Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I can't finish this. I just don't like it. It's thin, there's no production, the lyrics are just completely alien to my experience, there's no melody. I'm not made for this kind of hip hop and I'm not going to waste any time trying to 'get it'
not for me
15 songs Yo bruv this album proper grimy, get the vibe?
Took me back to being a 10-year-old wannabe gangster.
I remember this coming out and all the press attention. I bought it and remember enjoying it, but always struggled to hear what all the gushing was about. For one thing, I’ve always thought it needed a significant edit as it feels at least 15 minutes too long. Revisiting it today, it still has its moments. Still very abrasive, still patchy. Not sure it has stood the test of time, which thinking about it can be said for most Mercury Prize Winners. Which is hardly a major accolade anyway.
Didn’t really see the reason this was part of the project, decent flow but nothing truly amazing imo. Overall 2.5/5
Terrible electronic hiphop
Another win for the deaf
Couldn’t wait for it to end.
Didn't like it when it came out. Still don't care for it much.
Kind of like yelling. Not for me.
Couple of bankers.
surprised that this album is on the list. i used to be obsessed with bgmedia back in like 2016 2017 so its surreal to hear grime thats actually good. one of those artists im amazed has never worked with gorillaz
Decent UK hip hop. The production is pretty minimal but still kinda fresh. Although at times, it feels slightly dated. 3.0/5.0
By coincidence, I heard Fix Up, Look Sharp the other day for the first time in years, and was reminded what a banger it is. You can still hear why this made such an impact at the time, and it stands up better than I expected. It's such a striking debut.
I eventually grew on the album as I listened. Pretty good
It was fine. Rap isn't really my thing, but it was British and part of it reminded me of Tricky, which is definitely, not a bad thing.
Not for me but I can appreciate it.
ijbol
bonkers that the "regular" version of fix up look sharp is backed by the big beat suppose i've only heard remixes mostly otherwise it's an ok album bit raw/spare for me I think
Ehhh
Thought this was an excellent album, the bars were superb as well as the lyrics
I knew some Dizzee Rascal (crossover hits), was unsure what to expect from this album. (Something like drill?). Sittin’ Here is a very strong start, serious tone, engaging delivery (effective overlaps), varied musical backing is sparse but not sterile. Vocal delivery generally, fast and precise, is attractive. But as the album goes on, a lot of content is mired in braggadocio, MC supremacy blending with threats of violence and love of money. I Luv You is a bit of a deconstruction - some other tracks remind me of early punk - rejecting romance as a con, just opt for sex to keep it ‘honest’ - but the disrespect for women is pungent. Jezebel is an attempt at storytelling but unsatisfactory. I’ll bear in mind this was made by a quite young man - so not to be surprised. Meanwhile the music is different and interesting but not as catchy as I’d hoped for. Jus’ A Rascal provides pleasing variety - though Dizzee seems to have been initially reluctant, it’s an amusing inclusion. Do It! seems like a good a step up - more palatable as seems like personal reflection rather than playing to sensational aspects of the scene. Time to sum up: it’s really interesting as a debut, and for its role in evolution of rap with EDM, but it’s not at all satisfying to me as an album to play through and listen to. For me, it’s Okay, 6/10.
Like. Very "contemporary" for me - even from 2003.
Noise pollution 😭
These beats suuuuuuuuuuuck. Pretty good flow but whoever mixed this has the irritating "hooks" louder than buddy's rapping. It's like putting more shredded lettuce on the bun than burger. '2 Far' isn't too bad. You should listen to this, if only because most of Dimery's List is some version of rock and/or roll and the hip-hop (and EDM, I guess) is pretty rare. It's different from everything else I've heard, so far (342 albums, as of today).
6.5/10 fav tracks: its a rascal seems 2 be
Nah, I’m good.
* 73 Jeg kravler over 3,5 på en god dag, og giver 4'er for uspoleret energi og vibes. Man skal lige læne sig ind i albummet, men så er det til gengæld ret fedt.
Meget simpelt, ret fedt Fix up, look sharp er vild Det kan ikke nå højere op end 3 for mig - men det var en fed oplevelse
Overraskende godt og overraskende, at det er på listen. Jeg vil så gerne give det 4, men der er også lidt for meget tingeltangel til, at den sniger sig derop 3.6
niet mijn ding
I liked the beats and production. They put some weird and quirky things into the mix. The vocals were not as varied and seemed the same throughout. Not bad, but just a bit repetitive.
Got my head nodding a couple of times. I do understand the appeal for grimeheads, but I am not a grimehead.
Grungy, raw energy. It's not hip-hop as I know it. I won't say I loved every minute, but it clicked. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Sittin' Here - Fix Up, Look Sharp - Jezebel
That was fun. I really enjoyed it
Absolutely incredible: This was like 10 years ahead of a bunch of artists who were ahead of their time. Boy In Da Corner was largely created when Dizzee Rascal was like 16, and he produced the *vast* majority of this as well, which is incredible. This doesn't sound dated *at all*, it's as fevered and futuristic today as it must have been when it came out. This is basically the marriage of ultra kinetic delivery with jittery, hard knocking UK dance music, and it took me a few listens to appreciate it, but I *really* get it now. The lyrics are honest and insightful, and even though there are some clunky things about the production, it just ends up adding to the character and giving this thing a skew that makes it hit *so* much harder. I *loved* every song here, to an improbable degree, and I am incrediblyexcited to discover a new favorite classic in UK rap.
I fulfilled my obligation to listen to this album
Irgendo wo zwischen 3-4
Like...what? The fuck? This was so incredibly hard to listen to, it's tough to put into words. I suppose it's not egregious. Like it's not the kind of bad where your ears start bleeding. Just dumb. Like, stupid music. The beats are completely thoughtless and impossible to groove to, and the lyrics offer nothing. Like, nothing. This is actually an affront to hip-hop. Maybe I would like this more if I was a British wank. Like, oy fuck yea bruv me people be spittin. As for me, I will be throwing my plugged-in phone in the bathtub.
5/10
I remember listening to this album right when it first came out. Here in the US, we were hearing that 2-step garage was fading out in the UK and slowly evolving into a new style of music called grime. At that time, Dizzee Rascal was one of the first artists to actually release an album that was accessible in the US. I remember loving how raw and gritty it was, with a very innovative and experimental approach to the production. However, as I listened to it more and more, I quickly realized that this was an album I had to be in a very specific mood to enjoy. Over time, it just kind of lost its appeal. Despite being forward-thinking and innovative, when stripped down, it didn’t really have much substance to keep me coming back. Now, listening to it nearly 20 years later, it feels like the cat’s out of the bag, and there’s not much to connect with anymore. Plus, it’s really starting to feel dated at this point.
Not for me
No. Just no.
There is something likeable about Mr Rascal. Although this is not my genre, he produces the odd track I quite like and that is true of this album, but overall it's not for me.
No private session used for Spotify. I didn't have a lot of hopes for me enjoying this album and I didn't, but I didn't hate it. It had a really weird cacophony thing going on with it, which was more interesting than pleasant.
Not my cup of rap
What a rascal
I consulted my son about this album. He remains a big fan of Dizzee Rascal and suggested a high rating. I really wanted to enjoy Boy In Da Corner but found my attention waned quite quickly. I've landed on three stars in recognition of DR's contribution to UK grime even though it's not my thing.
With all the memories of London 2012, I was hoping for so much more from this album but it never got going. I suppose it does prove that you can do MFing hip hop without MFing.
I'm obviously missing something. But this was genuinely unplayable. 1*
I just dont get it! Wheres the talent? Theres no music no singing. Its crap
This is not my thing. Suppose it could be hypnotic to the right person. Fix up look sharp is catchy, mind you. Also enjoyed some of the following ups, including Dizzee Rascal. This is an important album though, both culturally and linguistically. I can appreciate that. MLE was totally alien to a northerner in those days. If not for this would the East End still be singing with Mrs Mills and Knees Up Mother Brown?
Whilst I quite enjoyed this (and I can relate to this way more than I do to American hip hop...), I wish it had gone full-on hardcore ragga. I guess if it had, it wouldn't have been so popular. All a bit toned down from some of the absolutely insane European "urban" music that was happening around the turn of the century. Happy to have heard this, but wish there was some more underground drum n bass/ragga/gabba/digital hardcore/Atari Teenage Riot-adjacent mentalness represented on this list. I enjoy that way more than all the boring classic rock from 1972. Fix Up, Look Sharp! is an all-time banger, just saying.
Some great songs, some very hard to listen to. Started well with then alternated between almost unlistenable and decent.
Yeah. I get why this is influential. I Luv U fucks. Some of the fatter synth noises are ridiculous now, but DR's flow and irreplaceable British-isms give this an identity that's undeniable. Fun record.
Άκρως ενοχλητικό. Ένα ευγενικό δυάρι, επειδή είχε ορισμένα οκ μπιτακια
Today I have discovered that I am not very fond of grime
I like how he pronounced banana
I think the style is interesting, and provides a certain energy I can't explain. I'm certain this album or at least his music inspired a lot of kids, and showed grime to the world. I'm learning not every genre is necessarily built for albums, and that's okay.
Solid, busy, very 2000s
Bullshit
I'd never heard of the "grime" subgenre before -- so this is my first exposure. Dizzee's got bars, that's for damned sure. Really like what's done with the production here and he's got a unique voice. Kinda like a Cockney Busta Rhymes. This album undoubtedly scares white dudes insecure about their masculinity. (Many of whom write reviews on this site.)
Good but not my style
Grime music is the one small perk of having this list curated by a British guy.
Really odd album. I'm glad I stuck it out, I ended up liking the second-ish half (track 6 on) WAY more than the first. That being said, this album is not for me. Grime exists in some limboesque space for me where I almost like it but never end enjoying it.
My boomer grandparents: “rap is so filthy; I can’t stand all the sex and drugs” Dizzie Rascal: “look yo. Look. Uhh uh I’m just sittin here. Uh uh sittin. Uh”
This was fun at first, but it went on for entirely too long.
Very seldom have we had an album that fluctuated between “oh hell yeah” and “ok wtf” so much, but here we are. Many of the tracks reminded me of Death Grips (specifically Exmilitary) which I mean as both a positive and negative. Both produced unorthodox songs that somehow find a way of sticking in your brain, while overstimulating you with a lethal dose of yoinky-sploinky on the very next track. Definitely didn’t hate it as much as I expected to after the first two tracks, but overall I like the idea of it more than the finished product.
This was very fun, I wish more UK rappers sounded like this still. Some parts felt very dated while others felt timeless, which was a weird effect. Good stuff.
I listened to this and enjoyed it well enough but it didn’t stick with me a ton. Worth checking out again.
Muy interesantes muchas cosas, pero no es mi onda.
Meh
28/07/2026 I wanted to hate it... I just couldn't. Spotify listeners: 3.2 million
I really enjoyed this a lot for the first couple of tracks, then progressively less as I got more bored. I liked the beats more than the rapping. Surprised if this is really the best of grime but maybe grime's not for me or maybe it's not for albums. This did feel like a bit of a throwback to 2003 though (a good year)
God.... crap.
This was a big deal for me back in 2003. Still holds up!
Que cosa tan Maluca y repetitiva
I bought this album when it came out. I was really into experimental electronic music and experimental hip hop at the time so I was very curious about Grime as a new genre. The production is interesting which compared to mainstream hip hop at the time was a breath of fresh air. My issue is the there are no rests in the vocals. It’s exhausting to hear his squeaky voice without a break. Also, the high frequencies need to be buried in the mix a bit more.
232. interesting
Changed an entire genre of music, as a child. Like it or not, this has a place on this list musically. Shame he likes to hit women
Someone put down their Nintendo controller without pressing pause. Same loop over and over and over until the next song - then it’s the next loop over and over and over.
Yuck! Three in a row. Next album needs to be a good one.
One of the few albums that sounds like nothing else on here.
American rappers all have aggressive names, emphasising how tough and gangsta they are whereas the British equivalents have names that sound more like a loveable character from the Beano. Musically, grime is more interesting than basic hip-hop beats, having more in common with electro and dance with some interesting bits of sonic experimentation. Lyrically, we’re still back in problematic territory in places though, even though this does sound like it’s based in the harsh reality of growing up on sink estates in London at the turn of the millennium. I get that he’s good at what he does, and I do find this more listenable than gangsta rappers, but it’s really not for me. Sorry.
idk nicht 100% sicher
buen gio buen hop
Cool to hear stuff like this was happening in 2003. I can't say I loved every second of this but this sure is pushing the boundaries of hiphop at the time into a sound that is inescapable today. Haven't done enough research to see if he's the originator of this but at least getting it to the level of the Mercury is notable. Willing to bet this was trailblazing for much more popular artists like Skepta to follow. That praise aside, almost every song on here is too long. The energy is wonderful but a lot of these tracks I feel like you get the point in the first 2 minutes and then you're stuck there for another 2-3 minutes. Songs like Jus a Rascal are really guilty of this. The last four or five tracks are pretty rough to end on.
'Boy in da Corner?' More like Rapper influenced by Gorillaz! This sounds very much like early 2000s British music in a good way. The beats are smooth yet frenetic and even though it's a little long, this is good stuff. Top tracks: "I Luv U," "Jus' a Rascal," "Live O," "2 Far"
--Sittin' Here...nice sample fun beat --Stop Dat...a little sonically abrasive for me --I Luv U...it's interesting and out there, not sure I connect with it --Brand New Day...fun, weird samples throughout this LP. I respect it but is it too weird? --2 Far...there's an elegance to this. straightforward and powerful. flow and beat come together really well here --Fix Up, Look Sharp...Billy Squier?! it kicks --Cut 'Em Off...not feeling this. skip --Hold Ya Mouf...this sample is cool. head bopper --Round We Go...I may not love this LP so far, but it's consistently surprising me --Jus' a Rascal...cool, power chord rock rap. fun stuff --Wot U On?...it's weird but outlasts its welcome --Jezebel...cool sample, nice groove --Seems 2 Be...every time he throws a slick sample my way he follows it up with something a bit annoying --Live O...won me over with the Nintensounds --Do It!...well, bully for being weird and taking a big swing but is it good? not really
This makes so much sense but not my thing
Not for me. 1/5
1009 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."
English rap again? I thought I'd made myself very very clear on this point, tbh. Nevertheless . . .
крутой грайм, наверное из него потом вырастет JPEGMafia и подобные 4/5
Pretty good
I like Dizzee, but I've only ever listened to the hits. There's no songs here that are particularly great like in his later work, but the album as a whole was good. It's odd how this is his only album in the list, 4/5 but fuck it gets a 5 because no one here likes grime
Love the English accent. That is all.
Gave up on track 4. I saw that there was also an instrumental version on Deezer, but why would anybody even want that?
Laughing scientifically at a lamp that was walking down the street I grasped the potato chip in my hand and screamed to the sky - "Why Oh Why". Then I realized it was an outer space craft and no one was aboard. Sandwiches were given to anyone who carried a paper bag full of sand.
Not something I'll be revisiting, but it was pretty interesting.
Empecé a escucharlo con desgano, pero luego su musicalidad semejante a la música actual me dejó muy sorprendido para bien. Sin duda, será este un artista que escucharé para cuando empiece el gimnasio.
The opening track is mesmerizing, and I like how a lot of the tracks have electronica in the background with interesting percussion that sounds Asian or something. It's a whole lot to listen to as the whole album, though. His fast rapping is pretty amazing, but for me it ended up as a bit of a blur after a couple of tracks; at least for me this kind of stuff is best as a spike in a radio set that's mostly calmer electronica. But while I'm not particularly enjoying this record, still I have to appreciate it. It feels so intense, the point he's trying to make of being a young person going through all that shit and the way it just hits hits hits.
Tako mi i treba kad se žalim na Cohena i slične. 1/5, 1/10
Not my kind of album
Meh
*Boy In Da Corner* isn't just an album; it's a landmark. Released in 2003, it was a bolt from the blue that rewrote the rules of British music, introducing the raw, frenetic energy of grime to the mainstream and winning the Mercury Prize along the way. Its power comes from the uncompromising vision of an 18-year-old Dizzee Rascal, who served as both its chief lyricist and producer. ### 🎤 Lyrics and Themes: A Young Man's Unflinching Gaze The lyrical content of *Boy In Da Corner* is its beating heart. Dizzee Rascal paints a vivid, and often bleak, portrait of inner-city London life. - **Social Realism:** The album is a stark reminder of 21st-century teenage life for many in the UK, a far cry from "happy-clappy optimism" . It serves as a vital historical document, articulating the struggles of surviving the socio-economic realities of the council estate . He provides a voice for a generation often overlooked, detailing "ninja bikes, gun fights, and scary nights" . - **Raw and Introspective Storytelling:** Dizzee's lyrics are brutally honest. He tackles difficult subjects with a mix of cynicism and weary insight. "I Luv U" dissects teenage pregnancy and dysfunctional relationships with lines that are both humorous and tragic: **"Pregnant, 15 underage that's raw / But it's your own fault you said the three magic words"** . Tracks like "Jezebel" further critique societal issues, pointing a finger at destructive behavior while retaining a "locker room/barbershop talk" tone . - **A Personal Turmoil:** Beyond social commentary, the album is deeply personal. On "Sittin' Here," Dizzee captures a profound sense of depression and alienation: **"I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I feel to cry / I'm sitting here depressed and I don't know why"** . However, this is balanced with moments of resilience. The final track, "Do It!", offers a cautiously optimistic rallying cry: **"Sleep tight everything will be alright... Stretch your mind to the limit you can DO IT!"** . ### 🎧 Music and Production: The Futuristic, Alien Sound of Grime The production on *Boy In Da Corner* is as crucial to its legacy as the lyrics. It was a deliberate departure from the smoother sounds of UK garage, opting for a harsher, more experimental aesthetic. - **Minimalist and Aggressive Soundscapes:** The beats are stark, dominated by heavy basslines, distorted kicks, and jarring synth stabs . This stripped-back, unapologetically gritty sound creates a constant state of unease, perfectly echoing the tense, embattled world Dizzee describes . - **Experimental and Unconventional:** The album is renowned for its adventurous textures. Dizzee used everything from Playstation bleeps to eerie, stop-start Casio drumbeats, creating a sound that felt futuristic and alien . The critic Robert Christgau noted that "there's very little music there," but that's precisely its power—the sparse, "lean, eccentric, and arresting" beats are captivating . - **Contrasting Tracks:** The album carefully places more accessible tracks to break up the chaos. "Fix Up, Look Sharp," built on a sample from Billy Squier's "The Big Beat," is a thundering, festival-ready anthem . In contrast, "Brand New Day" pairs a "light tickle of Oriental instruments" with a more hopeful chorus, showing a subtle side to the album's sonic palette . ### 💥 Influence and Legacy: The Blueprint for a Generation *Boy In Da Corner* is not just a classic album; it's a foundational text for British music. - **The Genre-Defining Moment:** The album is widely credited with solidifying and popularizing grime . It was a "radical statement of intent" that drew wider attention to a deeply personal and political moment in time . It's often considered the grime equivalent of Nas's *Illmatic* . - **The Mercury Prize Win:** Its victory over heavyweights like Coldplay and Radiohead for the 2003 Mercury Prize was a landmark moment, validating a new, raw sound from the streets of East London . - **Directly Inspiring a New Wave:** Dizzee's success paved the way for countless artists, including Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, and Tinie Tempah. Tinie Tempah himself has stated, "That album changed my life... it gave me a lot of hope that maybe one day I may be able to do the same thing" . The lyrical flows and bars from tracks like "Sittin' Here," "Stop Dat," and "Fix Up, Look Sharp" have been endlessly referenced and interpolated by a generation of MCs . ### ⚖️ Pros and Cons To summarize, here is a breakdown of the album's key strengths and weaknesses. **Pros:** - **Bold, Genre-Defining Production:** Its raw, minimalist, and futuristic sound was unlike anything else at the time and became the blueprint for a new genre . - **Vivid, Unflinching Storytelling:** Dizzee's lyrics provide an authentic and gripping portrayal of inner-city life that is both personal and socially resonant . - **Massive Cultural Impact:** It's a landmark album that validated grime as a serious art form, inspiring a generation of musicians and winning the prestigious Mercury Prize . - **A Distinct Voice:** Dizzee's unique, high-pitched delivery and rapid-fire flow are unmistakable and perfectly complement the chaotic energy of the beats . **Cons:** - **Aggressively Inaccessible Sound:** The challenging, chaotic production can be off-putting. It's "aural assault" for some listeners, and the music's primary goal is to maintain unease, not provide easy listening . - **Inconsistent Lyrics:** While often brilliant, some verses can be mundane, relying on clichés and name-dropping that feel less sophisticated than the best moments . The verses can sometimes lack the masterful wordplay of more seasoned rappers . - **Dated Feel for Some:** Despite its futuristic vision, some contemporary listeners find the production feels dated, with some songs sounding "like they were produced using the free instruments on FL Studio" . - **Relies Heavily on a Specific Mood:** This is an album you have to be in the right headspace for; it's not a passive listen . The relentless bleakness can be overwhelming, and some critics feel the album lacks substantive reason to return to it . In conclusion, *Boy In Da Corner* is an essential, if challenging, listen. It is a masterpiece of raw energy and authenticity—a flawed, chaotic, and utterly compelling document of its time that continues to define a genre.
This was just about alright. Must say find it rather contrived as compared to usa rap.
Fucking massive Turned a generation of grunge kids onto grime. Still sounds amazing. Favourite track: jus’ a rascal
There's nothing positive to say about this.
Holy crap I hated this. I knew from hearing his singles over the years that I didn’t like Dizzee Rascal so I didn’t expect much from it but bloody hell I enjoyed absolutely nothing about this.
I didn't mind this too much and actually enjoyed quite a bit of it. Yes, his voice and the clunky rhythm tracks are often grating. And it goes on way too long and I tuned out of the last few songs. But I'm giving it a star for the song "Fix Up, Look Sharp," which is fantastic.
A lot of people dump on the grime genre but nobody really gives reasons. For me, it's that where American hip hop styles are rooted in soul, funk, disco, R&B, genres that have a real human element, grime gets most of its roots from electronic stuff. The result is a colder and more clinical, repetitive sound that takes a really skilled and compelling MC to work (for me at least), and I'm not impressed by Dizzee Rascal. Nothing particularly interesting to say (just a lot of lines like 'I love females, money, and crepes'), and a lot of these songs just annoyed me. Rough to get through honestly
1/1
I've never heard any grime would say I like. I was hoping I might find something I like here but unfortunately, it's kind of ass. I thought this might be somewhat like Bonkers, which I don't think I've heard in about a decade but I think I would had liked that more. This just isn't for me at all Highlights: Fix Up, Look Sharp
2003. Gave mainstream exposure to grime music.
The beats are interesting to say the least, im prob just not into this genre of rap.
When Gorillaz feature rappers in their songs, some of them are phenomenal, while others sound like this, serving as a constant interruption to their incredible music. He was a teenager when he wrote, and released this, so I'll cut him a little slack. Also, on a random note, I notice anomalies, so I have to get this off of my chest: I've had a 21st Century album for eight out of the last nine days. Also, this is the second consecutive day I've had a 2003 album. What are the odds of any of this happening? Favorite Track: "2 Far".
I can see why it's called "grime," cuz this was grimy as hell
7/10 Best songs: Round We Go, Wot U On? What an interesting choice of an album for this list. It's representative of such a specific genre of British music in the early 2000s (grime/hip-hop) that I'm honestly surprised to hear it here. The production is incredibly out of the box, so much so that I can overlook the lackluster recording (the album was very clearly recorded in a bedroom). The rapping is great and the sounds are really, really special - it's very unique stuff that sounds like the future even today. The album is bursting with ideas and creativity. That being said... the album is a little too long (an hour is FAR too long - 30-35 minutes would be perfect) and even though none of the songs sound alike, they do start to blur together due to similar producing choices being made a little too often - sparse, toned-back music with an emphasis on synths and a single drum beat. Also, the lyrics are... interesting: Dizzee Rascal was 15 when he released this record, and some of the lyrics make this very, very obvious. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Oh le mal de tête
grime is such a good sub-genre. beat is extraordinary
Quite like some of the songs.
Man this guy hates women.
Holy shit this project is something else, somehow Dizzee Rascal was able to make this project back in 2003 and it sounds like something that would have came out today if not in the near future of where Rap as a whole is right now. If you are a fan of anything in the underground Rap scene that was made in the last 5 years then this project will feel like seeing into the future in terms of production. None of the beats here should work as they are hellish creations curtesy of Wiley and Dizzee's insane ideas and yet it all works spectacularly. You can practically hear Danny Brown with the vocals, Jpegmafia with the insane sampling and production structure, and SOPHIE with the bass heavy borderline club music beats. My one complaint with this album if I had to pick any is the pacing, with this album clocking in at 57 minutes it can seem a bit long winded by the time you hit Jus' a Rascal. The back half of this album still has some pretty cool moments but it is not nearly as exciting as the first half of this album by any means. This is an insane project well worth anyones time who is looking for something refreshing, exciting, and challenging. Definitely will need to check out more Dizzee Rascal in the future because there is no way he just made this and fell off the face of the earth.
Starts strong, finished samey. 3.5/5
made my jaw smash through the floor. obviously a deeply exhausting listen but even apart from the obvious reasons its because p much every song, p much every individual Sound, is worth ur full attention. i hyperventilated a few times just trying to take in every production idea, in particular dizzee himself and his self-overlapping cacophony that still often serves as the most exciting rhythmic element of each beat. its all so jarring but so tightly wound together that it becomes one big club-ready force of motion. just unbelievably fucking genius, bloodpumping music. there's no way SOPHIE didnt absolutely love this record. a rare W for the british-centric lens of the 1001 list
I'm sooo over weird British rap
I decided to read up on Grime and it turns out (if I'm not mistaken) that the big innovation here is that it's hip-hop over EDM. With that knowledge in mind, my expectations were adjusted and I really enjoyed this. The beats were great and once I got used to his style this was a really good listen. 4.0/5.0: Great
this was a tough listen
Man... I don't know what the FUCK you just said, Little Kid, but you're special man, you reached out, and you touch a brother's heart. -Pumpkin Escobar. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. 4
2.5 a couple good singles and a lot of samey sounding stuff
I'm so glad I don't have to hear Dizzee Rascal anymore
Good rap album! I've always loved British rappers and the way they are like different than Americans, and this was quite a good one!
I don’t really know how I feel about Brit rap. On the one hand I’m into the actual lyrical content and rhymes but on the other hand I hate how it sounds…
Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: ☝️🥷🏼👆 Production: 🎛️🥾💦 Music: 🌌🇬🇧🥁 Rating: 💂💂💂/5
A lot more of these were more fun than I expected. Good beats. Too icky about women too much to get higher than a 2.5 for me.
This is the debut album from a British rapper. Much of his poetry reading goes at a high speed, so some of it is hard to follow. One track features ‘80s singer Billy Squier. There is very little music here, just drum machine and synthesizer. Overall I give it a rating of 1.8 stars.
I guess so. Good album cover. British rap, though. Hard to get into (probably because I'm absent the relevant cultural context?). As far as I can tell, "grime" is like rap + EDM, which seems good, but the lyrics are almost more vacuous than Cocteau Twins'. Though I did like - Highlight: "Screw face means I'm not happy right now / That's why no smile was used" (:'D) Lowlight: the alarmy beeps in 'Live O' Slur count = 4. Not too bad. From reading about Dizzee I learned that pepper spray is illegal in the UK!
This kind of stuff has to be the most overlooked and underrated rap music for people in the US. It's such an interesting way to fuse two genres together: EDM and Rap, but British. I love it. Not enough people listen to Grime. Anyways, as much as I love Skepta, this guy blows him out of the water. It's incredibly creative in a way that brings out every part of what makes Grime a great genre. It's dark and violent while still being incredibly high-energy and an all-around great listen.
каждому своё
Как же я его люблю. Щас бы записать такой шедевр в 18-19 лет. Джииизас.
звучит интересно, нужно будет углубиться в данный стиль, пока что 3.5
Best Song: I Luv U I'm going to start with the positive, this was ahead of its time and if I listened to this, I would guess it to be more 20-teens not 2003. But, being ahead of its time doesn't necessarily make it good. I get that Dizzee Rascal is considered the best rapper in England but that is like being the world's fast fish - no one really cares and the competition isn't too stiff. If I'm going to listen to hip-hop, it will never, ever be this. 2/5.
I think this one might take a few listens to grow on me. I usually like grime music, but this was a bit rough on first listen. Might need to dig into the lyrics.
Does anyone actually listen to this???
Not for me but good production can't quite believe this makes the list though
sehr interessant (legit einfach uk garage i think) aber holt mich nicht ultra ab
I give him points for trying something different, but every songs a skip!!
A bit of a pleasant surprise. I hit play on the first track expecting to dread the next hour because I generally don't love British-accented rap. I still didn't love this, but it wasn't actively awful. Production is super dated but that's to be expected. Sittin' Here is the closest thing to replayable for me
I hadn't heard of this before. Another UK based rapper. Honestly it wasn't bad. I kind of appreciate his beats and rhythms. I could definitely see putting this on again. It was a bit of fresh air from current US based rap of the same time period.
Apparently this is viewed as a masterpiece of grime rap, and while there were some good moments I couldn’t get super into it. I think it sounds dated to me, having listened to more recent projects by Stormzy and the like. I think there’s a nostalgia and novelty factor that I’m missing or maybe it’s because I’m a dump yank.
Good
Y'know, this isn't at all terrible. Good enough to make me enjoy listening, and the story behind the recording makes me boost the mark a little, as does the fact that it's clearly British-style rather then something just trying to rip off stuff from across the Atlantic. And, y'know, it's just different enough to make me want to listen again. That and the unbelievable 2.56 rating! 2.56? Really? Fuck off and listen to rumours for the 5 millionth time then. I'd rather be surprised by something like this instead. Should probably be a 4, but it's a 5 because it's be shamefully underscored.
Spomnim se njega & vsaj en komad s kle dejansko poznam Fak ej, the early 2000s so ble a weird time (zj sm dva komada v album). Prou ena najslabših zadev, k se je zgodila muski, je to, da ni več samplanja. Ker kaj je nadomestil zanimivo samplanje? Shitty elektronski zvoki, k se velikrat slabo postarajo in preprost ne zvenijo tok dobr ("I Luv U"). Fak, ful je preveč zvokov naenkrat ("Brand New Day"). Not in a good way. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" poznam. Še najboljši komad do zdaj, pa še to deli, kjer ne rappa Dizzee. 1 ura je ful preveč, ko te že nekje pr četrtem komadu glava boli. Pa filing je, da komadi nikamor ne grejo? Sam noise je, k se kr naenkrat konča. A to je grime? Ker potem, I don't like it. Plus, ne morm verjet, da je ta album tisto leto dobil Mercury Prize? Isto leto k Hail to the Thief?! Fak of.
Good.
G R I M E, yeeeees fam! Dit is echt het klassieke grime/UK Garage album, de beats zijn fucking aggressief, net zoals Dizzee zn flow zelf. I Luv U bijvoorbeeld zou echt niet misstaan op een dikke rave, lijkt me ook echt een vette live act. Ook de echte klassieke feature van Wiley, heel vet. Alleen, ik heb dit niet vaak, maar Dizzee's stem is wel echt een beetje vervelend. Het past soms heel goed, maar te vaak werkt het echt niet helemaal voor mij. Helemaal niet als je een heel album, wat best een lang album is ook, moet luisteren naar zijn toch wat hoge stem. Beats blijven fucking insane though. Instrumental versie van dit album zou echt prima moeten werken denk ik zo. Ja dit is een best lang hiphop album, denk dat het live ontzettend goed werkt en het is bij dit album al vrij duidelijk dat Dizzee op latere albums de elektronische hoek in duikt. De rave beats en dergelijke zijn hier al aanwezig en Dizzee heeft een soort rol van MC op zich genomen. Gewoon een prima head bop album, ik denk niet dat ik snel het hele album nog een keer zal luisteren maar er zit meer dan genoeg tussen om het een keer geluisterd te hebben. Daarnaast, dit is een essentieel UK Grime album, dus daar alleen al voor is het het luisteren waard. FAVO: I Luv U, 2 far, Jus a rascal
A bit becomes my young adult years so probably not something I was massively into, but I get it for the pre-drill foundation.
Nothing here is for me. I dont think I could ever listen again
Released 22 years ago when I was 22 years old. Loved this album so much when it was released and when I was a young man. 22 years later and 22 years older: This 44 year old man still love this album as much like when I was 22 years old. Is it year or years? Oh well, I don't care. 5/5
Early 21st century rap really is a hiatus in my musical knowledge. What a great album. The beats are refreshing, love Dizzees flow.
erm. ik ben meestal wel fan van experimentele dingen maar dit is echt gwn random dingen roepen en knopjes drukken de jongen in de hoek probeert stoer te doe
73 de pijp is hierop geïnspireerd i fear.. maar eerlijk deze cover gaat zo hard en als je hierin voor in de mood bent kan het echt een banger zijn
FIX UP LOOK SHAAAARP forgot how much of a banger this is, however didn’t really enjoy a lot of the other songs
Interesting choice. Unique style, some great tracks, some super annoying.
not my taste
I do like the inventiveness of the music in this album and fix up look sharp is a banger but I need to be in the mood to listen to more than a track or 2 at a time nowadays. 2.7
Atrocious. I could not wait for this to finish.
Enormously influential album. Everyone was bugging when this came out. Sounded like nothing else at the time. Some tracks are kinda meh or have weird-ass instrumental or vocal elements. The other tracks are that proper screwface shit. High 3, almost 4. Probably should be 4.
Grime.
Nope! But fun to read the lyrics!
A little repetitive
I played most of it... wasn't keen Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ most Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (5/10) Total reviewed : 339 Already owned : 76 Purchased : 16 To buy : 3 Nope : 244
cool
Brand New Day obtient la palme du loop de rap le plus insupportable cette année à date. Absolument aucun intérêt pour moi ici. Comme on crève déjà dehors, une chance que la journée est déjà perdue. T'as le East Coast, t'as le West Coast.... pis ben t'as le rap Anglais (exception Little Simz que j'ai bien aimé)... je sais pas c'est quoi leur revendication et j'ai pas la stamina pour aller lire les paroles, je vais présumer les politiques racistes UK (pré-Brexit). Cheeeeeerzzzzz
Détesté. Les beats etaient agressants, le delivery ininteressant. Le rap british c’est pas pour moi!
unlistenable garbage
Annoying, repetitive beats on loop. His unintelligible, squeaky voice and weird synth SFX really grate on me. Couldn't listen to an hour of this. 1/5
Meh
5.5/10 Didn't really enjoy the experience, but it's definitely different from anything else Ive heard on this list.
I like this. Lots of creative energy. Good ideas.
This album somehow grew on me. It's not really my music at all but after a few listens it worked it's way up to a 3.
Boy in da Corner es un manifiesto vanguardista que ha envejecido bien como una obra de arte atemporal de la música urbana global. El álbum es un viaje de contrastes sónicos y psicológicos que empieza bien fuerte con "Sittin' Here", donde el pulso del ritmo y las rimas rápidas nos sumergen de inmediato en una atmósfera de alienación y vigilia. La genialidad de Dizzee Rascal radica en su audacia técnica: temas como "Stop Dat" se sienten sumamente agresivos, con una electrónica grave y lenta apuntalada por rítmicas voces en grito, entregando un sonido conmovedor, crudo y real que retrata la hostilidad del entorno. El disco no teme a la incomodidad; en "I Luv U", la producción suena fascinantemente discordante entre la voz femenina, el fondo estridente y las voces cortantes, logrando una tensión que corta el aire. La experimentación continúa en "Brand New Day", donde los ritmos orientales distorsionados aportan un tono algo cómico y surrealista, mientras que "2 Far" juega con los sonidos en una línea mucho más pura de rap. El dinamismo del ensamble encuentra balance en "Fix Up, Look Sharp", que se presenta como un hip-hop más rítmico y bailable, y en "Cut 'Em Off", que adquiere un matiz más ambiental y espacial gracias al uso inteligente de los ecos. Hacia el final, la densidad lírica alcanza un punto crítico; los coros en "Just a Rascal" llevan inevitablemente a pensar en la presión del grupo y la careta social que tenemos para sobrevivir al día a día. Nos encontramos ante una obra donde las frecuencias electrónicas y la urgencia vocal se entretejen muy bien, consolidando un llamado a la conciencia juvenil que es, a la vez, una lección de diseño sonoro disruptivo.
It's alright. Doesn't do much for me.
Interesting new genre to me at the time…my sons were right into it but they were 12/15 or so. Unlikely to listen to it ever again.... not heavy on melody
definitely not bad i just think he has better stuff
Incredible production. 'I Love U' is an all time classic .
I see what excites the people but it doesn't excite me. The name Grime is definitely fitting because this is gross.
Not awful
This album is the second grime album we've gotten, and the first in around 9 months! I admittedly don't see the vision as much as with the Skepta album we got - a lot of the lyrics and flow throughout the album are just too goofy to take seriously for me. However, the beats are consistently pretty good, and there are some genuinely compelling songs on here! Solid 7/10.
Genuinely awful stuff. An annoying cacophony of British rapping(?) over some of the worst beats I’ve ever heard with no breaks until Fix Up, Look Sharp, which was decent I guess. Not enough to redeem this garbage.
In total awe of Dizzee Rascal's beat selection, because despite a large part of the instrumentals being godawful, they're so unlike anything you'd expect from a 2003 hip hop-adjacent album that they paradoxically become quite compelling. They're sounds from another planet, brought to us by the horrible squeaky alien on 2 Far. In regards to the man's rapping, I like his energy and appreciate that he doesn't take himself too seriously. It's the standard UK Grime flow, though perhaps he's the one who set the standard. Is it an album I'd return to? Very doubtful, but I can appreciate its influence and what it did to shake up the hip hop genre down the line. Danny Brown has cited him as one of his biggest inspirations, for example, and the similarities are clear as day on several occasions! Standouts: I Luv You • Wot U On?
Totally fine album i would never willingly listen to outside of this challenge, but I completely appreciate grime is not a genre for me and that this was clearly head and shoulders above other stuff that was coming out in 2003. Bravo.
Dizzee Rascal is entertaining and talented, but hearing British voices rapping is truly one of life's most unpleasant little gifts.
I can absolutely say that this is good, but is just mostly hitting me on the wrong day. It definitely has its place (as everything does i guess) but on first listen it’s CRAZY overstimulating. I’m realizing through this project that i might not be AS into grime as i thought i was.
Niet helemaal m’n ding
Geen favoriet vandaag. Dit album was niet mijn cup of tea.
Ik hou echt van sommige rap maar deze is niet voor mij
File under: Mood Today, Not in the. I usually like grime, and today I found this nearly unbearable. I made it through three songs and then I had to go listen to several hours of Dave Brubeck. Maybe I'll give it another listen some other day, but today, it gets a 3.
I listened to this a bit when it came out. I like his voice/flow but I have limited interest in these songs and they wear out their welcome pretty quickly.
2/5 - Grime will never be my thing. Fix Up, Look Sharp is a fun song, and I like some other samples, but there won't be a time I'm in the mood for this.
This is a very hard album to rate. When it's good, it's great. You can hear the foundations of grime being born and Dizzee has the bars to keep up. But if you look at the album as a whole, it's very busy and messy and not one cohesive work. It's a bunch of cool ideas mashed up together. I can understand that this may be part of the appeal, but it does make it hard to follow. This is one of those times I'd likely give a 2.5-2.7 but I'll round up. Highlight: Stop Dat Also, some of yall reviewers are just antiblack and you should just go ahead and say that in your review so I can skip them.
loved it, loved the backing tracks in particular. so impressive. 4.5
Near the beginning of this project, possibly in my first hundred albums (now over 900) I got a Skepta album and I remember remarking that maybe I might like grime but just not that album. I actually wound up really enjoying a couple Skepta tracks that grew on me. I think I actually like Skepta more than other grime. I didn't really enjoy most of this.
Grimey
Never heard of this guy. Call me whatever, but it didn’t get me going.
6/10 - not as bad as the rating is making out, really is a cultural snapshot of London garage and grime
Not for me
Meh
Despite being an unabashed fan of hip-hop, I'm never gonna be a grime head, I guess. I keep giving it a try and I just can't get into it. That said, somewhere around track 5, I started to actually understand what Dizzee, and by extension the genre, is trying to do/be. Dizzee may be rapping but this isn't hip-hop and that's a game-changing realization. It's more akin to dance genres like garage or jungle. When approached with that understanding, grime makes so much more sense. I was able to move through the rest of the album and... kind of enjoy it. 2.5⭐️
Aptly titled. Sounds like a (British) dizzy rascal sitting in the corner. Interesting mix of beats (from just drums, to haunting grit, to dubstep-esque) and unique delivery with wild inflections.
Loved some of the songs
original yet samples. ENGLISH. hip hop.
1/5 extremely hard listen (not extremely hard while listening unfortunately smh)
Dit is het gewoon niet.
Ik begrijp dizzee nooit zo goed, als iemand me kan uitleggen hou ik me aanbevolen.
Out of respect for his influence on UK rap a 3. But originally would have given it a 2
There was certainly a great deal of artistry... but where were also a lot of times when I had to check to see if I was accidentally playing 2 songs at the same time.
In my come up with underground hip hop in the late 90s and 2000s, I knew of Dizzee, but never really listened to him, especially not an album in its entirety. This record was a nice surprise. The production is bassy, heavy, electronic and experimental. I hear elements of other artists that were influenced by Dizzee. His lyrics and cadence are bouncy and spastic, but entertaining. This record is cool.
Not really my kind of rap. Sounds a bit like Jamaican and South African rap.
Just a Rascal is fire but the rest are really mid. Still don’t like hip hop
I can't accept Grime. We need Jungle, I'm afraid.
It’s a dizzy onrush of sounds and pastiche that’s for sure but ultimately feels like a torrent of words and emotions that don’t add up to much
Please leave Dizzee in «da corner».
Not unlistenable, but just nothing I found particularly good. Style is similar to an E40 and ODB combination. Some beats are nice and intricate, but just not a lot of soul/uniqueness. 2.
Ten years ago I'd have given this 4. But now, given his domestic violence conviction (for which he's been completely unapologetic) and some of the lyrics here the whole thing just feels a bit gross.
I couldn’t get through this one. Not for me at all
Really dig the weird stuttering beats and the synths. I hope my wife doesn’t turn out to be a Jezzie.
(I'll just say first that I didn't like the last three tracks, which seemed to have a darker and more aggressive energy - I'd already written most of this before I got to them!) So, I got to know Dizzee Rascal's music through his later, much more pop, singles, (Dance Wiv Me being my fave) which helped me to enjoy (some of) this, as I know he's basically a sound, happy geezer. I love that he's not going on endlessly about motherf*ckers; although young Dizzee's got things to say, he sounds hopeful and, actually, kind of chill most of the time. I don't really like the stripped-back grime backing, but I love his accent and his rhyming style. Jus' A Rascal made me chuckle and then actually applaud. A strong debut.
You know, sometimes it's adolescent in the worst way (especially on "Jezebel"), but you could only really only make this album when your young imagination is firing on all cylinders and you're putting a relatively limited collection of tools to their best possible use. Even having listened to so much grime since, this still makes me go "wow" every time.
Is this genuinely enjoyed by people? 1.2/5
This wasn't good.
this was pretty huge when it came out but it's a bit cringe
One more British rap album. It’s not the worst on the list, but it’s not particularly great either
This album sounds like what British cocaine must smell like. Influential, probably, yikes.
Wow, that was genuinely awful. Apart from the obnoxious rapping, the production was bad too - the beats were pretty much all grating, repetitive, and boring. Really struggled to make it through this one, each song felt like it was twice as long as it actually was. I could also not stop thinking about this the whole time (which is at least funny-bad, not just bad-bad): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jlviX88iw
He needs to take his own advice and Stop Dat.
Not a rap fan
I can respect the production and cadence on this album but I wasn’t feeling it today.
A little long, great beats. Liked more than I expected, doesn't sound like 2003
This list has really presented me with both the best and worst British hip-hop has to offer. Thankfully this leans towards better. Great beats and fun, enthusiastic performances. Sounds way more modern than its 2003 release date had me expecting. Some of it even predicts hyperpop, to my ears. I couldn’t help but wonder if Danny Brown likes this record; Dizzee’s performances often reminded me a lot of Brown. Strong three.
Absolute classic, forgot how much I enjoyed grime love this album
Favorite track(s): Stop Dat, I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp
Harde beats, gitaarriffs her en der zijn erg dope. Daarnaast heeft die een deel van dit album gemaakt toen die net 16 was, wat het mogelijk ook nog cooler maakt
Kneiterharde beats, matige lyrics en vocals. Als het alleen maar hard ging en een kwartier korter was bleef er meer van de beoordeling over.
Circus ass beat on Stop Dat Tongue in Cheek is a way better album Fave track: Sittin' Here
Starts a little weak but gets better. 3/5
Tried to find something I enjoyed about this album but couldn’t. Didn’t mind the beats but overall just quite annoying.
The opening track was very promising but unfortunately there was only one decent track besides this, Jezebel, so pretty crap
DIZZEE RASCALLLLLLLL, i only know tongue n cheek so im excited
UK hip hop picks: fix up look sharp,I luv u
I’ve always liked a few tracks from Dizzee Rascal, but this is the first time I’ve properly sat down with one of his albums in full. Boy in da Corner was huge during my youth, but it wasn’t really my genre, so I only ever listened to the hits. I was interested to finally give it a proper listen all the way through. I really enjoyed it. This is a strong debut album, raw, energetic, and full of character. The beats are sharp and distinctive, and the delivery has real purpose and intensity. It flows well and feels cohesive, and considering it came out in 2003, it still sounds fresh and ahead of its time. That said, it does feel a bit too long. The first half is excellent, but it starts to drag as it goes on. Trimming it down would have made it even stronger. Favourite tracks: I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp, and Jus’ a Rascal Least favourite tracks: The second half dips; Jezebel and Live O didn’t do much for me, and Sittin’ Here isn’t the strongest opener Album artwork: Iconic cover, instantly recognisable
Pretty cool stuffs
i like the beat and the lyrics but the flow is not something that i consider as good, 3.5/5
There were moments when I thought I might like this enough for a 2; and there were many more moments when I couldn't wait for one of those earlier moments to return.
I liked this. I like the gritty beats and the vocal delivery. I likely won't listen to any of this again.
Now I get a rash of un-inspired Rap music... no logic to this list at all
Better than most of the other UK hip hop albums on this list. Sometimes they can pull it off. Favorite track: Fix Up, Look Sharp
Very bad
Pretty repetitive, and the rapper's voice is pretty irritating. Everything about this screams "meh", particularly for 2003 when the standards of hip-hop had long since been raised. Dizzee Rascal's material comes across as utterly bland, devoid of anything except looped synths and looped electronic drums and that voice that (truthfully) is equivalent to some kid yelling into the void. Pretty funny that "shit" is one of the top keywords for reviews of this record. I'm inclined to agree. The most-upvoted 5-star review writes, "Man, this site is racist". I get the sentiment – I really do – except that music traditionally associated with black people can also be really good. There's some fantastic hip-hop out there. Blues, soul, and funk are three of the absolute strongest genres of modern music. No – this isn't racism. This is tolerating, and then (correctly) rejecting, bad music. At least the opener, Sittin' Here, isn't all that offensive in isolation. But then we arrive at the aural monstrosity that is Stop Dat. That low bass-boosted synth is used commonly in present-day meme remixes, so it's hard to take the song seriously from the get-go. But then the Rascal comes in with his unbearably obnoxious voice. He doesn't attempt any kind of melody or interesting rhythm. He just spouts immature rage for four minutes. Those chromatic-scale synths at the end are entertaining, though. Almost saves the song. We continue onward, begrudgingly, with I Luv U – which is sort of catchy, and contains a much more listenable female rapping vocal. Another bass-boosted synth, too. (There must be a name for it.) But otherwise, I have nothing new to say. Bland, loud, unappetising noise. Someone else said "yobbish", and after looking it up, I have to agree. Yobbish is the perfect descriptor here. I won't continue my track-by-track rundown, because the remaining songs are much the same. The closest we get to "good" music is Fix Up, Look Sharp, which is non-coincidentally the most popular song on the record. 1/5 Key tracks: Fix Up, Look Sharp
Another rapper that I think is British. For early 2ks no goofy in between song stories thankfully. The sound of the record is awesome. The songs are fine. I didn’t hate it. What a goofy album cover.
technically proficient, not my style
Still not my genre, but this is very different, very fresh, very English
There's a tendency in RYM to need enough albums that you can vote lower to give your ratings more "weight". ie: if your average rating is nearer 3, when you vote an album as a 5 then that will carry more weight than someone who votes everything a 5. I'm finding the same mental process on 1001 whereby I'm pleased when an album deemed "lesser" comes up and this would seem to fit that mould. I doubt there's any vote weighting on here, but still having all of your albums 4 or 5 stars wouldn't show clearly to yourself what your favourite albums actually are, and it's useful to have a spread of ratings. Most other people seem to automatically hate on this despite the impact it had on UK culture. I can't say I got it at the time - and streaming wasn't available - but I know it carries legit claims to be on this list having one a Mercury music prize. That Dizzee declined over the next decade is a shame but synonymous with nearly all "rap" stars as it briefly became the biggest selling genre (at least in America) and lowest common denominator quality was reached in order to achieve sales (or streams in the end). However, fair play Bonkers was still to come on his fourth album and thats an absolute banger. This is pretty amazing for a 15 year old experimenting with school equipment, to me that is utterly prodigious. It's not hip-hop and people should disassociate that from their minds, it's grime and evokes a totally different scene and time. This is where the UK came through with its own sounds incorporating it's strong dance (garage / two-step etc) heritage with wordplay. The music is incredibly minimalist but not basic. This kid is so creative for his age, think how mature this is compared to the gutter fantasies of the Eminem first albums. If any indie white boy was coming out with this wordplay at the age of 15 it would be deemed as world beating (think Artic Monkeys as one of the only examples I can think of). Hats off to the boy in the corner, my mind has been changed and improved. And thanks 1001 for actually making me listen to it properly.
I like when British rap :]
Throughout listening to this album, I kept ping-ponging between being wide awake and struggling to keep my eyes open, despite my intake of caffeine and taking a walk. While it's not a portion of my music taste which I am often aware of, this album did remind me of the nostalgic place I hold in my heart for British rappers like Dizzee Rascal. I immediately clocked Dizzee as a major inspiration on slowthai, not only in terms of delivery and production styles, but even in both artists delivering really bizarre intro songs which feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the project (slowthai even shouts out this specific Dizzee Rascal album within the first verse of his debut album). The heavy industrial beats and grime production give this album so much life, with the absolutely massive drums and chaotic samples keeping up the momentum (the drums and beat on Fix Up, Loom Sharp are particularly insane). I end up feeling less compelled by the songs which are mostly about him as a rapper as opposed to grander societal ideas, but the whole album continues to be a charged and powerful experience the whole time. Highlights: Stop Dat, I Luv U, Brand New Day, Fix Up, Look Sharp, Cut 'Em Off, Hold Ya Mouf, Round We Go, Do It!
UK rap, wag wan
Fix Up Look Sharp brings back a lot of memories, and I liked this album more than I thought when the genre became clear. Not always my style, but I was feeling it today!
Okay I swear I gave this a good chance, but it was honestly like 2 phone ringtones going off at the same time whilst a cockerney complained about whores in the background. I know that Mr Rascal has many a hit song after this where the music is incorporated with the rapping (B B B b B B Bonkers and such), so clearly he made his music more appealing to me later on. I hated this tho, couldn't understand what was being said coz the music in the background annoyed me, so got the worst of both worlds.
no le sé al grime así que no puedo hablar de qué tan particular era este sonido en 2003 o qué tanta es su influencia en lo que vino después en el género, pero lo poco que conozco, de 15 o 20 años después, ya estaba aquí
I like grime in general and this felt like a starting point to where grime went later on. I cannot say I liked all of it. Some parts I found childish and purposefully low quality made. I'm taking about all the froggy and child voices. But some songs were actually really good: - Stop Dat - I Luv U - Seems 2 Be
Interesting listen because it's vastly different from anything I'd ever listen to. But not something I really enjoyed
Really?
(1/7) some of the beats were fine but the rapping added very little
He's a good rapper but those beats are heinous
Look, I'm not a grime guy but this album doesn't mess about and I can only pay compliments to Dizzee Rascal. Love his flow and the fun and emotion he can convey with his voice. Kept me entertained on the drive to and from work. The singles are all mega and the rest of it is just fine too.
It's really not my thing, but I'm sure it's good for what it is. Definitely interesting to listen to!
Yesterday Common showed me I can warm up to hip hop... today Dizzee proved I'm still far behind.
I’m sure the story is cool, but this just isn’t for me.
Not for me.
Un álbum interesante con dub, un poc old school
I like hip hop but what was this album, I hope I don't have to listen to this again. Still, 2 stars? I think it had a few moments which were genuinely fun to listen to.
Fix up look SHARP
Sounded quite different from much other rap we've had on this list - and rap I've heard in general. Partly because he's british, but also because the beats sound way more... electronic and sketchy somehow? But in a good way! Quite unorthodox somehow, but it works well. While this is not exactly my go-to music, I can see how rap-enjoyers might appreciate this a lot! Certainly a nice change from some american hip-hop from around the same time, even though that delivered as well on some fronts. Strong 3!
Amazing this came out in 2003. Before grime was mainstream with JME, Scepta and Stormzy. Even before Top Boy and when Drake started to get in to grime. Does it compare musically to the later greats? Maybe not, but it’s also about 10 years before any of the other artists I mentioned. Cool grime album, Impressive that he was just 19 at the time. Plenty of good beats. Strong 3, will need to listen a bit more to this.
1/5 goofy ah beat
3 stars
Nope. 2
2/10 painful to listen to inconsistent annoying songs can’t understand the guy
Not normally my thing but quite liked some tracks
All the album in one key, bores at one point. Still a groovy one
Tällaista räppiksi naamioitua kilinää ja kolinaa ja meteliä!
This fucken slaps
appreciate the grit. the Beats are fun and drip life but I can't get in
90s head who values a more groove, so Dizzee’s aesthetic made me a bit dizzy -- and it just droned on. hard for me to get through.
This is not my scene.
I'm sure Grime was wild around the turn of the century. But honestly, these yoinky-sploinky ass beats have not really aged well. At least from the perspective of someone from the US. We'll see how I feel about the other Grime albums on the list, this was the first time I've ever been exposed to it. But as of right now, I ain't feeling it.
Maybe an inspiration for Tyler the Creator? At least, that’s what it made me think of. Pretty good, but boring to me down the back half. The I luv u song was my favorite.
HESJUSTARASCALHESJUSTARASCAL
Escutavel e interessante em alguns momentos, mas não possui nada que realmente tenha me chamado atenção. Certamente não é o pior album dessa sequência. 2/5.