Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Ehhh
These beats suuuuuuuuuuuck. Pretty good flow but whoever mixed this has the irritating "hooks" louder than buddy's rapping. It's like putting more shredded lettuce on the bun than burger. '2 Far' isn't too bad. You should listen to this, if only because most of Dimery's List is some version of rock and/or roll and the hip-hop (and EDM, I guess) is pretty rare. It's different from everything else I've heard, so far (342 albums, as of today).
Nah, I’m good.
I remember listening to this album right when it first came out. Here in the US, we were hearing that 2-step garage was fading out in the UK and slowly evolving into a new style of music called grime. At that time, Dizzee Rascal was one of the first artists to actually release an album that was accessible in the US. I remember loving how raw and gritty it was, with a very innovative and experimental approach to the production. However, as I listened to it more and more, I quickly realized that this was an album I had to be in a very specific mood to enjoy. Over time, it just kind of lost its appeal. Despite being forward-thinking and innovative, when stripped down, it didn’t really have much substance to keep me coming back. Now, listening to it nearly 20 years later, it feels like the cat’s out of the bag, and there’s not much to connect with anymore. Plus, it’s really starting to feel dated at this point.
Not for me
There is something likeable about Mr Rascal. Although this is not my genre, he produces the odd track I quite like and that is true of this album, but overall it's not for me.
No private session used for Spotify. I didn't have a lot of hopes for me enjoying this album and I didn't, but I didn't hate it. It had a really weird cacophony thing going on with it, which was more interesting than pleasant.
What a rascal
With all the memories of London 2012, I was hoping for so much more from this album but it never got going. I suppose it does prove that you can do MFing hip hop without MFing.
This is not my thing. Suppose it could be hypnotic to the right person. Fix up look sharp is catchy, mind you. Also enjoyed some of the following ups, including Dizzee Rascal. This is an important album though, both culturally and linguistically. I can appreciate that. MLE was totally alien to a northerner in those days. If not for this would the East End still be singing with Mrs Mills and Knees Up Mother Brown?
Άκρως ενοχλητικό. Ένα ευγενικό δυάρι, επειδή είχε ορισμένα οκ μπιτακια
I like how he pronounced banana
Really odd album. I'm glad I stuck it out, I ended up liking the second-ish half (track 6 on) WAY more than the first. That being said, this album is not for me. Grime exists in some limboesque space for me where I almost like it but never end enjoying it.
My boomer grandparents: “rap is so filthy; I can’t stand all the sex and drugs” Dizzie Rascal: “look yo. Look. Uhh uh I’m just sittin here. Uh uh sittin. Uh”
This was fun at first, but it went on for entirely too long.
Muy interesantes muchas cosas, pero no es mi onda.
God.... crap.
Que cosa tan Maluca y repetitiva
232. interesting
Changed an entire genre of music, as a child. Like it or not, this has a place on this list musically. Shame he likes to hit women
Someone put down their Nintendo controller without pressing pause. Same loop over and over and over until the next song - then it’s the next loop over and over and over.
American rappers all have aggressive names, emphasising how tough and gangsta they are whereas the British equivalents have names that sound more like a loveable character from the Beano. Musically, grime is more interesting than basic hip-hop beats, having more in common with electro and dance with some interesting bits of sonic experimentation. Lyrically, we’re still back in problematic territory in places though, even though this does sound like it’s based in the harsh reality of growing up on sink estates in London at the turn of the millennium. I get that he’s good at what he does, and I do find this more listenable than gangsta rappers, but it’s really not for me. Sorry.
idk nicht 100% sicher
This makes so much sense but not my thing
Love the English accent. That is all.
A lot of people dump on the grime genre but nobody really gives reasons. For me, it's that where American hip hop styles are rooted in soul, funk, disco, R&B, genres that have a real human element, grime gets most of its roots from electronic stuff. The result is a colder and more clinical, repetitive sound that takes a really skilled and compelling MC to work (for me at least), and I'm not impressed by Dizzee Rascal. Nothing particularly interesting to say (just a lot of lines like 'I love females, money, and crepes'), and a lot of these songs just annoyed me. Rough to get through honestly
I've never heard any grime would say I like. I was hoping I might find something I like here but unfortunately, it's kind of ass. I thought this might be somewhat like Bonkers, which I don't think I've heard in about a decade but I think I would had liked that more. This just isn't for me at all Highlights: Fix Up, Look Sharp
2003. Gave mainstream exposure to grime music.
The beats are interesting to say the least, im prob just not into this genre of rap.
When Gorillaz feature rappers in their songs, some of them are phenomenal, while others sound like this, serving as a constant interruption to their incredible music. He was a teenager when he wrote, and released this, so I'll cut him a little slack. Also, on a random note, I notice anomalies, so I have to get this off of my chest: I've had a 21st Century album for eight out of the last nine days. Also, this is the second consecutive day I've had a 2003 album. What are the odds of any of this happening? Favorite Track: "2 Far".
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
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
Boy in da Corner is the debut studio album by English rapper and producer Dizzee Rascal. It was first released on 21 July 2003 by XL Recordings in the United Kingdom before being released the following year in the United States. A widespread critical success, Boy in da Corner became one of the most acclaimed records of 2003 and went on to win the Mercury Prize for best album from the UK and Ireland. It also peaked at number 23 on the British albums chart and sold over 250,000 copies worldwide by 2004. With the album's success, Dizzee Rascal gave mainstream exposure to grime music while becoming the UK's first internationally recognised emcee. Boy in da Corner received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, the album received an aggregate score of 92 out of 100, based on 28 reviews. NME called it "one of the most assured debut albums of the last five years". Entertainment Weekly stated that, "Combining U.K. garage beats and a distinctly British sensibility, Rascal spits out phrases with the energy and finesse of a championship boxer". Rolling Stone wrote, "If you want a vision of the future of hip-hop and techno, get this record"
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.
Interesting, but not subverting that resonated with me. It feels proto glitch, even maybe its own sound altogether, but it’s not the sound for me. I like off kilter songs but this one isn’t so great
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
I think I like Grime music more as a concept than when listening to it, it had a couple of catchy tracks and I dig the beat production. I just can't take British rap, sounds like they're trying to rap with something in their mouths.
"Ahead of its time" insofar that it resembles modern UK rap, mediocre insofar that it resembles modern UK rap. But that's just these humble ears; fans of the British hip hop can fully relish!
Got tired of this pretty quickly.. probs won't be returning to it.
2000s hiop hop, grime. Made grime mainstream. Interesting samples, cool edge. Very distinct. Some tracks are kind of abbrasive. Struggle with the complete lack of melody.
I love the British take on rap but this isn't a repeat listen for me.
I don't even know. I tried to like it, but it was really long, the lyrics were mostly laughable, and it was often irritating to listen to. There were moments that I didn't mind. I think "Fix Up, Look Sharp" was decent. But I mostly didn't like this album.
To my ears it just sounds like American gangsta rap that is filtered through East London; a hypothesis which seems to be borne out by the American Nike trainers Mr. Rascal is wearing on the album cover. I've never been a fan of gangsta rap, so it is really not my thing. Having said that I appreciate that Dizzee Rascal did not include the stupid skits that most hip hop albums from America were doing all through the 90s and into the early 2000s. On the other hand, he still went and made an album that is way too long at 56 minutes. Nice Billy Squire sample in "Fix Up, Look Sharp", but that is the only thing that makes that track bop. I would prefer more internal and less external lyrics.
Flatten this Rascal That Danny Brown/Jpegmafia album from a few years back feels like the perfected version of this album.
i respect this as a record but unfortunately grime just isn't my thing
Dizzee Rascal appears to be a UK-Drill rapper, which is a genre of music I have little exposure to. Unfortunately, I wasn't grabbed by the music and I wasn't able to connect with his lyrics, but I can certainly acknowledge that that disconnect could just be attributed to my lack of context and intimacy with UK culture.
No era para mi hace más de 20 años y ahora sigue sin serlo.
I’m not familiar with grime so it’s hard for me to judge, but I did not enjoy this. Many of the beats sound like someone played random sounds on a drum machine and cheap keyboard and just went with it. The vocals are sometimes hard to understand and I’m not a big fan of his delivery - it’s often overly shouty. The rhythms are decent, but everything is secondary to the lyrics, which are alternately too difficult to understand or not that interesting to me. Not an essential album at all, except maybe to those into this particular style. This may have been pioneering in its own way, but that doesn’t make it good.
Grime ahead of its time, but not very refined. Listening is exhausting, bordering painful. For choosing those beats, Dizzie rightly belongs in the corner. Could have seen this working if the tracks were either full speed in your face, or chill head-nodders, but they're all just lost somewhere between.
Like some of the tracks but overall there are some awful parts of this album, and much better grime albums out there
thought i'd like this more but just not feeling it. some of the music's ok, i really am not crazy about the vocals
I remember this voice from "Bonkers" (not on this album though). This genre is called "grime". (British?) Rap with electronic sounds.
This album was not good. If this is the best rap that Britain has to offer then no wonder rap is not a British export.
so he was the UK's 1st international rapper? is that why he's on the list?? apart from that, it's a boring listen. musically it's nothing but loop tracks & sounds. lyrics are boring
This is what it would sound like if Big Shaq was serious
each song has a high point and also a low that makes me physically wince . only found one song that i think i would return to for casual listening. that being said some super interesting flows and production so it’s like . i dunno how to feel.
Tricky one to rate. I don’t love grime. I find some of the beats repetitive and some of the sound effects obnoxious. But the highs, like Fix Up Look Sharp, Wot U On and Do It are really good.
When I think of "Rap" and/or "Hip Hop" this is the stuff I think of. Not really music in my opinion
Not my type
Not too bad
He's dizzy, he's a rascal - not much else to say. I probably won't listen to this again
I just really don't get UK Hip-Hop, I guess.
First 30 seconds of each song was interesting, then just felt like monotony until the next song.
Brit rap
It's not really for me but I was fascinated by it. The low-end is so spare here that I thought there was something wrong with my headphones, yet the music doesn't necessarily lack "oomph" because the rest of the beat is so jagged and the vocal delivery is so passionate. I'd never heard of the grime genre before so I got a little bit of an education in listening to and reading about this album...it was eye-opening for sure, but I probably won't listen again any time soon.
I tried to approach this album with an open mind, I really did try. But, by Christ, I hated it. Sounded like a teenage boy let loose in a fully equipped music studio. "What does that button do?...Ooooh. Yeah". Gave up before the end., before I lost faith in modern music completely.
Not for me.
Just gets more irritating as it goes on, I just don't see what the appeal is here 1.5*
I'm aware of this artist, but haven't ever listened to an album of his. I'm just not feeling this one.
Not my kind of rap. Couldn’t understand half of what he was saying.
You can see how Dizzee’s lyrical style was the inspiration for many who came after him. But on this album his beats are wildly chaotic that it made several songs difficult to enjoy.
It's okay. I'm not a huge hip hop fan, but I've founds things about the other ones on this list. This one isn't really doing much for me.
2/5. Alkupuoli jepa, sitten pakka hajosi kummallisiin biitteihin, jotka pilasivat paljon.
I’m not averse to a bit of grim but I find the strident hectoring tone of this annoying after a while. A short while. The overall vibe just ain’t it
There are a lot of good rap albums on this list, but this is not one of them. Most of the tracks just did not land for me at all, and the production felt messy in a way that did not help anything. The only thing keeping this from being a one star is “Jezebel.” That track is actually catchy and shows what the album could have been if the rest of it had the same energy. Outside of that one song, though, this just was not it.
Aggressively british
Oh no. I've got no issues with the rapping, it's the EDM half of the "grime" sound that's nooooooot working for me. Yeesh.
++: I Luv U, 2 Far, Hold Ya Mouf, Jus' a Rascal, Do It! +: Stop Dat, Fix Up, Look Sharp, Round We Go, Seems 2 Be, Live O +-: Sittin' Here, Brand New Day, Cut 'Em Off, Wot U On? -: Jezebel 5,4/10
Not my thing
Some of the beets were interesting enough. Some of them were irritating. It’s not bad enough for a one, but there was nothing remarkable enough to make this album a “must listen”. This was dumb choice for this list.
This album is covered in what sounds like digital farts disguised as bass lines and warped digital effects. This is shit garbage.
Jag har inget emot det och Dizee är en bra rappare. Men den här typen av hiphop - grime? - är inte min musik.
Har inte riktigt tagit mig tid till att lyssna ordentligt. En genomlysning har det blivit och det är tungt, minimalistiskt och väldigt mycket London-förort. Helt klart godkänt, men för många låtar som är aldeles för lika varandra.
Nah
Langt síðan ég henti í tvist. Ekki algjörlega óþolandi, en oftar en ekki fráhrindandi hljóðheimur. Það detta inn áhugaverðir og töff bútar, en það er of langt á milli þeirra fyrir mín eyru.
I liked it overall. A couple tracks made me question things though. Update: on repeat listens this shit actually super annoying.
I know this is really grime and NOT hip-hop, but I was hoping this album would be a lot more fun than it ended up being. It's very aggressive, not particularly pleasant and I didn't find it catchy. Even some of the lyrics invoked a pretty miserable feeling. 2 stars.
This is like being hungover and walking down the road to get a flat white. Outside the nearby dairy there are some 14 year olds dressed in tracksuits, flat caps, and brand new Jordan high tops. They approach you, asking for loose change and trying to staunch you out. You know that their divorced mothers bought them those shoes, and that these adolescents are not worth your time. You tell them to fuck off back to the private school they came from.
Si c'était révolutionnaire quand c'est sorti, ça parait pas
À peine désagréable. Excellent album pour la visite qui traîne trop longtemps.
No more hip hop plz
Yeah, I can't deal with this. Shitty hip-hop with bad beats and incoherent lyrics that are over the top british.
I’ll never be able to get into British rap
A few good songs, but all in all not that good of an album. I can see its meaning to British rap & grime, but the songs didn't really make me feel anything.
I Luv U; Fix UP, Look Sharp; Hold Ya Mouf; and Jus' a Rascal were all fairly interesting. I'm tempted to give it 3 stars based on how many I ultimately found interesting, but this is just something I'd never go out of my way to listen to. It was rarely annoying and sometimes briefly good, so 2 stars it is.
Grime can be such a hard genre to get into. This album has some interesting moments, but really struggles to be attention worthy. Overall it's listenable, but not very good. 2.5/5 Won't listen again
I do not know what Grime is, certainly not well enough to know if Dizzee Rascal is a good representation of it. I actually think I see why some people would like this. But I am not one of those people.
Not my vibe.
mainly noise
Nope
This baby can be left in the corner indefinitely
likes to say his name a lot. nothing special passes the time
Da Boy In Da Corner needs Ritalin. Dizzee may have brought the grime-rap scene to the British mainstream but it's just not my cup o' tea. The production is too digital and flashy, the flow style too schizophrenic. There should be a warning on the album cover that this may cause epilepsy. Top track by far is "Fix Up, Look Sharp" which is more of a shout out to simple, classic hip-hop. A few others were pretty good like "Round We Go," "Jezebel" and "Do It." I think the editor is listing this and other brit-rap cause they are a hard-core brit-rep. The Rascal is a bit too jumpy on this record and for that pulls a meager 1.9 stars.
Its a very up and down album. There are tracks that just burst with energy and grab you and others that just seem to meander along. Dizzee improved his sound over the years and this was such an early album both in terms of his style and UK rap in general.
Nah. It probably does something for anyone who's into 00s hip-hop, but not me. It's not really bad, but it's like has no appeal for me at all.
Greit nok egentlig
Fix Up, Look Sharp was the stand out track (because it was simple). The rest of it had too much going on. The rapping is fine, but the backing tracks are less hip-hop and more ecstasy-fueled Rave music.
Fine, not really my vibe
I like his delivery and enjoyed the two singles (Fix Up / Jus a Rascal) but overall not really my bag.
Boh, tutte uguali, stesse drums ovunque, timbro voce brutto, l'unica cosa bella è l'accento
56/1001 Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ Whilst I can appreciate the impact this had on the UK grime scene and launched it into the mainstream. However, I've never been a fan of his delivery and this hasn't really changed my mind on this listen.
If you want to know what the genre grime is like, this is a good early example - or so I read. If you don't care then you won't care much for this album. To me, it's rap with heavy computer and synth dubs. But really heavy dubs that almost start sounding like fart noises as they drone on ad nauseum. I'm being a bit harsh because I really enjoyed the opening track Sittin Here. And Dizzee Rascal has solid flow as a rapper and his lyrics don't suck. But it got monotonous over 15 songs and nearly an hour of listening. Thankfully there were a few changes of pace like the 80's rock-sounding Fix Up, Look Sharp (sampling Billy Squire) and the Wu-Tang kung fu/eastern sounding Do It. Somewhere between a 2 and a 3, but I found myself too often looking at how many tracks were left. So 2 it is.
Not my thing. Mostly uninteresting computer-based grooves. Each track is highly repetitive. Thank goodness for genius.com because I couldn't understand a single thing he's saying - lyrics are occasionally interesting, occasionally ugh. Not a 1 because it was tolerable, if repetitive, and there were a few tracks I liked: Fix Up Look Sharp, Hold Ya Mouf, Seems 2 Be (very cool track - goes hard and has a very catchy chorus).
**A strange album. Each track has repetitive sounds (some annoying) few tracks with vocal noises.
i don’t mind his ACCENT but i just don’t care for the overall sonic texture of these songs. the beats all sound really compressed and yuck to me but some of the instrumental parts are kinda cool. i know grime was a huge cultural moment in the UK but (similar to the rave scene) it never made its way overseas in a meaningful way so it’s hard for me to understand why this is an essential album.
British rap sounds bad and the arrangements are waaaaay too much for me, feels very overwhelming at times. But those are both personal preferences and not enough to drop this to a 1.
I can’t believe this is one of the biggest exports in the UK scene ??? Like really??? Not that I didn’t enjoy it a lil, but like it’s not that good of a rap album. The sampling is nice, some vocals but overall it just falls extremely flat
An artist who deserved all of the praise that he got; however, the album is just rubbish. There's a reason why UK Rap never gained popularity, and this is why.
Not a huge fan of this genre but can appreciate why this is highly rated for a lot of people. Aside from the singles this wasn't one for me.
this was pretty terrible. annoying lyrics (absolutely atrocious pronunciation of the word “girl” that was said too much), terrible beats, way too long. one of the lowest 2s i’ll ever give and that’s only because it’s better than that other UK rap album i’ve heard from here
Ok
Nobody puts Dizzee in the corner?
Kinda grating, but a few ok songs
Ehhhhhhh
nahhh, not for me. Fix Up, Look Sharp was probably the only enjoyable track but I do appreciate hearing rap from the UK. I think there were better options though.
Im more of a Skepta guy
Very interesting stuff happening here, but not my vibe overall
I appreciate the sincerity- this is idiosyncratic stuff- and the stuttering beats aim in the general direction of what I like- but the vocal delivery is grating, and I just get the feeling that this was not made for the likes of me.
Yeahhh i’m sorry this wasn’t for me. The first part was definitely intriguing because of the beat but the lyrics and the flow weren’t with me.
I think I've been spoiled by American rap...
raro pero punch
Meh. Not my cup of tea. Some interesting electronic work.
Not my type. Stars for effort.
first track was really annoying and I really wasn't expecting anything good after that .... and I was correct. Respect to the UK rap scene but this asn't aged well at all. 3,5/10 fav songs : Fix Up, Look Sharp
Not my thing.
This fills a niche and I don't hate it, but I won't be seeking it out either.
Fun early 2000s rap. Love an English accent when rapping. The old school song worked for me. Decent listen but doesn’t rise above the noise. 2 stars in my harsher review structure but not bad.
I like most hip hop/rap music but did not enjoy this. Very repetitive and all sounded the same.
So to start off, this was definitely not my favorite genre. I felt like I was going insane most of the time I was listening to this "music". The instrumentation/programming was actually quite unique and engaging most of the time, but the lyrics and rapping felt like something from a 13-year-old urban English boy. I'm sure I just "don't get it", but this was painful to listen to for the most part. At least I enjoyed the non-verbal parts of it. Two stars.
Not loving it. There's something so "safe" feeling about British hip hop.
the production is wild but I just can't do the uk rap thing, I wish this wasn't a mental block for me but it is :( also doesn't help that I listened to this sitting at my work job desk in my fluorescent drab office box
It's ok, maybe I don't get hip hop, but the praise seems overblown, 2*
Even branching out into the UK grime scene, rap music continues to feature albums with limited imagination and overly long run times.
some good tracks but generally an annoying sound, some songs really grinded in me but i can respect it as a cornerstone for grime music
I think it is funny to hear English dudes rap.
Not my thing, did not finish. Some of it was okay, a bit scroobius-pip-adjacent, but yeah, I wouldn't relisten.
Didn’t like the background noises or the whining.
This mostly sucks. Lots of annoying noises. There was one song that wasn't horrible, though, so I'm generously giving Dizzee 2*.
A few hits and not bad for 19 yr old, but the highs do not make up for the lows. Any deeper commentary is at year 9 PSHE-level. FS: Fix Up, Look Sharp.
Argh. I get it - this is pretty insane from an 18 year old who basically invented this brand of UK grime. Mind blowing at the time. Dizzee knows a good beat and has some later bangers for sure but this album isn't for me. The lyrics 🥴
This guy is not without talent, but he only has one gear and that makes for an uninteresting album. Unfortunately, you can’t tell him any of that because he will apparently have a tantrum and physically attack you.
3/10 - British rap doesn’t hit for me
The streets but less funny
a little weird
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
Some interesting beats and textures but hard to be objective when this isn't your jam...
It’s monotone and too long. I see why people like it but it’s not for me at all. 1 star because I have to, plus 1 extra star for ‘Jus’ a Rascal’.
I'd heard "Fix Up, Look Sharp" before but didn't know anything else. I kind of liked Jezebel, but most of the album was not really my thing.
Okay cool, okay clever, okay original, but when BIlly Squier is your major sample, you've comporomised your claims to timelessness. And certainly this seems very much a time-bound cultural artifact, which causes one to view its cockneyfied hip-hop in a continuum with Dickens and Hardy novels, say, or the films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. Anyway, Streets are (is?) better.
Loved fix up look sharp and just a rascal growing up. Still do, but I don’t understand the album. The lyrics make me feel yuck
I could find myself liking this if I was in the right mood. A lot like Death Grips but less interesting. 4/10
You cant sound like a gangsta rapper and have a british posh accent at the same time, sorry.
Meh, had parts I thought were aight
British rap comes across as deeply unserious to me, and this album - with tracks like “jus a rascal” - was no exception
Honestly not a big fan. Have been trying to get more into hip-hop, but this album just doesn’t do it for me. Some ideas are cool, but songs don’t make me want to listen again. I see how some people could like it and would be cool for its time
Meh
Not really a great album. I think I preferred his later stuff where he brings more dance elements into his music.
Music for chavs, I guess chavs are an important enough sector in society to have representation. This has personality though, I will say 21st century British rap gets much worse and it’s just a genre America has always done so much better
Boring and too long
To be honest, I was disappointed by this album. "Stop Dat" is my favourite track by a country mile. I was wondering when this album would end. There are so much better British rap records out there. I do commend Dizzee Rascal's beatmaking skills. 2 stars for "Boy in da Corner".
Just another 2 star or D album that doesn't belong on this list.
Liked it at the beginning. Overstays its welcome.
I actually liked some of this. Some of the beats were cool. Some of it was annoying.
Did not like
Doesn't hit me the way the critical acclaim made me think it would.
24 hours later, I can't remember a single song.
Had never heard of the musical genre “grime”. After listening to this mess, hopefully will never hear it again
Grime British mandem rap - Beats are decent and sound modern - Songs get boring fast, monotone rapping
didn't mind his rapping but the beats were bad. I mean the rhythms are fine or whatever but the sound was not good
Not a fan of British rap in general.
Couldn’t get through it all, just wasn’t a fan of the beats at all. His flow wasn’t great either, I just don’t think British ppl should rap all that much tbh. 1.7/5
Annoying
Didn't work for me. Definitely a distinct style but not one I found interesting or successful.
Is this British rap? I look at this the way Europeans look at Americans playing soccer. Cute. If we did the 1000 greatest hip Hop albums how long until we got to England ? This sounds like the Top Boy soundtrack. Fine but probably not good, certainly not above average and just feels kinda silly.
Grime klinkt als een smeltkroes van dubstep, drum 'n bass en rap. Ik vind het zelf dan ook elke keer weer verbazingwekkend hoe weinig ik met grime kan, terwijl ik al die stijlen enorm waardeer. Zo ook dit album. Ik vind het album een beetje goedkoop en amateuristisch klinken, terwijl Duizelig z'n vak echt wel verstaat. Veel tracks zijn vervelend kaal, de raps zijn wat weggemoffeld, die plucky strings geluiden heb je na drie keer ook wel gezien. Ik verveel me over het algemeen genomen gewoon de tering eigenlijk. Je kunt beter een album aanzetten waar onze eigen Kubus de beats heeft verzorgd. Zo'n track als 'I Luv U' vind ik dan wel vet, met die vieze distorted 808 kick die wij Hollanders vooral kennen uit de gabbertijd, maar het is een uitzondering op dit album. 'Jus a Rascal' is ook wel leuk. Als ik in 2003 een jaar of 14 was en in Londen had gewoond dan was het waarschijnlijk een heel ander verhaal geweest, maar nu hou ik het op een 2.
I remember hearing dizzee rascal when this album was new and loving the beats… the beat still sound futuristic and the flow is fine but boy is this Alain just exhausting to me today, especially at 15 tracks long.
this project often makes me feel like i dislike uk hiphop but i don't really know why i like it less than american hiphop. genuinely i think a lot of it is the beats and the flows of the rappers, which i find lackluster. that being said, this album was a bit different from the others i've heard on this list. i was a bit conflicted about this one. sometimes i think it's pretty cool. the beats are really unconventional and dizzee's rapping is off kilter. it definitely feels different. that being said, the uniqueness and unconventionality often approaches the level of annoying to me. it's kind of neat, but it also makes me cringe a lot. i'm not sure what to make of this. it's interesting but i don't know if i really like it.
This was a rough one for me. When the opening track has a refrain of “just sittin here” you know you’re in for something impressive. But, it only takes one track that I like to save an album from the dumpster of a 1 rating and I did actually like “Fix Up, Look Sharp”.
Een ieder weet dat dit mijn genre niet is, en dat ik allang blij ben als ik de plaat kan uitluisteren zonder al te veel irritaties. Dat laatste is hier gelukkig het geval. Maar ik hoor ook weinig interessants en het nasale stemmetje werkt op de zenuwen. Dus geen hoogvlieger voor mij.
Ergens vind ik het accent en zijn stem wel grappig, maar de beat flowt niet altijd even lekker. Op een gegeven moment lijkt het allemaal weer op elkaar. En dan duurt zo'n album toch lang. Ik had eigenlijk gehoopt dat er meer bigbeat in zat, omdat uit deze tijd ook acts als Audio Bullys kwamen. Misschien had ik er daarom meer van verwacht. Ik vind het nu saai, een magere 2 voor Duizelige Raaskaller.
Not for me, didn’t enjoy at the time, still don’t. Not an awful listen 2.25/5
Not my thing.
Hey I like Fix Up Look Sharp but I could not stomach a whole album of this
The beat on “jus’ a rascal” sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it. Sorry but that accent is horrible for rapping. The beats were good.
Not for me unfortunately
I thought i liked Dizzee Rascal. Turns out i just like a couple of the popular tracks. The album is a grind. Very repetitive
One or two OK tracks in here, rest is filler
Not enjoying this one
I tried
Wow - ischmer doch sehr fremd. Eigentlich sehr kreativi Samples, aber nüd mies.
Favorite Track: Stop Dat
There are interesting pieces to this musically, but each song gets monotonous quickly. Ok, a couple more songs in and I’ve realized every song starts with a new idea. And each one is good. But then it never develops. It’s like spinning in a circle so you can’t tell where you are. “Look sharp” is my favorite song so far. There was more variety in it.
01) Sittin' Here - 7,0 02) Stop Dat - 5,5 03) I Luv U - 6,5 04) Brand New Day - 6,0 05) 2 Far - 5,5 06) Fix Up, Look Sharp - 7,0 07) Cut 'Em Off - 5,5 08) Hold Ya Mouf - 5,5 09) Round We Go - 5,5 10) Jus' a Rascal - 7,0 11) Wot U On? - 5,0 12) Jezebel - 5,0 13) Seems 2 Be - 5,0 14) Live O - 4,0 15) Do It! - 5,0 TOTAL: 5,67 (57/100) Current ranking: 354/418
Couple of decent tracks but overall the beats aren't there and the feel isn't right. Couldn't get into it. Not terrible but not great either.
He’s not untalented but as an album this was severely grating, repetitive and exhausting to listen to.
The production is pretty amateur sounding which makes the album somewhat unlistenable to me. He is talented as a rapper so I still think it is 'fine' overall
I've been playing this for a bit and wondering if I'm going crazy. This sounds like a terrible mix with some weird interference going on. I listened to a few other records on Spotify using the same headphones and different styles of music to confirm it's just this record. It's really off putting. The beats are cool and all but it's driving me crazy.
Boy In Da Corner certainly is outside my element. Rap with a British accent is strange to me. It is impressive how distinct sound in this is. 5.6/10
I really didn’t like Dizzee Rascal when he first came on the scene. And I was convinced I didn’t like this album. Then I listened and was a bit confused because it wasn’t how I remembered it. I remember listening to bits of it during the mercury song prize and it wasn’t the same. It seemed quite hypnotic and and easy to listen to. I managed to get through the whole thing without spewing. And then I realised I’ve been listening to the wrong album. I had listened to the completely instrumental version. That was hypnotic and quite fun. When I listen to the correct version with Dizzee rascal’s vocals, then I reverted to my original opinion. I obviously like the tunes but those vocals are just horrible.
I can hear the artistry in this. But god damn, if there were a situation where someone was trying to get information out of me that I didn't want to reveal, you could tie me to a chair and blast this at unspeakable volume and I'd tell you everything by the third track. It was unbearable. I tried on three different occasions and failed to get through more than two tracks at any given time.
I just couldn't get Inyo this
I listened to it. I can't remember anything worthwhile.
kind of too British…
I laughed when I saw this album on the list - didn't expect to see Dizzee Rascal here at all! I saw Dizzee at a festival in 2010 and ended up becoming a fan. Jus' A Rascal was stuck in my head for days afterwards! So I only really knew his later stuff. This however was very bad and very different to his later work It just felt a bit flat? 2 ⭐️
Hard to pinpoint why I don't love this - i just don't.
Not for me. I suspect there’s a reason no one outside of the UK gives a shit about grime. At least bonkers wasn’t on this one
Not a fan.
i only really liked i love you, i like the uniqueness of this but im not a big fan of the grime genre 5/10
Something different but didn’t love the beats and found his voice annoying.