He’s been critically acclaimed in the UK for his gritty street rhymes, and grimy bass heavy production skills, but Dizzee Rascal, the 19-year-old from East London, almost wasn’t able to accept the Mercury Music Prize for album of the year. Two weeks before his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, was released in the UK Dizzee was stabbed five times in an apparent murder attempt. He is no stranger to tough times, having grown up and still living on the streets of Bow, East London, an area plagued by gun crime, and violence. His lyrics reflect a life of struggle, and lash out showing his rage at having grown up in dangerous surroundings filled with drugs, poverty, and crime. The songs Dizzee has delivered have captured the attention of the UK underground scene, whose fans relate to the passionate flow of the young troubled rapper.
With a techno-like bass heavy production ensemble, the first single to hit the rave scene “I Luv U” caused a stir right away. Talking about the consequences of being irresponsible and having to deal with an unwanted pregnancy, Rascal paints an interesting yet disturbing portrait of a scene that could happen to anyone if they aren’t careful. His unique flow, and chemistry with a female companion on the track draw the listener in to the story, and takes them on an interesting ride through a compelling sequence of events.
“Brand New Day” is a powerful, poetic song describing his struggles over a continuous kind of chiming beat. The tone of the lyrics match the almost eerie and disturbing production to give the listener more insight into the struggle Dizzee has been exposed to in his life. He talks about not giving up in the face of this struggle, and is thankful for his determination and perseverance.
The intrigue behind Dizzee Rascal may not crossover to mainstream success in the U.S. because of the incredibly different style from most popular Hip Hop and underground Hip Hop. The production throughout the LP and the vocal delivery and unmistakable English accent of the young rapper might be hard to accept in the current U.S. market, but this wouldn’t be because of a lack of talent. With the vivid lyricism exerted on songs like “Fix Up, Look Sharp,” “Cut ‘Em Off,” and “Jus A Rascal,” as well as the tracks discussed above, Dizzee is obviously poised to make a charge at the commercial success in the States. The only question now is if the U.S. market will accept the originality of the MC, and listen to the lyrical prowess enough to be as affected as the UK underground.
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