Entertainment For Lively Minds
Dizzee Rascal - I'm smitten!
I've always enjoyed Young Mr Rascal on the sporadic occasions I've seen him on telly or heard the odd song somewhere. A couple of days ago I downloaded his latest album Tongue 'n' Cheek from Emusic (a bloody bargain), and I'm staggered by just how good it is. I'm not much of a rap afficionado, but I'm already scratching my head to think of a more witty, pungent and articulate wordsmith around today in the UK (perhaps anywhere). He comments on hard urban lives without being preachy or patronising; he celebrates male friendship in a way that's quite touching; he's seriously filthy and lascivious without being even slightly misogynist; and he sends up his own fame and wealth without coming across like a knob.
The music's pretty good too, certainly good and inventive enough to hold the attention as you try to keep up with his lyrical pyrotechnics.
Call me a convert. Any of the Massive similarly impressed, and if so which would be the next purchase you'd recommend? Any rap sceptics been won over by his ebullience and sheer likeability?
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Couldn't agree more
I've always liked his stuff when it was on the radio, but after a string of stellar singles, bought Tongue n' Cheek last year and it's fantastic, as you say. I also love the Englishness of it - in amongst the normal hip-hop slang, there's things like "wally", "blimey" and references to Kriss Akabusi.
He's the reason I don't care that Mike Skinner's rubbish now. I'd also recommend the previous album, "Maths + English" but - and I may be in the minority here - I'm not a huge fan of "Boy In Da Corner"
Next stop: Roots Manuva
If you haven't already, I'd recommend Roots Manuva's best LP (in my view), Awfully Deep. It set a new standard for British rap, which Dizzee has taken up a notch.
Yep,
I'm with you there. I saw him by chance at Reading a couple of years ago and was surprised by the positive audience reaction. I loved "Holiday" last year and commented on the "Are you watching Jools?" thread over the New Year that his was the only performance that really stood out. The song he did using Nirvanas SLTS riff was fantastic. He'll never be my first port of call but he deifinately has that "something" that others will never have.
Speaking of Nirvana
That reminds me of Credit To The Nation, who may well be in the One-Hit Wonders playlist with Call It What You Will, which also used the riff from Smells Like Teen Spirit.
It's Dizzee's ability to combine breakneck speed with effortless delivery and even - somehow - impeccable enunciation - that's so impressive.
Not quite a one-hit-wonder
CTTN also did the rediculously catchy Teenage Sensation. Warning: contains whistling.
I wonder what happened to MC Fusion? (Edit: Wikipedia reveals they're currently working on a new album).
Bonkers
My single of the year last year. Love it to bits, really powerful, especially when the volume is up full blast!