Dizzee Rascal

Five years after Dizzee Rascal’s stark, revolutionary Boy in da Corner, he and the grime genre he helped popularize are struggling through an awkward growing phase. That debut’s once-abrasive but always brilliant beats seem surprisingly accessible in today’s abstract and atmospheric hip-hop landscape. Maths + English is the British MC’s third album, and he’s trying to find his place in this brave new world grime helped create. Two pop-flirting collaborations — “Where’s Da G’s” with Houston’s Underground Kingz and “Temptation” with Arctic Monkeys lead singer Alex Turner — go over great for both Dizzee and his guests; Lily Allen, on the other hand, crashes and burns on “Wanna Be,” a nursery-rhyme-like silly dis track that’s both clichéd and grating. The more prevalent style on this disc looks back to earlier British electronic movements, like IDM, breakbeat, and especially 2-step’s crackling drum licks and soulful synth tones. “World Outside” could have been produced by Aphex Twin, whereas the horn-sporting “Flex” is an unapologetic dance track. Boy in da Corner may be the classic Dizzee will be forced to chase for the rest of his career, but Maths + English shows him still striving.

Roots Manuva

Entertainment

Hip-Hop and Rap

Music

Garage and Grime

Ghislain Poirier

Lady Sovereign

Mike Skinner

Tapes 'n Tapes

Arctic Monkeys

Latest Articles

Roots Manuva | Slime and Reason

Big Dada/Ninja Tune (2008)
The richest fruit of British rap’s gestation period is the growing catalogue of Roots Manuva.
By ANDREW GRAHAM | October 15, 2008

Bangers + Mush

Dizzee Rascal and El P at the Middle East Downstairs, May 11, 2008
About five years ago, when grime came crashing through the gates, many thought that England had finally found a homegrown answer to American hip-hop.
By RICHARD BECK | May 21, 2008

The low end

The bassline house invasion
The British rave revolution of the late ’80s/early ’90s is accurately viewed as the source of the ever increasing number of dance genres in the UK.
By RICHARD BECK | February 26, 2008

Burial

Untrue | Hyperdub
Dubstep has been given its Dizzee Rascal moment with the release of Burial’s Untrue , the elusive London producer’s second album.
By NICK SYLVESTER | December 26, 2007

Dizzee Rascal

Maths + English | XL
Boy in da Corner may be the classic Dizzee will be forced to chase for the rest of his career.
By MATTHEW GASTEIER | June 12, 2007

The Atlantic Divide

Bridged by the Internet
Bloc Party, the Arctic Monkeys, and even Dizzee Rascal often make it seem that British music is our music too.
By MATTHEW GASTEIER | October 24, 2006

JeknowwotI’msayin?

Lady Sovereign sets her sights on the US
“People have this kind of problem with me,” says Lady Sovereign over the phone from her London home. “They think they know me, and they don’t know me — and it’s dis gustin ’.” Lady Sovereign, "Gatheration" (mp3)
By FRANKLIN SOULTS | October 20, 2006

Bostown dubstep

When Tim Haslett talks, Leggo listens; plus, drones at BCA
For new electronic sounds, Boston is considered behind the times.
By DAVID DAY | June 01, 2006

Tapes 'n Tapes

The Loon | Ibid
Like Stephen Malkmus and his merry men, these guys regard noise and distortion and weird song structures as their birthright.
By MIKAEL WOOD | May 31, 2006

Brit-hop

An interview with the Streets' Mike Skinner
For all the ink that’s been spilled over him around the world, you’d think Mike Skinner would be a little better known in the US, a country where TomKat’s new bundle of joy trumps suicide bombings on the news and new American idols are minted each and every season, only to be cut down the next.
By CHRIS NELSON | April 27, 2006

OMG, they’re dancing!

Notorious puts the G in grime; WZBC DJ pleads ‘Guilty’
When word came that G NOTORIOUS (a/k/a Geoff White) was putting out a promo-only grime mixtape, two questions came to mind. “Where’s G Notorious been?” And “Why grime?”
By DAVID DAY | October 27, 2008

Canadian clubbed

Two new sides of DJ Ghislain Poirier
As red-hot underground DJs go, Ghislain Poirier is as understated as it gets.
By DAVID DAY | March 07, 2006

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