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| Review
- Boy In Da Corner |
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At just 18-years-old,
and with only one major single release behind him, Dizzee Rascal's
shot from the East London underground, as part of the Roll Deep crew,
to being one of the most widely reported artists around.
And the reports
are almost universally positive.
It's a rise
that has all the speed of a manufactured celebrity popstar. But
manufactured is, of course, what Dizzee isn't.
Delivering his
lyrics in a breathless barrage, 'Boy In Da Corner' packs the energy
flash of London MCing into its grooves and for that alone it deserves
attention.
Dizzee's vocal
style is a removed version of Jamaican toasting, the result of a
journey through the UK's own rap history and, most significantly,
the rave scene's trajectory through hardcore to drum 'n' bass and
UK Garage.
The album, which
was recorded over the last two years, maps out Dizzee's rites of
passage from boyhood to, albeit young, manhood.
And the lyrics,
as the album title spells out, are speckled with the kind of things
a boy who's working things out for himself is likely to have going
through his head.
The result is
we get an insight into a many sided person, rather than a one dimensional
pop personality. The thinking-out-loud observations are sometimes
sensitive, sometimes brutal, sometimes funny, sometimes cliche and
sometimes pensive.
On 'Brand New
Day' a mournful Dizzee laments the rise of violence in his neighbourhood,
while on 'Jus A Rascal' he reveals a playful humour.
On 'Jezebel'
he recounts an anti-single motherhood moral tale that sits somewhat
self-righteously next to 'Cut 'em Off', in which he declares himself
"your worst nightmare" before spelling out his quest for
domination via postured MC bravado.
But elsewhere
we find vulnerability: "Sometimes I feel there's not a lot
to smile about so I frown...sleep tight, everything will be all
right, at the end of the night will be the day, just pray that you
see it."
The message
may be contradictory, but the intention is descriptive rather than
prescriptive and reflects Dizzee's desire to create a balance between
the positive and negative.
Musically 'Boy
In Da Corner' fits into the break beat school of UK garage - although
it's strongly influenced by the genres rave roots. Like a darker,
harder version of Roots Manuva's twisted take on hip hop, Dizzee
takes techno and dancehall inspirations to a new, raw and energised
level.
According to
Dizzee, if he hadn't got into music he would have been drawn into
crime - we can thank his music teacher, Mr Smith, formerly of Langden
Park school, for encouraging Dizzee to develop his musical talent.
And there is
probably a message for all of us there.
But one thing's
for sure, Dizzee Rascal is out of the corner and on a roll.
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