.
posted by shadow45 at 10:10 AM on July 29, 2003

I haven't heard Dizzee Rascal, but stateside hip-hop is far from dead. As referenced above, Prefuse 73. Heard his new album? It's a ten-ton nuclear bomb dropped on all of hip-hop. Check out any of the new work MF Doom is releasing? Def Jux isn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I don't dispute that they're taking the genre in new directions.

Sorry, but like other appropriations the UK has made from our country, you might turn it into something more radio-friendly, but that's not necessarily better.
posted by rocketman at 10:33 AM on July 29, 2003

Why Hip-Hop doesn't Suck In `03

Mr.Lif

Just Mr. Lif? Don't sleep on the Perceptionists. You gotta give Akrobatik and Fatks One some love too.

Anyway, add to that list 7L & Esoteric, Ed OG, Insight, Gang Starr, El-P, Aesop Rock, RJD2, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Apathy, and Celph Titled.
posted by SweetJesus at 10:50 AM on July 29, 2003

Don't forget Sole, Dose One, Sage Francis, Brother Ali, Living Legends, cLOUDEAD, Eyedea & Abilities.

Maybe there needs to be an independent / underground hip-hop CD swap, ala MeFi Swap?
posted by subgenius at 1:53 PM on July 29, 2003

The DJ Shadow paraphrase is not being missed at all.

Nah. Clearly the author knows of Shadow—and by association Quannum/SoleSides—so he doesn't need the corrections...

But anyway, I follow Anticon/Lex+Warp/Big Dada+Ninja Tune/Asphodel/Quannum/Stones Throw/Chocolate Industries/et. al. like a lot of folks here too (apparently). Dizzee's just not my thing tho', at least not that single.

And I love Roots Manuva. So it's not a UK thing, either. :)
posted by teradome at 5:30 PM on July 29, 2003

simon reynolds has been hypin the hell out of this album over at blissblog. he was right about can ox, so i won't doubt him now. when's the stateside release come out?!
posted by jcruelty at 3:55 PM on July 31, 2003