Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Ja wat zal ik zeggen, zitten leuke nummers tussen maar toch niet helemaal voor mij, rap achtig maar ook wel cool
Ooo I believe the second grime album we're getting after Skepta. Grime goes so hard sometimes. It's not allllll good but certainly entertaining and interesting. Think I liked that Skepta album more but this was still pretty solid. High 3 closing on a 4.
britit oli tässä ulottuvuudessa kyllä vitusti jäljessä.. vai edessä? hmmm... jos olisi amerikkalainen niin 1 tähti. mutta herra kuulostaa niin vitun hauskalta että ylimääräset sijoitukset annetaan aksentille. tämä kaveri tietää kadut... streetz... biisit hittailee ja missailee miltei toistuvasti. Two plus two is four Minus one that's three, quick maths Everyday man's on the block Smoke trees (Ah) See your girl in the park That girl is a uckers When the ting went quack-quack-quack You man were ducking (You man ducked) seems kaksi be
I really like the beats and I used to really like Dizzee Rascal (not as a person obviously - it seems like so many artists have done bad things!), but his music seems to have lost some of its appeal for me. Rating: 3
I was worried at first because I hated the last British rap/grime record I got. And the first track didn’t leave me much hope, but honestly, this grew on me. It was more creative and weird than the last one, and you could tell this had the energy of a young kid just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what worked. It didn’t all work, but I respected him going big. He has an interesting oddball rap voice. It’s not something I’d probably return to too much, but it’s definitely something I would have never listened to on my own, which is the purpose of this list!
Starting out hating this album. It grew on me though and was worth a few listens.
It was ok - prefer others in the genre more....
Liked it more than I thought I would but it got a bit repetitive.
Крайне необычный альбом в плане инструментала. Рэп слушается тяжело и не очень цепляет, но эксперимент любопытный. Первый трек из альбома напомнил современные треки типа Скриптонита (что-то напоминало рэп 10-ых годов).
I was never a big Dizzee Rascal fan back in the day, but he did undoubtedly have some great songs. This is my first time listening to a whole album of his, and while it is almost an hour long, I didn't find it dragging. The sound of it was very revolutionary for the time, a new fusion golf UK garage, jungle and hip hop, which makes it very unique and distinct from US hip hop. It also kick started the whole grime genre, for better or worse (some would say it ended up becoming very monotious by the end of the decade). I haven't come across anything from this generator that sounds like it yet. Having said all that, there's still some immature shit on here, a bit of sexism and violent bragidoccio. He was a teenager when he wrote this though, so I guess that explains some of it. Not something I'd be in a rush to listen to again, but very deserving of a place in the book.
Day243 - beats are good the lyrics are hit and miss
oh look the guy from temptation greets you like your naughty friend, dont really like his rapping bit in a rock song.. but lets give it a shot in another context yeah not really my thing, but giving it a 3 for appreciation for its artistry and innovation
This had a pretty cool, lo-fi vibe and it was interesting hearing a perspective in hip hop that I’m not familiar with.
He's just a rascal, dizzzzzyyyyy rascallllll. Enjoyed fix up look sharp and jus a rascal. The rest not so much. The rest wasnt really my bag it was just OK. Its albums like this i wish we had a 10 star rating.
Nine songs in his voice is grating on my ears.
Was just Sittin’ Here listening to this and thought, you would have to be Jus’ a Rascal to not listen to this.
Liked it, some features not so much
Like Bert Janch yesterday, I respect Dizzee Rascal for the pioneering influence I’m told he had over his genre. In truth I’m more likely to stick Bert’s debut on for enjoyment in future, but I’d say I was engaged by Dizzee’s roughly half the time. The tracks with more tentative, icy production (Sittin’ Here, Brand New Day, Jezebel etc) grabbed my attention the most, and provided space for his more reflective lyrics to shine.
Mixed bag of an album. The electronic music is very apparent and also very UK. The tracks where the production is taking a front seat are my favorites. I typically prefer US hip hop to UK, so it's no shock to me that some of these tracks didn't work for me. There's enough interesting ideas on this album to make me glad I checked it out, though.
I had fun. Wasn’t great, but good enough. Best songs were “Jus’ a Rascal” and “Do It!”. Worst was “Live O”. Don’t believe I’ll be listening again. The production was great, but lacked a low end that would have made this album really shine. The lyrics could have used some work as well as the flow. The lack of any sort of chorus made the album as a whole feel forgettable. If “Do It!” just had a simple looped R&B sample or old one of an old doo-wop hit, I genuinely believe people would recognize this artist. Overall, choices weren’t bad, but they could have been better. 3/5
It was okay.
Ok this was terrible my first pass through admittedly but it grew on me. I don't think I'll ever have true hip hop fandom especially grime/drill, but I can appreciate it's recognition and importance in the development of this genre.
Scent rap album but rap is just not my thing
Some good UK-specific drill beats, but Dizzee's flows and bars are average at best on this. It's prob not fair to compare the two, but US rap in the 90's was already more imaginative than this.
mais ou menos
I liked it a lot at first, but I got bored after a few songs. 3/5
not my taste
I liked it, but I was also ready for it to be over.
Goes hard af, not necessarily my cuppa tea but can't deny he's got style
This was good, nothing mind blowing, I liked some of the beats but after a while really could not concentrate on what I was coding while he was screaming. Reminds me of Danny Brown.
How times change. What appeared confrontational and scary twenty years later is a hoot and a straightforward listen. Solid three stars, though three tracks too long.
Borderline 4
Surprised I had never heard of this. Really enjoyed.
This was not what I was expecting. Thought it was country artist. May not last long on this. Eh this first song is alright. I get it. Not my style.
The closest I've come to liking uk grime
3.5 Solid game changing album.
Not my thing
I was won over by this. Very inventive and charmingly witty in places. I appreciate the work that's gone into this, but it's not a genre I'm going to turn to often, so only 3 stars. Favourite tracks: 2 Far, Fix up, Look Sharp, Cut 'em off.
He goes hard. I might appreciate this more with a few more close listenings but the first blush didn't grab me.
This one was out there. I had to do some digging to find out this genre is "Grime" which is an appropriate name. Realizing he was 16ish when he produced this album is super impressive. Overall, not something I'm going to likely want to listen to again, but super original blend of rap/EDM/dance music.
3.5
Boy in da Corner might be one of the most different albums here! Grime is not a genre I've even heard of, but it appears to be mostly a combination of hip hop and electronic music. The beats, as the kids say, were sick. I did hear a lot of creativity, but sometimes it came across as plain weird. Some of the additional vocalists rubbed me the wrong way, but Dizzee Rascal's voice was fine to me. 2.5, rounding up for creativity.
It might seem a little off brand, but I quite liked Dizzee Rascal as a teen. I heard Stand Up Tall (not on this album) on a soundtrack somewhere and I loved it. Listening to this album today, I did quite enjoy the storytelling, but the inflections in the rapping definitely sound odd. I think that American hiphop has jaded me too much and made UK hiphop confuse me. Anyway, I did still like this but I’m not sure I’ll be coming back for seconds.
Well blow me away. I remember this coming out and hating it. Never really got on with grime in general. Listening back now, I'm pleasantly surprised. Some of the backing tracks are great, almost sound Aphex Twin-esque. When he calms down a bit with the rapping it actually sounds really great. Tracks like Cut em off, Jezebel and Do It are very enjoyable. This is offset somewhat by the OTT ones, like stop dat, just a rascal etc. Mixed bag, the lows are low but the highs are high. Will listen to some of these again for sure.
He certainly is one dizzy rascal, that's for sure. So, this is grime. I have never been fully exposed to grime and only heard a track here and there, though I had heard of Dizzee Rascal. I don't think this is my type of music, as it may be too busy for me. The sound and beats are original, so points for that. If this book is going to cover all forms of music, then grime needs to be included and this album is a good example of that genre. I really do not have anything bad to say about this album. It's not my kind of music.
Has its moments
I remember hearing Diz absolutely destroy some mumble rappers on an American radio show a few years back: his flow was like some crazy future gear by comparison. I find this record a challenge to sit through as a whole though, works better in smaller doses imo.
3.5 Pressed play expecting hip hop, per the generator, and got aggressive dance music. Got a little more hip hop in the middle, but I liked the beats and flow on the dance-y tracks more. Adding Sittin' Here, I Luv U, and Jus' a Rascal to the rotation.
Certainly wasn’t feeling this in the beginning but by the end I kinda understood why it was well received. 2.5/5
Liked it much more than I thought I would. Nice Billy Squier sample. Tempted to give it 4 stars.
3.2 - There are portions that I think are really great, and I think it would be higher rated for me if they cut some of the filler
I liked this album a lot when it first come out, but it doesn't hit the same now
Was decent. I don’t know how much British hip-hop really resonates with me though.
STREET FIGHTER DIZZEE RASCAL YEAH. It's weird that I've been getting a lot of patterns with this site lately of albums I've just recently been listening too. I listened to street fighter first which is so punchy and fun with the 16 bit sample. The album as a whole is quite a bit darker but not in a bad way. I hear a lot of igloosghost style instumentation and i'm sure this was influential to the scene as a whole. Fix up, look sharp is a such a hype song. Brand New Day and Sittin' Here have some great hooks/flows. Jezebel is an interesting string plucked focused instrumental but fits with this louder dark beat. My only issue with this album is that it's a little bloated. A lot of tracks and some feel more filler while the killer songs are killer.
Great production and beats. Highly listenable!
Grime might get a bad wrap on this website (also: Skepta, The Streets), but it’s not my favourite thing in the world, either. It took until “Jus’ a Rascal” for me to admit, y’know, I might be enjoying this erratic, headache-inducing album. Rascal’s energy is infectious even if his verses kinda blend together after an hour, but I think his production is the real winner here. Yesterday’s Tangerine Dream made me think of video game music, and so does this (albeit a much different game); the bouncy synths in “Sittin’ Here”, “Brand New Day”, “2 Far”, and “Do It” are chock-full of personality. — Aha, I knew it! in the deluxe version he samples the game Street Fighter 👾 HL: “Sittin’ Here”, “Stop Dat”, “Brand New Day”, “Fix Up, Look Sharp”, “Jus a Rascal” April 19, 2024
поначалу это не вкатывает жестко, но это старый грайм. хорошо помню как подростком слушал грайм саундклауд реперов, был еще MC NO LIMIT, который даже на версусе тусовался альбом непростой, как любой другой альбом зарождающегося жанра, но я кайфанул
More like a 3.5. Sittin' Here, I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp, and Jezebel are all time favorite songs for me, but the entire album is a bit long and it feels like 2-4 songs could have been cut.
Starts off strong but the grime beats wear you down after a while.
Tää brittiräppi on vähän liian taustoiltaan aggressiivista mulle, mutta flow on Dizzeella hyvin ilahduttava. Ei jätä mulavaa oloa muttei negatiivisia tunteitakaan. Hyvää kävelyyn ja ehdottomasti kuuntelemisen arvoinen, sanoisin
Me and me Uncle Jamal blast Dizzee before we battle with the EastStaines Massif.
2.5. I can appreciate its unique sound, but I just feel like it's not really my thing.
Goes alright. Fix Up, an absolute slapper.
A bit rough and messy, but enjoyed some beats
Dizzee Rascal has his own particular sound, which I enjoyed in the first half, but there are so many tracks that are somewhat chaotic though similar. 3.3 stars rounded down.
I mean its ok, but not the best rap/hiphop artist/album
Unique with a nice flow. Not as obnoxious as a lot of US rap gets.
Solid little drill album. UK rap is always fun.
The first grime record I ever listened to. Historically interesting.
Didn’t love it didn’t hate it
Interesting beats and flow, though a bit repetitive at times and grows abrasive after awhile.
Disjointed and disorienting like the first time I heard it 15 years ago
This sort of rapping I can handle.
My first thought was that this feel like a generic 2010 album and then i saw that was 2003. maybe i'm not not that in touch with hip hop production but it feels ahead of it times. I barely register lyrics so i judge more on the melodic flow of the rap combined with the beat. I actually like the timbre British rap has. one thing that kinda sticks out to me is, if you wanna appear tough why stutter and rap like you are a middle schooler in a argument. Enjoyed it more than i expected but maybe it is because i'm more used to american hip hop and this feels fresh because i'm not that exposed to UK grime and Drill.
First time through I never get rap lyrics, but the mix is great
This one isn't for me but I respect it and the style. Might grow on me with more listens.
This was… interesting, to say the least. Oftentimes you can pinpoint when a record dropped through the production alone but that is definitely not the case here. The beats are so weird, toeing the line between incredibly amateur, simple boom bap type beats and futuristic, experimental stuff that wouldn’t be out of place on a modern Danny Brown or JPEGMAFIA record. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite rap album, and im definitely not a huge fan of grime considering I barely understood the lyrics on most of this, but I can definitely see how this might have influenced a lot of artists in the rap / grime scene. The beats and flows were definitely the highlight here for me, and this is one I’ll definitely be thinking about for a while.
Grime does not really interest me, but there is definite talent and skill here. Not something I would actively seek out, but I wouldn't turn it off either.
Dizzee has always been a rapper that I appreciate the talent, but not for me. The rhyme scheme and cadence of his lyrics is disjointed and I don’t enjoy it. The off-beat backing tracks are interesting but don’t make me want to dance. He’s a talented musician but still a 3/5 for me.
Crazy that this was his first album. It is a fully formed, british rap album. The lyrics are poetic, angry, and imaginative. I saved the parts of this album I would listen to again.
British rapper. Kind of hard to understand, but fun enough.
I know little to no rap outside of America but I thought this was pretty good. Some creative and dark beats on here
It’s just hard for me to take British rap seriously with the accents. I know that’s unfair but it sounds so corny to me. Some absolutely fire beats though.
It was fine
pretty cool, interesting beats. 3.6.
a hard listen but i get the vision. it’s kinda like the garden but painfully british. loses a star for the accent.
Not my usual style. Didn’t do much for me.
Don't love most rap/hip-hop, but this was good stuff.
I like the creative rhythms and the way some of their words rhyme differently, but the lyrics and style, not totally my thing
By all accounts. I feel like I should like this quite a lot. But. It's not really doing it for me. DRs later stuff is much more up my alley. This carnival ride is still quite a lot of fun though
Absolute nostalgia trip for Goof, less so for Dork. Should be acknowledged as a hugely pioneering album from grime and full of absolute bops, especially Fix Up Look Sharp.
Good skills from Dizzee here. 3.5 stars
I was expecting to hate this a lot more than I thought. Maybe it's the novelty of the British accents that adds a bit of charm and makes it seem more amusing than anything. Maybe it's a nice respite from the other rap on this album that hasn't aged as well. I mean I feel like some of this hasn't aged well either but the British accents make it seem less offensive?
molto in anticipo sui tempi
I had a really hard time taking this guy seriously, which is probably terrible of me but this music was just odd. I could not get in the groove of it
Some interesting beats and a unique sound, but I didn’t enjoy a lot of the songs
Oli odotuksia levyä kohtaan koska grime ja tykkään Dizzeestä. Ihan jees, ei mikään tajunnanräjäyttävä. Kuunnelluimat kappaleet oli parhaimmat ja kanssa oikeesti hyviä. Muuten aika tasapaksua grimeä
This is 100% a personal failing of mine, but I cannot take British people rapping seriously. I couldn’t figure out why, but then my brother pointed out that it sounded like Big Shaq or RS and if you know their songs then you know what I mean. I don’t know how unique this album was when it came out, but I like the beats and the style, and I appreciated the lyrics. But gee… that English accent…
This album is a foundational grime album featuring beats with a strong UK garage influence. The flow is decent, but the album is just too long. I generally enjoy this style of music, but as I’m not too familiar with this subgenre, I found that the album dragged on a bit too long.
I bought this album in like... 2008? and today was the first time I've ever listened to it. I remember it winning the Mercury Prize and it piqued my interest, but evidently, not enough to actually listen to the album Today I thought, this album is pretty decent, i think the only negatives are that its probably at fault for a lot of the copy cat music that followed it, that aren't even close to the level of this album it's good, everything is of a similar level 3/5
This was ok, but dizzee isn’t as fun as Flo rider or as insightful as jay-z. It’s not as slick as OutKast, and it’s just there. Let’s not talk about Kanye, but dizzee isn’t in that league either. Another award winning forgettable album in a list that should not be about this. I suppose it shows the state of UK hip hop but why not look at French or Israeli or Australian hip hop? 2.5 rounded up.
I clearly remember when this dude was the new big thing for my kids. Pretty sure they went to see him at The Metro in Sydney when he finally toured here. Personally speaking, I’d never heard him before I listened to this album yesterday. It’s certainly not like anything I’ve heard before. The music is totally interesting on just about every track - the bells on Brand New Day, the strings on 2 Far, bass drum on Hold Ya Mouf, drums on Wot U On? and the choir on Jus’A Rascal. I love Jezebel - “She came with Natasha / But she’s leavin’ with Joe” - lyrically it’s outstanding. Dizzee’s vocal assault is a bit too much & a bit too repetitive for my taste. But the sound of this album is unique to my ears.
Not what I would expect from a Rap album- I guess it's a British viewpoint? It's more comical than hardedged and badass but at least it's novel.
Hell yeah some grime. I don't listen to grime often but every so often when it comes on it's some good stuff. It's kinda hard to dance to which is why it's not in my normal Q zone but I still get down with it.
It's not a bad album, but all British rap sounds exactly the same to me. I know it's rude but it just doesn't feel any different to anything before or after it
Didn't think that there would be a rap album in there, but why not after all?
I kind of remember when this album came out and had heard a few songs from it. An enjoyable and interesting album. the intensity of every song gets a bit tiring with the almost 60 min run time. 3.5
Interesting. I was not familiar with grime and really not sure what to make of it. Dizzee's rapping style is a little fast for my taste, preferring something a little slower and less hard, allowing room to absorb a little easier, but this is probably characteristic of the genre. However, I did really like the use of synth and beats. From a first time listen, I was really interested to hear what the next song was going to sound like.
Very unfamiliar with Dizzee Rascal and this album, but it obviously was an incredibly well received album from such a young and talented artist. Doesn't really resonate with me which is not surprising, but this album is obviously very good.
alright, production was really good and i can tell it influenced a lot of the experimental/glitchy production in rap today. dizzees actual rapping wasn't too interesting either it led to a lot of the songs sounding the same Rating - 5.8 Favs - I Luv U - Wot U On? - Jezebel
I am both intrigued and annoyed by this. The beats are closer to electronica, which makes it compelling, but they tend to be on the abrasive side. I can take it for a song or so, but a whole album is taxing.
Some neat sounds but in general perhaps grime ain't my thing.
Love the beats. The lyrics may be a little over my head. Like The Streets, this one may grow on me as I become more familiar with it.
Are there two words more fearsome and loathsome on this list than "British rapper?" Having been through the gauntlet of the Limp Bizkit album, I can certainly but the words "Chocolate Starfish" above it on the list Anyway, this album is about what you would expect it to be. British people haven't quite gotten the hang of rap yet, but, to be fair to them, they've only had the last 45 years to figure it out. I like some of the beats on this album, and the first couple of songs made it seem like this album might be worthwhile. Then it kept going and got thinner and thinner and thinner. 3/5 I think the beats were actually pretty cool for 2003, and I like the fusion of hip-hop with electronica. However, Tech N9ne was doing the same thing in 2003, and doing it much better
Better than I thought at the time.
3.7 - I love the grimey EDM beats as well as Dizzee's hard street accent. He balances these hard elements with somewhat softer subjects, mostly delving into dating and relationships. He complains about a clingy girlfriend on "Stop Dat", describes fluid liaisons on "Round We Go" and a promiscuous neighborhood chick on "Jezebel."
Glad to be introduced to an album I didn't hate of a style I normally do.
Definitely notable for bringing grime and UK rap to the world's attention. It was a unique album when first released. The single 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' is by far the best track, but the rest is a bit repetitive in my opinion.
3.75
Helt sqag de blev lite långt men hans röst va nice
Pretty goofy production. Fun album though
Not my thing again but this album starts off strong. So interesting the listen to, sonically interesting. You can tell the fella has talent. But half way through it starts to feel a little samey.
Hip hop moderno. Con voz enérgica y con fuerza. Variedad de sonidos y de ritmos. Para entusiastas.
Dizzy is fun for a bit.
Bridges the gap between garage and grime, without fully falling in either. Changed the game for UK hip-hop, not entirely for the better. Biggest song was then sampled by scroobius pip for a song about songs, which was better than anything here! But without his success, there may not have been scroob, or akala, or low-key, or stormzy - so thanks dizzee!
Mmmm Rap con acento "old tea British". Me han gustado "Stop Dat", "Brand new day" y "Fix up, look sharp". Habrá que buscar más cosas suyas.
It’s always interesting to hear how people from other countries have interpreted and created new versions of American style music. Such as the manic minimalist hip-hop of Dizzee Rascal. Remember hearing this when it came out but I feel the same about it now as I did then which is I need to be in the mood for it and I I have to be in the mood to 70 something rather chaotic because there’s not much melodic in this. So there is some fun. This is not something I would listen to on repeat it’s something every couple years.
Takes some time to get used to all of the shit you get with this rather energetic album. Some songs were quite banging, but some of them were kinda shit.
Decent, dizzie rascal is a lot of fun, such an early noughties rap album, beats sound like the fresh meat soundtrack. Extra points because it was released on my second birthday
Definition of a 3 star album. Some good stuff and some absolute trash
Popularised UK Grime. Now you got suburban kids in Norwich wearing black air force. Some of the tracks are shite some are great. ‘Was a determined yute ah Dizzee. Took the scene he grew up around and added his own US influence. Even a subtle comedy to it relative to his contemporaries. Less subtle in his later stuff. Sot Sittin here Stop dat I luv u Fix up look sharp Jus a rascal Jezebel 3.5/5
This was ok, I think Dizzee Rascal is better when he teams up with others like in Bonkers
I remember when Fix up Look Sharp came out I had that song on repeat because it didn't sound like anything else. Never gave the rest of an album a shot but I enjoyed it.
Ой ну шо я могу сказать. Не мое, но как и вчера, если бы оно играло где-то на фоне, хай играет. Jus a rascal самая интересная пока. Биты не впечатляют. Наверное интересные тексты. Флоу иногда интересный Запустился второй раз… тексты конечно «по беспределу», очень интересный альбом
Not really my jam. The vocal delivery is some kind of UK bad boy variant that just doesn't mesh with my sensibilities, and I thought the music was generally dull. Call it 2.5 and round up as an allowance for the culture barrier. Some clever wordplay.
It's an impressive debut, and it's ok, but if you really want to give due credit to Brit-Hop let's talk about Kae Tempest or The Streets.
Whoa, that’s some really weird stuff, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. I felt like I had been pulled into a computer gone mad. Very interesting.
This is a fun album, but defo could be cut down a bit, it overstays its welcome Fave tracks: Sittin’ Here, I luv U,Brand New day, Jezebel
These beats. Hard. Abrasive. Aggressive. Felt punched in the head. Yeah, this definitely took some adjusting too. Not sure if the first tracks hit harder, or if I started getting used to it. Probably won’t be coming back to this. But it’s good in its way, it belongs here and I’m glad I got to hear it.
this is not as good as I remember and at times is kinda grating. the highs perfectly tread the line between dated (good) and dated (bad), but the lows are more annoying than interesting. everything is still hard af even if not amazing though. best tracks: Sittin' here, I Luv U, Jus a Rascal
The music critics lived this one. That says I’ll never fulfill my dream of being a music critic.
I’m still not into hip hop but this album was certainly interesting. I would almost call it Industrial Hip Hop. Hard mechanical abrasive beats. Kudos to him for pushing the envelope and not sounding like all the other mainstream hip hop artists.
So far I'm about it. British, cool. From the sound of Stop Dat, I can't help but guess Dizzee Rascal ventured into/influenced dubstep? I can't keep up with the lyrics, but damn, this shit goes hard. I Luv U is one of the most British things I've ever heard. God damn he went after the queen on 2 Far, and he's MBE. Sick. Alright, on to the most listened track, what'll it be like? He kinda gives me ODB at times. I like it, but I don't think it's the best track that I've heard on the album. That always kinda bums me out, because it makes me think the other, better tracks might have been overlooked a little. Oh, Danny Brown too. Jus' a Rascal kinda slaps. Hmm, not big on Jezebel, big slut shaming anthem I guess.
Not what I usually listen to, but nice beats.
Heard this once before. Not bad. Three good tracks and the might take more time to get to know better. 3.5/5.
This reminded me a bit of "the batty man" rapper. I don't remember his name but Stevie would. This felt unique especially in 2003, but in the latter half of the album I was skipping a lot of songs. One that stood out and I thought was awesome was Fix Up, Look Sharp which I think had the guy who sings The Stroke.
J’ai de la difficulté à évaluer ce genre de musique, parce que je n’en ai pas un gros baggage. Je me fie donc à mes repères généraux d’appréciation. Cet album n’est pas plate. Ça bouge beaucoup et ça va dans plusieurs directions. Je suis content de l’avoir écouté, mais ça ne figurera pas dans mes meilleurs album hip-hop/rap.
highlights: -stop dat -luv u mid
Remember all of those Guy Ritchie movies of the early 2000's that you thought were awesome...? Snatch, Lock, Stock and Layer Cake (not GR)? Those were super good... And then you try and go back today and rewatch those movies, and they're STILL good! Totally watchable. Then there's this album, from the same era and ... well ... huh... Not really that great. But maybe it once was great, listenable, interesting, tolerable. Things have changed over the past 20 years, right? You might imagine that Boy in Da Corner would've resonated in a different era. But notsomuch today. Weird how that happens... It did make me want to go watch old Guy Ritchie British gangster movies tho... so that's a win...(?)
I appreciate what Dizzee does, but I'm not the target audience. Fave: Round We Go
A great debut from Dizzee, it definitely brought the UK grime movement to the mainstream masses. This album seems more raw and unpolished in comparison to his later works, but doesn't suffer from it's "green-ness". There are pockets in the album where his flow is not quite there, but there are gems where you can see he's taken that flow and honed it. Best: I Luv U Worst: 2 Far 3.5 Stars
3.0
Helppo nähdä, miks tää on ollut kova juttu 2003. Muutama biisi toimii tosi hyvin edelleen, vaikka soundit ei oo kyl kauheen hyvin ikääntyneet. Ehkä ansaitsee silti just ja just 3/5, nautin jollain kierolla tavalla.
It's alright
Actually good
Not gonna lie... I had to listen to this album with lyric subtitles... Not 100% sure how I feel about it but I know I didn't hate it.
The lyrics are far less interesting than the atmosphere created by the confused and noisy arrangements. (6/10) FT: I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp
This album is fun. It drones on a little bit in spots but the hits are all great. Sittin' Here is an all time great album opener.
DIDNT FINISH, DIDNT WANT TO
Not Dizzee's best tbh
Good, some rough tracks, some bangers.
3.7
Oi! 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' is sweet as a nut. The rest of the album is mostly ok.
Would've got a 4 if a few filler songs were dropped from it
Well the lyrics are uninspired but the beats a really cool.
Buen disco
I'm giving this a 3 out of respect for it's role in the formation of grime, but otherwise there are so many other albums that do it better.
Better than most rap. Never heard of this guy before. His use of the Billy Squire song is good.
Inventive, original, but long and a bit boring
This whole album I kept jumping back and forth between "what the hell is this crap" and "oh shit this is pretty good". Perfect example of a three star album then.
2+2=4 4-1=3
Grime not my particular taste but I like this album and see it's merits. Brand New Day A favourite.
Didn't appreciate the grimy production at first but it grew on me over the course of the album
Turns out I prefer my rappers who have a British accent. This album's somewhat of a blast. Like most rap albums, it's probably 3 songs too long. But that probably says more about me than it does the album, since rap is a tough genre for me.
Fine
Kind of just sounds samey after a while, but I like the early dubstep feel here. I had heard Fix Up, Look Sharp in some video game or somewhere years ago, so it was fun to discover that again. Honestly this would be higher if the samples and sound effects weren't so annoying. The beats are good and Dizzy has good flow.
It was alright
3.5
Cet album de Dizee Rascal était très agréable, mais parasité par un nombre beaucoup trop important de Dizee Rascal Type Beats. Ils y sont absolument tous passés !
Pretty darn good. Not sure I can take a whole grime album, but this is good stuff.
Rap modert
His debut album comes out the blocks fighting. Harsh electronic production, London rhymes. Solid debut. Best Tracks: I Luv U; Fix Up, Look Sharp; Jus' A Rascal;
Fun album
Grime is one of the most interesting subgenres of hip-hop and this album is grime at its purest.
Great grime music. I like the beats on the first song. The lyrics/rap aren't my thing, though.
Different beats, different flow than I've heard before. Good record.
In conclusione: Sarà che ormai ci sto facendo il callo, sarà che mancano le tracce coi pompini o 15 pezzi sulle bitches e quanto ce l'hai lungo, sarà per le basi un po' frizzantelle elettroniche, però a me sto disco m'è piaciuto. Quando ho visto la copertina so partito subito di eye-rolling e invece poi m'ha divertito e ogni tanto sono anche andato a vedere come si chiamava il pezzo perché mi aveva stupito. Diciamo che questo è quello che per il genere è andato più vicino alla possibilità di essere ascoltato di nuovo.
High energy, almost aggressive at times. Not really my style. Super creative. Favorite track is probably Do It!
it was okay, not really into it except one song love u or something like that
Nice voice and delivery. The beats did not age well.
Don't know much about Grime Rap, but this is enjoyable for a while. Good lyrics.
In its day this was pretty fresh. A combination of raw jagged beats and Dizzee squawking about uniquely British things (like Happy Shopper). It wore pretty thin pretty quickly, and then Dizzee released "Holiday"
This is a fun album and it seems Dizzee doesn't take himself too seriously.
Good album, 3.75
I can appreciate the influence and legacy, and I love his rapping voice, but I simply didn’t react to the album as positively as I expected.
I can respect the talent it takes to carve out a sound like this. It's extremely difficult to listen to while doing something else, I found. Every track sounds super busy and attention grabbing. It's a little vertigo inducing, which is kinda fun in itself! Fave track -"Stop Dat", I think. I'm not doing a second play through to be sure, though...
Chaotic
It's okay. Not what I wanted to listen to today.
I want Dizzee Rascal to call me a Jezebel
Some I liked, some I didn't so much
Minimalistischer Rap
Didn't come dance with me :(
He's good. A later album played after this one. He got better.
its dizzee.
I'm not the biggest grime guy in the world, so I'm not over the moon for this. But there are some big tunes on here, and overall it's good.
Not really for me, but did enjoy it.
Production is not really my style. Dizzee is great though.
Amazing production on this album
Bizarre beats that never really work for me but it truly is unique
Dizzee's energy and skills are to be commended heavily here. My only complaints are that a) some of the beats haven't aged super well and b) this project is at least 15 minutes too long. Solid 3.5 star. Favorite tracks: "Fix Up, Look Sharp", "Hold Ya Mouf", "I Luv U"
Good album although not 100% my thing. The famous tracks I knew already and really like ie Fix Up Look Sharp. A couple of the tracks felt a bit too busy.
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
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".
Oh le mal de tête
this was a tough listen
2.5 a couple good singles and a lot of samey sounding stuff
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…
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.
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 give him points for trying something different, but every songs a skip!!
FIX UP LOOK SHAAAARP forgot how much of a banger this is, however didn’t really enjoy a lot of the other songs
not my taste
A little repetitive
cool
Meh
Not awful
Niet helemaal m’n ding
Ik hou echt van sommige rap maar deze is niet voor mij
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.
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.
Never heard of this guy. Call me whatever, but it didn’t get me going.
Meh
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.
Not really my kind of rap. Sounds a bit like Jamaican and South African rap.
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
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.
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.
I can respect the production and cadence on this album but I wasn’t feeling it today.
Circus ass beat on Stop Dat Tongue in Cheek is a way better album Fave track: Sittin' Here
The opening track was very promising but unfortunately there was only one decent track besides this, Jezebel, so pretty crap
UK hip hop picks: fix up look sharp,I luv u
Now I get a rash of un-inspired Rap music... no logic to this list at all
technically proficient, not my style
UK rap, wag wan
Interesting listen because it's vastly different from anything I'd ever listen to. But not something I really enjoyed
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.
Not for me.
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.
Nope. 2
Tällaista räppiksi naamioitua kilinää ja kolinaa ja meteliä!
appreciate the grit. the Beats are fun and drip life but I can't get in
Not my thing
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.
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.
Not a fan
Música de autista que escucha mago de oz y también rap
Interesting work here. I didn’t particularly like it, but it is very important to grime and the fabric of UK music in general.
Absolutely not my style.
Wasn't into this at all. Especially for nearly a fully hour. Weakest track is the hit "Fix Up, Look Sharp" which turns back the clock on hip-hop but in a really boring way.
Bom. Não é meu estilo de música, mas tem uma boa qualidade.
Bruv what is this madness ?? 😭😭😭😭 The Godfather of Yuno Miles… also I swear dizzee put a spell on me or something because on the first track I was like “my first 1 star album…” and then at some point I started thinking “This isn’t SO bad. And it’s funny and entertaining, I haven’t been bored a single second” and then I got a little sad that the album was ending bc Bro Dizzee js my friend now he’s so funny and goofy what is he on man. Anyway I thought “I luv u” was the worst track ever when I first heard it but low-key it’s an earworm like the beat is horrendous but oh my god
Didn’t see the appeal.
I wanted to like it. While I can't stand American hip-hop, I have a slightly softer spot for the British variation (particularly The Streets), but alas, I couldn't get into Boy In Da Corner. It sounded cringe to my ears.
There were flashes of brilliance here, but sadly they were few and far between. Dizzee Rascal is definitely one of the most talented UK rappers, but the material left a lot to be desired. This album felt long. Songs went on much longer than they needed to and the beats droned on. I was leaning towards giving this 3 stars, but then “Jezebel” came on, and it was so offensive and honestly just bad that it tanked the album at that point and never recovered. I appreciate that this is something different, both for the list and the UK hip hop scene at the time, but overall it’s just not a good album.
QUE CAPA LINDA... FAVS (top 3): i luv u, round we go, jus' a rascal mençoes honrosas: fix up, look sharp; wot u on?; seems 2 be; eh gente... que album é esse... hypei mt pela capa KKKKKKKKKKKKK muito repetitivo as musicas, boas batidas, o background é bom, mas a letra repetitiva nao combina de jeito nenhum, gastaram toda a verba de fazer algo bom tudo na capa to achando! acho q pra epoca (2003) deve ter sido revolucionariossasso mas agora em 2026 é um album bem comum; no final ficou mais legal ngl nota final: 2.5/5
Found it a bit monotonous - had enjoyed the album with bonkers on, but this did little for me
Album 1071 of 1089 Boy In Da Corner - Dizzee Rascal (2003) Rating : 2 / 5 This album is supposedly considered a landmark in the UK grime scene and has had a big influence on British hip-hop and electronic music that followed. It’s raw, energetic, and very much rooted in the streets and culture it came from. One thing that immediately stood out to me was simply hearing rap delivered with a strong British accent. That was a new experience for my ears. I’m so used to American hip-hop rhythms and vocal delivery that the accent and phrasing here felt very different. Not bad but just different. It definitely gives the album its own identity. Musically, the production is pretty stripped down and gritty. The beats feel sharp and electronic, almost industrial at times, which fits the aggressive delivery. That said, this one was a little harder for me to connect with personally. British rap just doesn’t quite hit a chord with me the same way other styles do. Between the vocal delivery, the accent, and the style of the beats, it kept me at a bit of a distance as a listener. But one of the things I’ve enjoyed about this 1001 Albums journey is hearing music that comes from completely different scenes and cultures. Even when something isn’t totally in my wheelhouse, it’s interesting to hear how those musical worlds sound and what made them important. This one may not have fully landed for me, but it was definitely a unique listen.
Started out as a 1, slowly got to 2 as I got used to this style. The mixing is a little weird in my earbuds, but I respect the effort put into these beats. Gonna file this under not for me.
Niet mijn ding
I’m not expecting anything going into this. I’ve heard of Dizzee Rascal, and I know he’s a rapper. This is his debut album, and the genre is grime, which is rap over electronic dance music that originated in the United Kingdom. Dizzee Rascal is kind of the first of the grime rappers to really break out. This album was huge in the UK and was named the best album of 2003 in the UK and Ireland. Not sure I’ll go track by track as I have lately. I will say, so far, the electronic dance music isn’t bad, but we’ve come almost 15 years since the KLF. Dizzee isn’t a bad rapper, but his English accent and English slang can be tricky. Track 3, I Luv U, was the first single off the album. Dizzee produced this single at the age of 16. It was a top 30 hit in the UK and probably his most popular song. I’m not really getting into this so much. I guess I’m just set in my ways. I gave up on hip-hop many years ago. The music is a lot of computer noises that isn’t altogether bad, but it’s a lot of pounding in the old earholes. This album makes me think of the movie Attack the Block. It’s set in the UK, in the projects, as aliens invade and the tenants of the project have to fight them off. It’s such a fun, exciting movie with a lot of heart. I’d probably recommend watching that more than listening to this, but I’m just four songs in, maybe this will get better. Track 6, Fix Up, Look Sharp, starts off with the drum beat from John Cougar Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane. No, I’m wrong, it samples the beat and vocals from a Bill Squier song called, The Big Beat. I recognized Squier’s voice, but not sure I’ve ever heard the song. Fix Up, Look Sharp was released as a single and got to 17 on the UK charts. This song is very old school. I love it, but it may be because of nostalgia. So far, this album is just there for me. Nothing that makes me stand up and take notice…well, except for this song. Track 10 is Jus’ A Rascal, and it’s an old school rap song about who Dizzee Rascal is. You know, how all the rappers had a song boasting about how they’re the coolest, baddest dude on the block. That was a fun song. The first song since Fix Up, Look Sharp that made me stop and take notice. And, no surprise, it was a single off the album. So far, the singles have been the best songs on the album. Whoever picked them to be the singles did a great job. I’m sure hip-hop fans love this album, and I’d recommend it to hip-hop fans. Dizzee Rascal can rap, and the beats are worlds better than what was being produced ten years before. However, this album just wasn’t for me. I think it has historical qualifications, and that plays a part in it being a must-listen. But, I think most could skip it and not be lesser for it. Though if you’re a hip-hop fan, I’d highly recommend it.
njae
Is this album as good as Wiley, Ghetts, Kano, even Bizzle? To stand against the best of grime this album needs to offer something. To be so critically lauded for what is quite a mediocre album with 2 good singles simply because this was the first time anyone had seen grime in the mainstream was a mistake. Im more of a UKHH head so I struggle with an implicit bias against grime, but this album is not the one to bring to a fight.
Now, I can appreciate that this kid could rap, but I don't see why I would have to listen to his repetitive "one sample per song" style for an entire album. Some songs even have the same drum'n'bass base in them...interesting for 2 minutes, then a sound sleep comes in.
This is realllyyyyy not up my alley. I can appreciate the passion and the energy and as another review said, this really isn't hip hop - it's something else and much more dance beat based. That being said, I am so far removed from any of the subject matter it's like seeing an exhibit at a museum. Kind of a tough listen honestly.
What is that?
Stand-out tracks: I Luv U, Fix Up, Look Sharp, Hold Ya Mouf, Jezebel Really not my type of album. A few tracks save it from going on my worst albums list unfortunately. Rap is really hit or miss for me and this one is truly a miss. Tracks like Brand New Day and 2 Far use ear numbing clips that keep repeating throughout the song and make those honestly unlistenable at times. Other tracks are either good enough because of the beats or just not my thing. Most of the lyrics are also quite dull and just explicit nonsense. The only track I feel like tries to be a bit more serious thematically is the closer.
These beats are awesome. I bet the instrumental version is solid. But I didn't enjoy the rapping by this dude at all. No flow, no style, super generic. If this dude made his own beats, I hope he just kept doing that
Saved? ❌ Would listen again? ❌ Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? 🤔
Cool but soo tiring and longggg
Beans, right, innit?
Tragiški beat'ai. Nuoširdžiai blogi. Tekstas gal ir geras. Ir nieko čia nėra rasistiško, žinau dizee rascal, mam patinka jo muzika, bet šitas albumas blogas.
Couple good song but it's not great. I don't even think it's a particularly good example of grime.
It was alright I guess. I wasn't a fan of it but he has some talent. I think the weird electronica mix he was over is what killed it for me. I think I will listen to it later with the lyrics up and see if I like it more that way.
Some of the beats were cool. I guess I’m not a grime fan cause mostly I found this not great. Some songs were decent but a lot of it was annoying.
Really need to do some reading on this topic. Not a 1,001 album ever created in my humble opinion.
A bit too raw and chaotic for me
Not bad, not my favorite. There’s a lot going on in the background and it sometimes distracts from the tracks. Notable tracks include Sittin’ Here, Fix Up Look Sharp, Jezebel.
not enough variety, not enough musical interest for me
Nicht schlechter Rap.
I could never take Dizzee seriously. Maybe it was because of hearing Beardyman recreating spot-on impressions of him, morphing into chicken noises. "Fix up, look sharp / bok bok, Bok BWOK". But really, Beardyman was just validating my own opinions of Dizzee. To be fair, I'm very much not into grime, or Dizzee's brand of hip hop. I do respect that he made some of this music by himself as a teenager, but everything on this album has that same teenage energy - it feels quite vapid. Lyrically it feels quite juvenile, with themes of boastfulness and bravado, and not much else. And musically, it's not my scene at all. I didn't really connect with any of the songs, and I did find it quite a slog to get through an hour of this. But, to be fair, I did like the most famous song on the album "Fix Up, Look Sharp". Probably because it doesn't really sound like anything else on the record. With a huge Bonham-esque beat, that unmistakable chicken bwak rhythmic intonation, and some interesting structure and melody, it's a good tune. But ultimately, everything feels a bit empty. Scroobius Pip used Dizzee's beat and melody to make a point in the song "Fixed", an interpolation of "Fix Up, Look Sharp". His lyrics echo my feelings towards this album: "Hip hop is art / Don't make another pop hit, be smart... / All a lot of shit with profit in mind, not heart / Prancing about like they're the next big thing / 'Cause their cousins got an eight track and their mate Darryl can sing". After finally getting through "Boy In Da Corner", I still can't take Dizzee seriously. That Beardyman can parody Dizzee simply by repeating his lyrics word-for-word in a deliberately formal English accent says everything: strip away the beats and bravado, and there isn't much substance left.
not at all my vibe