Boy In Da Corner

Man this guy hates women.

Starts strong, finished samey. 3.5/5

Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: ☝️🥷🏼👆 Production: 🎛️🥾💦 Music: 🌌🇬🇧🥁 Rating: 💂💂💂/5

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!

звучит интересно, нужно будет углубиться в данный стиль, пока что 3.5

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.

sehr interessant (legit einfach uk garage i think) aber holt mich nicht ultra ab

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

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

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.

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

Interesting choice. Unique style, some great tracks, some super annoying.

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

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.

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

5.5/10 Didn't really enjoy the experience, but it's definitely different from anything else Ive heard on this list.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

6/10 - not as bad as the rating is making out, really is a cultural snapshot of London garage and grime

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.

Out of respect for his influence on UK rap a 3. But originally would have given it a 2

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.

(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.

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.

Favorite track(s): Stop Dat, I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp

Kneiterharde beats, matige lyrics en vocals. Als het alleen maar hard ging en een kwartier korter was bleef er meer van de beoordeling over.

Starts a little weak but gets better. 3/5

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

I liked this. I like the gritty beats and the vocal delivery. I likely won't listen to any of this again.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

3 stars

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.

More rapping about girls and guns but with a different accent. Ok, it's slightly more interesting than that in the production but it hasn't aged that well.

English rap. Not too bad, backing music was interesting.

I thought the opening track was really unique and interesting. The samples and beats on the album are interesting and varied. I liked that the lyrics were the focus and sat audibly above the beat. Overall didn’t enjoy but respect it for what it is.

Not the biggest grime fan, but it has its moments ⭐⭐⭐

3.5 this was pretty good i really enjoyed it

This album actually slaps and I think it needs more than the 1 listen I gave it

Got somewhat better as it went along. 2.5

I can dig. As far as pop instrumental music goes, I'd say this is pretty good.

The beats within each song was pretty repetitive but overall the album grew in me.

Decent 3

The music itself was very cool, but I was not especially fond of the rapping. I did enjoy though, will definitely come back to it

The British rap flow always felt a bit clunky to me. But this was alright.

The British grime scene managed to differentiate itself from the american counterpart with this record. Not all the songs work as well and the raps aren't fully refined but it features a diversified enough array of themes and experimental sounds. Rascal would go on to inspire Bob Vylan, one of my favorite artists. So if you wish to see this kind of music evolved with more punk and politically conscious elements I recommend you give them a listen too.

wouldn't listen to the whole album often, but the good tracks are already on my playlist.

You get a lot of words for your buck - and not one of those is the 'n' word This is surprisingly listenable, although gets a bit repetitive and is a tad too long (a side effect of being made for CD release). But it makes a nice change to hear hiphop/rap/grime (or whatever you want to call this particular flavour of talking on top of music) without endless profanities and offence. 2½

Like the beats.

Grime might not be my new thing.

I found this quite hit and miss really, but the hits did work for me. Dizzee Rascal is a talented dude. Favourites: I Luv U 2 Far Fix Up, Look Sharp

2/12/26. It was something different at least. 5.5/10

Impressive throughout. I really like his delivery. Not really my style but I respect this being included in the 1001

unlike most British rap, this manages to not only not be downright embarrassing, but actually fairly enjoyable! there are some weird, cool, inventive beats on display here, especially considering it came out smack in the middle of the worst (in my opinion) era for beats. the flow is pretty angular in a way that doesn't work great for me but i think it's at least partly intentional, and partly just what it sounds like when an english person tries to rap (Little Simz being maybe the only english rapper with a voice/flow that's actually pleasant to listen to). overall it's pretty good and much better than what i typically expect from British rappers, although it does have some pretty bad low points, particularly the one-two punch of Round We Go and Jus' A Rascal, which are two of the most absolutely horrendous songs I've heard in a while

Okay then. Once more out of my comfort zone. Skittering beats that seem to be on the verge of falling apart under a UK rapper. Held my interest.

I enjoyed a good bit of this, interesting beats

stay in the corner

Reminds me of Danny Brown. Decent Bri'ish rap 3.5

It was not terrible, but not memorable either. Am I going to listen to it again? nope, was it unlistenable? nope. 2.5 stars

Being from the south bronx Igrew up & love hip hop. But I have to admit that this the first I've heard of this artist. Maybe because at the release of this album I was on my own musical ventures. This album is really good. His flow definitely His own thing. The beats are great. My only complain is that in some tracks the music takes over & the MC gets lost in the mix. I read up on this album & it has review. Considered the best British rap album. I'll definitely will be giving this & his over album more listens.

I liked the album. This is my first approach to this musical genre, and I like it. I also like that the guy doesn't invent everything he says about having a difficult life like so many other artists. (stupid fact: this music always reminds me of GTA: San Andreas, that's how uneducated I am)

58/100. As an early grime record, you can really hear its foundations being laid here. The delivery is strong and confident and Dizzee’s presence is undeniable. Grime is a genre I’ve enjoyed at different points in my life and I honestly think I would’ve enjoyed this project a lot more if I’d heard it when I was younger.

Not really my thing, but I get it

SQUIER!! I didn't know anyone actually sampled the vocals on The Big Beat, the most-sampled rock song ever, which is funding Billy Squier's retirement in the Hamptons. My father would have been endlessly amused that there are musical subgenres called grime and grunge and they have nothing to do with each other. I know nothing about British hiphop but I think this is pretty good. 3.5

This was an interesting blend of rap and techno (and let's be honest, a london accent rapping doesn't hurt for an anglophile like me). Still, not something that resonated deeply for me so I don't see myself listening to it much, but I appreciate what it brings to the table.

Better than I remember it

It's refreshing to hear rappers from different countries!

Thought this has held up reasonably well. I dont think I'll ever sit through a full double album of grime but can see why this cut through to the mainstream at the time. Probably a 3 for me

6.5/10

Really enjoy a lot of this album but some songs are a very uncomfortable listen.

A harsh 3 but a 3 nonetheless

This I actually enjoyed.

Who thought British rap was a good thing

The beats were at least creative and different sounding. His delivery though is so spastic and I couldn't understand most of what he was saying. It was fine although slightly interesting and I was very glad it didn't have any of the stupid skits that bloat most rap albums.

No. 344/1001 Sittin' Here 3/5 Stop Dat 2/5 I Luv U 2/5 Brand New Day 3/5 2 Far 3/5 Fix Up, Look Sharp 2/5 Cut Em' Off 2/5 Hold Ya Mouth 3/5 Round We Go 3/5 Jus' a Rascal 3/5 Wot U On? 3/5 Jezebel 3/5 Seems 2 Be 4/5 Live O 2/5 Do It! 4/5 Average: 2,63 Was quiet surprised to find an early grime album on the list. Was really influential for the genre. It was alright to listen to but has aged a bit.

good for rap, which is not something that i typically listen to!

Really expected to hate this. Didn't. He's got a decent flow. I'm not sold on the EDM-y production, which is too clubby for me.

Interesting

Fix up, Look Sharp pulling from Billy Squier: respect!

London rap, fast vocals

I expected nothing and got something pretty decent. Not sure if I'd want to return to it really often but I liked it

Bunch of nerds hating this. I love when somebody has a unique take on something. This kid from East London heard hip-hop and just warped it into his own bizarre, regional creation that has spawned a litany of imitators in its wake. I somehow heard "Fix Up Look Sharp" as a little kid, and it had a hold on me. A jumpy, insane beat that immediately appealed to my developing brain. Now, my developed brain hindered by microplastics can appreciate the tracks that dare to delve below the surface, into the "grime" dare I say. Is this juvenile at times? Sure. Is it also pioneering and years ahead of its time? I fully believe it is. It's also just a blast to listen to. Unique voices have always drawn me into records, and Dizzee Rascal's is insane. I love darker, older rap from the east coast of the United States, but this scratched a different itch that I wasn't even aware I had. Fun doesn't begin to describe it. Bonkers. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Sittin' Here, 2 Far, Hold Ya Mouf, Jus' a Rascal

Pretty neat. Definitely dated as all early 2000s rap sounds but the beats are cool and I could see this being really ahead of its time at release. The beats are crisp and though i'm not generally a fan of grime, the fact that this sounds so close to little simz and co is a good sign.

"Fix Up, Look Sharp" - I remember listening to this song way back and never listened to the rest of the album. His voice is annoying in some of the other songs.

Grime is hit or miss for me but I liked this one. Dizzee has always been one of the greats, and this album is really only possible because of the scene in the UK at the time. American hip hop doesn’t really incorporate a bunch of the electronic music stuff in to its beats (or they choose different styles, and would only do it 10+ years later) but you can hear the jungle, garage and drum and bass throughout this. It’s a nice switch up from the usual stuff we hear in the states. Dizzee’s rapping isn’t as good as it would be later but I still like it and the accent alone gets him a long way. His skill would improve later in his career. I liked most of this but I think it carried on a bit too long. It’s good fun and I’m glad this was in this list.

This is not available on Youtube Music.

Uwielbiam głos Dizziego, jest niepowtarzalny. Inna jakość w świecie rapu. Chłopak w dużej mierze wprowadził brytyjski rap na salony, jednocześnie będąc pewnie jedną z pierwszych, jeśli nie pierwszą nie-białą gwiazdą muzyki z Wysp. W treści to dosyć typowy debiutancki album - bóle dojrzewania i wchodzenia w dorosłość, dorastanie na marginesie, zmagazynowana złość, pierwsze poważne zawody w relacjach z ludźmi, troska o kasę i przyszłość. To bardzo fajny album, ale mam jakieś opory przed daniem mu czwórki, bo to po prostu nie do końca moja bajka, mimo mojej sympatii do Dizziego. I pewnie nie będę raczej za często słuchał. Solidne 3,5, tho.

Was ganz neus. Irgendwie 1vibe. Aber au grenzwerttig ahstrengend. Grad au na mit 3 puntitos durecho. Cu

Wow actual good British rap

Decent listen.

This is like Rap met Trap. Not my thing, but actually I can see it being good for small hype Reels.

a scoundrel

Interesting and pretty unique (to my ears at least) but the music is too spare and repetitive. 3.2

Kind of like dubstep before dubstep.

I thought it was cool, but not really my thing.

Does this belong on this list? Undoubtedly yes. Do I like it? Mostly. It has some great moments but some parts drag.

Rude boy massive. Enjoyable jangly grime, shame about the misogyny.

This was not an amazing record, but I at least get why it was included on the list. The rapping style is cool and the beats had some originality to it. In other words, it wasn't mundane. I liked Fix Up, Look Sharp the best - the sampling of Billy Squier an unexpected twist. Overall good, not great. Worth a listen.

Vamos hoy martes nuevamente con alguien que desconozco por completo. Se siente un poco más darkie que otros proyectos o músicos del género que han aparecido en éste reto, así que de entrada me llamó más la atención. Sin mucho más para agregar ya que se trata de un género que no me convoca mucho, me despido. Hasta mañana

Decent but not my style.

Surprisingly good

Decent rap album - overall good time

Inte hunnit skriva riktigt men kul val av skiva. Albumet som tog grime från underjorden till listorna. Såg honom på Nef förra våren, makalöst bra. Andra hälften av albumet är bättre än första, anthemet "Jus' a rascal" och "Seems 2 be" är femstjärniga. Dom strippade hårt digitalt processade beatsen låter lite daterade, men det ligger också i sakens natur. Stark trea till Topboy

Bra driv även om det blir lite tungt med en hel timme grime. Finns inga andningspauser. Trea i de nedre regionerna.

I like his sound but I think I connect it too much to his really famous songs that I was then disappointed when I didn’t know any of the songs

Not really my type of music🫤

Nice to see some more diverse rap on this list. Overall this album was fine, nothing really stood out but the music wasn't all that bad.

I liked this quite a bit, just not enough to break the 3 star ceiling

Um starts out a little rough but grew on me for sure.

Really all over the place in a good way, although the beat selection was awful. 2,4,15 Rating: 2.55

pretty mid record. i enjoyed some specific songs, but for the most part, the beats are beyond ass and makes it borderline unlistenable sometimes. as a whole, i can pretty clearly see what some people might like about it, but i just don't think i'd ever wanna come back to this one other than a couple tracks. standout tracks: i luv u, seems 2 be

Nice selection

Fast and dynamic rap flows over crunchy electronica beats. The production in particular is a highlight. Every track is interesting. The rapping is really stylized too. Cool album. Unique sound.

Never heard of Dizzee before but it's a pretty cool sound. His voice is kind of silly sometimes and even reminds me a bit of Busta Rhymes but he's got that super characteristic British rap pronunciation. I really love how minimal "Fix Up, Look Sharp" is, it's kind of reminding me of "Yeezus" in a way (even though this came out a decade before), where the minimal music under the rapping is a very intentional choice and a cool contrast. Not that I'm comparing the two albums though. I have to admit the almost "yodel" pitch flip that is super prevalent in this British style rap is pretty overdone and almost annoying when it happens so many times over the course of a song. "Round We Go" is rife with it and it almost sounds like someone mocking British rap. I was ready to give this a 3 because I think the sound is pretty unique but by the end of "Round We Go" I really wanted to drop it down to a 2, but I think I'm just chalking it up to a bad track and not totally indicative of the rest of the album. I'm pretty conflicted with this one but I think it's a 3.

innit

This is quite a jarring record. Some of the content and style isn’t for me. It’s super repetitive and it’s abrasive as anything… but that kind of works for it? I thought I would hate it from the off, but it’s got so much attitude and personality, and some dirty, DIRTY beats. It won me over the more I listened despite it still not really being for me, and it not being something I’ll ever return to. The production is genuinely great. It’s so weird and unusual, it kind of doesn’t sound like anything else I’ve ever heard before. I like the voice over bits, the random noises and beeps, and those phat, disgusting beats as I mentioned. I love that something like this is on the list, rather than listening to another fucking Bruce Springsteen record or something. At least this is something genuinely different that I would never have listened to otherwise.

Hmmm British rap? Yep, sure nough! I'm actually really liking this. It's really different. The beats are almost like techno or edm. Lyrics are not your typical gangsta type lyrics. This is pretty cool!

This was supposed be right up my alley. I like rap and I think grime is very undervalued... but this is just not that good of an album. 3/5

Round We Go reminds me of The Going Gets Tough from the Get Go by Ween This should be 8-10 songs long.

Too many songs that were less than good, but an otherwise pretty good unique brit rap sound. Sounds like out takes from a Guy Ritchie movie.

Typically not a fan of this genre whatsoever, but this album was decent after the first track.

Propulsive kinetic beats and an angular staccato flow - the production draws on dark and heavy jungle style for a menacing edgy sound and rhythms that seem always off kilter, a step off, just catching up to steady themselves - toppled by the explosive force the verse.

Tja, ikke helt min gate. Fengende beats. Litt sånn sint gamal britisk rap der. Aldri hørt om, så artig oppdagelse

Pretty crazy beats. Idk what this bloke was on about though, I don’t speak British

I feel like where British rap takes off is in the backing tracks and beats. This is 2003, but it sounds very modern for being 22 years old. A lot of trap inspired tracks. And then just a lot of weird samples as well. This was super fun! The rhymes are fast and crisp. The energy is really high and moving throughout. This record rocks.

my fav genre, just not my fav in general

Fixed upish, looked sharpish.

nobody puts dizzee in da corner

grime isn't for everyone, I guess. still, undeniable quality despite being a grime album. 6/10

Not at all my thing, but probably fun at the club

Not my usual style but still pretty good

My initial listen I thought the music was chaotic. I'll need to listen again with a clearer brain

Appreciate the style and talent. Something I would add to a party playlist, but not something I'd listen to on my own.

This artist was new to me - pretty good! Solid 3.

Difficult to grade. Some really excellent sounds. Interesting content with really cool delivery. I found listening to a whole album of it quite tiring though. Maybe I would get more used to it? Wish it were 35 min

Auckland, Australia: do you like drum n bass?!

esta bueno, la version instrumental esta buena, tiene un par de canciones que estan candela

Love how busy all the songs are. Hilarous lyrics throughout too.

Well this was an interesting introduction to Grime music. Impressive that he did this when he was 16. Probably not something I'd go back to, but it was a solid listen. Kinda feels like it predicted Kanye's Yeezus a decade in advance. Yeezus wothout the industrial aspect. Cool stuff.

A little repetitive

Fast paced, choppy, rap in a Brit accent over new age grime music with a lot of xylophone, synthesized tuba, under water echoes, and submarine sounds makes for an interesting mix - but it’s only good for a song or two. I Luv U is the top track for me followed by Fix Up, Look Sharp. After a couple songs, Dizzee just sounds angry and repetitive. I listened to the instrumental version of Boy In Da Corner Facing Da Wall Wid A Dunce Cap On ‘Is ‘Edd and liked it better than the rap version; more listenable and less annoying. I can see why this album made the 1001 Must Hear List (first Brit rapper) but no need for me to explore further. (2.76*s) It’s possible you will get hit with a chair…

It’s dizzee you can’t go wrong with him.

With the usual caveat that the lyrics largely don't make it into my brain as I listen to these while working, this was solid. 3.3

This grated on me at first, but I can't back to it later and it grew on me a bit. This will not work if you're in the wrong mood for it, but it was ultimately pretty fun.

I actually didn't mind this. Which I thought I would've, given the other reviews, the idea of "grime", and, most of all, British people. It isn't stand-out or anything, but it's a solid enough album. The performance was good and production was well-done. I don't like annoying or purposefully-obnoxious backing vocals/effects, which some tracks on here have at the start, but once the real song kicks in, it wasn't too bad. I can see myself coming back to it later.

медленнее чем я ожидала по той одной песне что я помню, поэтому не так заводно и увлекательно

Meh, it was alright. I didn't like it as a whole album, but I would definitely listen to a few of the tracks from this on their own. Some were absolute BANGERS, like I Luv U. Probably won't revisit the album, but I'm glad I got some songs that I like out of it!

bagers but who's he threatening?

Kinda not bad, but ok.

Yeah, I remember when this came out, loved the energy and the raw beats, but if only I could hear what the hell he was rapping about... Never could sit through the whole album though, not then, and not now. Too much of the same and too chaotic. I do get why it's on this list though: a groundbreaking grime album bringing this (then) new style to the masses is quite an achievement. 3/5

I liked this, in smaller doses; I had to break up listening over two days, as it was all getting a little too much for me. Standout track was 2 Far. I like the energy and abrasiveness, but an hour is a little long. A low three.

კარგია. ფრანგული გეტოს ვაიბები წამოიღო ბრიტანული დუხით. მარტივი ინსტრუმენტალები, ვოკალის საინტერესო ფლოუსთან ერთად

I mean…I can see why some people like it, but I just can’t get into UK hip-hop.

Originally written and performed by Houmous & Chutney this was given to Dizzee when producers weren’t sure how well it would be received when performed by 2 aging white men from the UK. 2.8 9/15 Round We Go

Good

Not something I would have chosen for my own personal top 1001 albums list, but I'm sure it must have its fans.

⭐︎3.8 イギリスのラッパーとの初邂逅？ ゲーム音楽みたいな電子的なサウンド。 ひょうきんなボーカル。 メッセージ性はそこまで強くなさそう。 誰かとコラボしてる楽曲の方が印象に残った

British boy with Prince taste in music titles

I’m not gonna sit here and lie and say that it was all trash. There were some dope records on those project and some of the production was ahead of its time. So I give them props for experimenting with a unique sound (it might not have been unique in the UK but I’m American so idk). However, parts of it were unbearable to listen to but I’m still rating it a 3 due to the innovation of it.

Fun stuff with a few crackers!!!

Fix Up, Look Sharp

I find the beat really effects how much I enjoy UK Grime. This album was a little hit and miss. But overall a worth while experience.

Listening back to some of these was a real nostalgia trip, and the singles still slap. A whole hour of Dizzee Rascal was tough going though. It’s mad to think just how much this album broke through to the UK mainstream; it’s quite a hard listen if you’re not already bedded into the grime genre a little.

This was an absolutely bizarre combination of hip hop and electronic. It was the audio version of a circus side show. I did not expect to like this but I found it oddly entertaining.

He obviously has some flow and skill, but a lot of the beats and sampling on some of the songs got a little... annoying. But there was some good stuff on here, even the ones that were a little repetitive ("Jus' A Rascal"). Spotify said all of the songs were E for Explicit, but he was going so fan, I missed a lot of the curses and such. Fine, I guess? I had not heard of "grime music" until this, but that doesn't mean I am going to seek more. He was good, just not my thing. Top tracks: "Jus' A Rascal," "Sittin' Here," "Brand New Day," "Do It!"

Must have been revolutionary in 2003. The beats are heeeavy

Always happy to explore a new genre. Grime is like a fusion of hip hop and UK dance music. It was alright. Not very dynamic instrumentally. Lyrically just generic macho lyrics with some social realism sprinkled here and there. Still it was a good listen. Loved the tracks Sittin' Here, I Luv U, Fix Up Look Sharp and Jus' A Rascal.

Je peux comprendre l'attrait... mais ce n'est pas pour moi.

sure it's ok fine

Actually didn't mind this.

god i really don't like british rap. maybe it's not fair but i cannot take that seriously

I enjoyed quite a bit of this, but in the end it was just too long and I started liking it less and less. Still pretty decent all in all.

There's initially a lot of fun to be had with this one, but after a few tracks, you really start to feel the overproduction. Nothing is straight forward, and that makes it a bit of a chore to really lock in with. I don't mind complexity, but beats sliced and diced together in a DAW for the sake of being crazy with it doesn't appeal to me too much. Also, the vocals felt a tad buried in the mix all throughout the album. I almost thought I had an issue with my speakers.

Dizzee played a major role in getting grime off the ground, and for that I give him his due, but I don't hold him in as high an esteem as some of his contemporaries.

I didnt mind this. Pretty innovative for 2003. 3/5

5/10 There was some stuff on here that I did really like, and it’s clear that this has had a significant impact on the emergence of the grime scene and the empowerment of disenfranchised people, which is only to be applauded. That alone makes its place on this list valid. But from a personal point of view, I found the production of quite a few tracks to be grating. There were some odd choices to have some elements of tracks dominate the mix to an extent that they were distracting from what was a decent track underneath. There were also times when the repetitively of a track just made it tiring to listen to. A two or four bar loop for 4 minutes without much variety around it just doesn’t do it for me. I often found myself thinking that if the vocal was more prominent and there was a bit more variety between verse and chorus, I would appreciate some of these tracks much more. When he got it right, though, there were some really good moments. Fix Up, Look sharp, Round We Go, Jus’ A Rascal were all great tracks, for example. I feel like if this had a more experienced hand in the producers chair and if the album had been stripped back to 10 tracks, this could have really floated my boat more than it ended up doing. Sittin’ Here - There are bits about this that I like, the overlapping vocals, the cadence of the beats, but the main melodic hook does just get a bit tiring after a while. Could do with more variety. Stop Dat - More variety on this one. The tonal elements seem a bit disjointed, but the focus is always on the vocals, beats and bass, which is always the main driver in this type of music. I Luv U - There’s more structure to this one and it probably works better because of it. I’m not massively keen on some of the sounds, but it’s a decent track. He self produced this age 16. Brand New Day - There’s a bit of theme building now. The synth bell tones that kind of dominate the mix just don’t do it for me. Under that there’s a pretty decent tune, but it is getting swallowed a bit by something that is slightly annoying and too much of a focus. 2 Far - It’s less dominant here, but there is a ‘Uh-Uh’ sample that is too loud in the mix and too relentless. I actually really like the track apart from that, the flow of the rapping is great and it’s got a good bet, but that sample is so distracting. Fix Up, Look Sharp - This is much better. The mix isn’t dominated by anything annoying. The vocals sit front and centre, the beat is beefy, if simple, the structure is good. Nice. Cut ‘Em Off - The production gives this an interesting vibe. It’s dark and brooding with a layer of aggression. Not bad, but perhaps a bit too repetitive. Hold Ya Mouf - I like this one. The beat has got a groove and there’s a bit more variety to different sections of the track. That being said, the melodic motif that runs through the duration is a bit annoying, but less dominant than on other tracks. Round We Go - Back to having a bit more of a sectional structure here and it really helps. Tracks like this one are the best ones on the album. Good grooves, great vocals and enough variety to keep things interesting. Jus’ A Rascal - This is a banger. Aggressive and driving. Wot U On? - Decent tune. That kick drum / bass is too much though and it’s quite long and relentless because of it. Jezebel - This one’s a bit annoying. The lilt of the beat/vocal/pizzicato strings just jars with me a bit. Seems 2 Be - This was ok. I feel like the nature of the album is starting to drag on me now though, to be honest. It’s not got a great deal of variety to it. Live O - Another one with an over-loud and repetitive element that dominates the mix. Does that high-pitched tone need to be that loud and insistent? Do It - I really like the vocal in this one, but I’m definitely getting to the point of being tired out by the musical content being a two bar loop that just repeats for the duration.

I'm not a huge rap fan, and I have very little experience with British rap, so I'm not exactly a credible source. That said, I didn't love the lyrical content, but I think the flow, beats, and instrumentation hold up.

Quite enjoyed some tracks. Very interesting background to this album. Funny to think I used to come home from (catholic) school as a 13 year old white kid and listen to this shit. “You got a problem blad? Les solve it blad!”

Bit one dimensional and a bit long, but the production was cool and it's pretty unique.

A modern British classic, definitely bought the attention to Uk hip hop and showed there was more to England than Brit pop

Top word is GRIME

British rap always drops down a peg for me but this was pretty decent

Actually, more entertaining and less annoying than its genre, but, it is rap.

I like the beat, I like the flow, the singing style and accent is hard to make out sometimes, but I could see this growing on me.

cool cool coolcool cool vcool cool vcool vcool cool cool coolcoolcool cooliooooooooooooo

This is the first albums I've listened to in this project and I think it was a good start. It's not something I'm used to listen to but I liked most of the songs. I also didn't know that "grime" is the name of this genre before I searched about it and I'm being part of this project because I want to expand my music knowledge, so this was a good start :)

Best Song: I Luv U. This is the kind of high-energy, in your face vibe that I'm looking for in a grime track. Worst Song: Jezebel. This kind of slow and bouncy track is exactly the kind of thing I don't like. Overall: It's fun, and there are a few songs on here that absolutely buzz, but there are too many middling tracks for it really to stand out.

Wanted to like this more, just cause of his name and ignorant cockney shtick. Production and rapping borderline wimpy however.

I remember when this was released and nothing sounded like it. It spawned a lot of imitators and it hasn’t aged well

Fun, but a little drab.

Der er meget godt ved det her. Det er den lidt for hurtige udgave af Mike Skinner, jeg er godt underholdt. Hiphop som ikke virker dateret er imponerende, især efter alt det vi har hørt at gammelt lårt vi har hørt indtil nu. Kæmpe 3er.

Til tider sjovt. Men fangede aldrig helt.

Interesting listen but got tiring after a while. Had first heard of him when they played Bonkers in the Kingsman movie. I cannot take this or a lot of British hip hop seriously though.

Fun. Instrumentals are worth the listen alone. Familiar with the hits but not the full album. Don't think I'll return to it, but again, fun.

Not really wasy listening.. I appreciate the vibe but it is not my style..

Not really my kind of music but I can appreciate the talent and why it was a big deal for the time it was released.

Great album. Can kinda blend into the same sound sometimes but very good for a Frist album. Some classic bangers 3/5

British rap very modern for its time. I enjoyed it. Not much else to say

While I can appreciate the concept behind it, this thing was not nearly as enjoyable as it could have been due to the content. Have to give props for basically kick starting a genre, but not the first artist I'll probably never listen to (on purpose) again due to some of the subject matter. It's a good 'struggling getting older and dealing with it all' album, but I can't listen to it with my son around.

this genre as a whole isn't my thing, but within that, this is okay. decent achievement. I liked I Luv U

2.9 2x

An alright album, but not my usual style.

Good, much less cheesy than Bonkers

Jarring and chaotic at times. Enjoyed this album. Will have to listen to it more to get a stronger opinion.

Not terrible but not super memorable. Last song had a lot of angst.

First track I liked, 2nd track I didn’t like, listened no further

I like the fusion between hip hop and EDM. I enjoyed it but only as background music. If I was off my head on pingers, then it would probably be a 5!

2.8

на любителя.

This seems like middle-of-the-road hip-hop. Some of the beats/loops are pretty interesting, but overall there was nothing that really did much for me. 2.5 stars.

Not for me

I knew Fix Up, Look Sharp and Jus' A Rascal before going into this and that Dizzee was precociously young when this came out. It's sonically inventive and more interesting than most grime I've heard but over the course of 15 tracks it is a bit jarring and cold. I did like there's a bit of heart and positivitiy to end on with Do It! but overall I wasn't bonkers about it.

liked this more than i thought i would

Not my favorite.. I like the beat though.. so 3 stars

It's got some energy which I can appreciate Will I listen to again: 2%

Used to love it. Half the song are actually a bit crap

Initially was really into this, but each song ended up overstaying its welcome. Ended up being good, not great, because of that. 3/5

I will admit that this is the first British hip hop I’ve been able to listen to without imaging everyone with pinkies up sipping tea between takes and I respect the mark it made, but no thanks!

Впечатляющий продакшн, до сих пор звучит очень интересно. Большой альбом в мире ю-кей грайма, который дал дорогу многим замечательным людям. Моя претензия к альбому - в какой-то затянутости что ли. Всего треклиста, так и отдельных песен. Лучшая песня - Jus' a Rascal.

Good example of rap but not my thing

2.5/5

Turns out I like grime a lot more than I do your typical Kanye or Eminem. think I'd need to be in the right mood for this, but fortunately I was today.

How is this 22 years old now, that can't be right?? I remember being a kid in secondary school when Dizzee Rascal first hit the charts, and boy did I not like it then. I don't know if time has mellowed me or if nostalgia is playing a part, but this honestly wasn't as bad as I remember - still not my thing, but I respect the art and what he's doing. This is not something I'd go back to, but it's not awful.

Uk Grime. It's a tad annoying at times but it still sounds fresh and different. Not my genre by you have to admire the gusto.

Не очень

I was dreading this, but it ended up being kinda alright/average-ish and I didn’t hate everything.

Something about the accent just wouldn’t let me get into this.

first listen i'm not sold on grime yet

This wasn't awful, but some of the songs got a little too Bri-ish for me. Definitely not the worst music I've heard, but I didn't love it. 2.7/5

It's a pretty cool record and, honestly, quite ahead of its time in many ways. And maybe it's because I associate "UK Rap" with its more recent 2010s boom, but I found Dizzee's rapping style to be quite innovative, especially for 2003. The other visionary aspect has got to be the house-tinted production here, which, on songs like 'Wot U On?', sounds like the popular industrial rap of the 2010s. 'Stop Dat' has some horror-core elements and is easily the most insane production here, firing on all cylinders with those constant switch-ups. I also really enjoyed the following 'I Luv U', with that petty back-and-forth between the two MCs - it was satisfying to listen to. Unfortunately, it was the album's length that bothered me the most. There are satisfying braggadocious rhymes for days, like on 'Fix Up, Look Sharp', but it seems like every song here had Dizzee airing his grievances about a significant other or friends he deems to be fake. On some songs, it works, but nearing the end, it gets redundant and tiresome. 'Jezebel', while somewhat insensitive, serves a decent cautionary tale and lyrical switch-up nearing the end of the record. I feel similarly about the introspective closer 'Do It!'. And while I think the production on this album was ahead of its time in many ways, its clunkiness and rudimentary nature bleed through on many of these songs. The closer 'Do It!' was amazing though, with its gorgeous and almost proto-cloud-rap beat. The hooks were occasionally annoying - but certain ones grew on me like the back-and-forth of 'Wot u On?'. And I just couldn't hate the hook of 'Jus' a Rascal' considering just how ridiculous it was. The album aged both well and poorly at the same time. While there were some enjoyable moments, and the rapping was genuinely solid, its length ultimately wore me out. There just wasn't enough variety in the beats and lyrical themes to justify its nearly hour-long runtime. Sorry.

Different Rap.

Es interesante el grime cómo subgénero, aunque al menos en este disco puede ser un tanto tedioso. Por otro lado, es gracioso leer a los gringos quejarse por la influencia del hip-hop.

Some bangers but quite repetitive for me.

Not sure how this managed to make it into the list, but I will admit it did sound fresh and different in 2003. I Luv U, Fix Up Look Sharp, and Jus a Rascal are excellent, yes they are, and there are others that would rate above average too. But a Top 1001 album? I doubt it.

I didn't hate this as much as everyone else on here

Sure, let's load this list with 20 different UK rappers but there's still no Madvillainy or Lemonade.

Overall: 6/10 Starts off strong but this is a pretty long album and his style gets old pretty fast. Still glad I listened to it cause the good songs are awesome! Fav Song: Stop Dat Least Fav Song: Wot U On?

This was a lot of grime. Had its moments though and just snuck a 3

Pretty good, I liked the first half more than the second. Kind of odd to see this in the list, I wouldn't have rated it as that good / significant. I suspect it might be cut in future editions of the book, we'll see. Still, I had fund listening to it.

Some good tracks, some filler. Hasn't aged that well. Some of the DnB remixes if his tracks are way better than the originals, he should have collaborated with a DnB DJ.

I don’t like his voice, but it’s alright overall.

I want to give it 4* to spite the confused Yanks but realistically I won't be back so it doesn't hit the threshold. It's not my music but an excellent example of grime and does have tracks I'd save even if I'm not inclined to hear the entire thing again

Now I know where Die Antword got their sound. Danced to so many of his songs in the early 2000s.

Not my fave

Good beats and smooth synthizer grooves. Not as earthy as Sly & Robbie dubs, but still okay

Delightfully jarring and glitchy and unpretentious, like an old Grand Theft Auto game. Didn’t care for it at first but liked it by the end. I haven't heard anything quite like it before, but if you asked me to imagine rap music of the future, even today, I might have imagined a less cohesive version of this. I can't believe it came out in 2003, but I was an American kid listening to indie rock so this wasn’t really on my radar. Jus' A Rascal and Brand New Day are great.

I liked the middle portion of this but thought the beginning and end dragged a bit. Interesting samples and cool energy, but not sure I'd return to the whole album. 3 stars.

A very raw album with only samples as backing, which allows you to extra concentrate on Dizzy’s high pitched, gasping flow.

Good but a bit much

This whole album was so fun to listen to. Very upbeat and gets you hyped

This album grew on me. Weird at first but started vibe with it after a few tracks. I had only every heard some of his newer stuff so it's cool to see where he started.

I got this album when it came out because I loved the lead single 'Fix Up Look Sharp', and because I thought it might prove an accessible intro to grime. I have subsequently become a little more grime savvy, but I still have a soft spot for much of this album. 'I Luv U' is the kind of song that annoys with its nagging hook, but subsequently sticks in the memory. Boy In Da Corner is full of such moments. It's not all fantastic listening, but Rascal's flow is solid and there are some tasty beats here. Not bad at all.

Pretty good album by my Bonkers guy. Honestly, I had no idea he had any other songs than Bonkers, actually. Boy In Da Corner is a nice example of british rap being at the same level as american (although few years too late).

Thoughts before listening: British hip-hop from the early 00s. I remember this being a big deal but it was never really my thing. Review: This reminds me quite a bit of the Streets who I believe came from the same scene and who I did actually listen to quite a bit. The British accent lets Dizzee Rascal distinguish from other rappers and the music has a different vibe than what US rappers were doing at the same time. Not necessarily my favorite thing ever but I like it fine. 3-stars

I enjoyed the beats of the first few but that enjoyment fell off for me after that. It wasn’t too bad, though some songs were Rating: 3.2

An assault on the ears, in kind of a good way. Not sure I'll look for it again, since it seems weird for the sake of being weird.

3.5 It was a love hate thing lol

I’ve never properly listened to drill, and I don’t regularly listen to hip hop, but I can see the appeal. It’s for sure showing its age, but at the time it was a burgeoning genre.

Enjoying this--cuz I'm just sittin' here, lis'nin' here (lol).. Hard though to get past that first cut (skipped the second). Back on track with I Luv U, dizzyingly twisting around that techno beat. The eerie bells ringing through Brand New Day are hypnotic. The rest is pretty hypnotic too and grabs me. Pulls some beats out of the bottom of the bag you thought must be empty.

Rick Ward (a friend to some of us in the group) introduced me to this when it first came out. Fix Up Look Sharp is still a favorite. And I like the album fine. It’s a solid 3.

British hip-hop with its own recognisable sound. Not bad, but it doesn't really click with me. I think I'm more into Oldskool hip-hop, and less the kind you hear emanating from lowered Toyota Celicas. I can see it's well made, bonus point for that.

Just not my jam, really - obviously remember Fix Up Look Sharp and Jus' a Rascal because they were quite big at the time, but don't have any recollection of the rest and don't feel like I've missed out. Dizzee has a really distinctive voice, great flow, but it doesn't translate into great music imo, there's something missing that doesn't grab me. 3/5, can appreciate there's something there and it's the start of a much bigger movement, but not really a grime guy.

Really wanted to like this album more, and Fix Up, Look Sharp is a good tune, but the rest of the album was just OK. When other Dizzee Rascal songs came on after the album finished, it really highlighted that he has better tunes out there.

British rap from 2003? I expected this to be shit, and it kinda was. But I can still dig it. A couple catchy tracks, but ultimately I finished my first listen with no desire/intention to give it another, which is rare for me. On the positive side, I learned what Grime is. 3/5 Highlights: I Luv U Brand New Day Jus’ a Rascal

Not my favourite grime album, but I wagwaned all over my chair when I saw it generated Heard it before, but a good ting about aging is you keep forgetting tings. I forgot what this album was like Nothing special except 2 Far

Langt forud for sin tid, elsker den her produktionsstil. Men det bliver repetitivt, den her plade sku nok have været 20 minutter kortere

Great energy, but it's a bit long innit?

Fix up. Look sharp. Was never really my thing but the album is better than I remembered to be fair. I also feel the need to slightly round up here to counterbalance all the reviews claiming that UK hip-hop is shit. Firstly because it isn’t, but also because this ain’t it. This is grime. It’s like saying Blur proves that UK grunge was shit. I can’t really in good conscience go above 3 but happy to go that far. OOOOOOOOOYYYYY!!!

Conceptually cool and feels like a missing step in rap history that helps explain Danny Brown (who I love), but I just don’t personally enjoy this one.

maybe not my thing but its creative and weird. some big hooks and wild beats. "jezebel" sucks tho

I vaguely remember this one from the early 2000s. I see why critics liked it so much. It was just different and cool compared to popular rap at the time. I like Just a Rascal. It was a fine listen but I won’t be rushing back to this one.

Grime alltså. Visste inte att det kallades så. Det är helt klart värt det i en låt eller två. Sen börjar man känna att jag nej men nu kan jag det här. Förstår att jag inte är målgruppen. Men att lära sig nytt.

Jämfört med LL Cool J är ju det bättre. Överlag är det inte svinbra, men helt klart ett steg upp. Fix up, look sharp har jag på min hiphop-lista sen länge. Sen blir det en smula tjatigt detta grime-sound.

Jag kan uppskatta grime i lagom doser, men över nästan 60 min blir det lite för mycket. Bitvis är det dock bra, eller snarare coolt i sitt unika uttryck. Pluspoäng också för att Dizzee är en bra rappare. Tycker sista låten Do it! är bäst.

I remember more richness to those songs. Still an original sound though.

Good

Started well but bit too grimy for me by the end

I’m at a 3.5 that I’m gonna bump down to a 3. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever been more disappointed in an album after listening to it like I was with this one, but it’s not because it’s outright bad. I think it’s good, but it’s in desperate need of several tweaks that, with a bit of time and a bit more outside input, could catapult this into great. I really wanted to give this a 4, but I just can’t. Let me just give some positives first: there are some great tracks on here. When he’s flowing, and the instrumentals are rolling, this album hits really well, and I can see exactly how it captivated British audiences in 2003 – it’s incredibly risky, rather unique, and taking a swing like this is pretty cool. When it hits, it hits, and it does hit kinda often. There’s one tiny little problem. I did not like most of the instrumentals on this album. I loved a lot of the lyrics and flow, and I honestly love what it’s trying to do with this bass-heavy, scratchier, synth-driven minimalist style. It just needed more time to cook in the oven. I can recognize that part of it is my musical sensibilities not agreeing with Dizzee Rascal’s, but like… there were 7 tracks out of 15 where I said “the lyrics are great, the flow is great, but the beat needed more to it” or something similar to that. It just felt like a few more instruments would’ve given some tracks some more depth in a way that would’ve made them click more. The most egregious example to me is the last track, “Do It!”, which has some genuinely great and honest lyricism, arguably the most introspective stuff on the album, and worthy of being the closer… with a really obnoxiously bad beat on top of it. It doesn’t fit at all, and that sort of incompatibility between the lyrics and the instrumentals permeates too much of this album for me to give it a 4. I don’t think this is bad, and I certainly think someone else will enjoy these beats more, but for as much as I really want to give this the benefit of the doubt, I just have to bump it down to a 3. It’s only disappointing because it’s so damn close to being so goddamn good. Just a shame. Very solid 3, though.