Until Definitive Jux got involved, physical copies of Dizzee Rascal's third album were not distributed in the U.S. The Definitive Jux version of Maths and English followed roughly ten months after the original U.K. release on XL -- baffling since the album is more likely to appeal to the average U.S. hip-hop fan than either 2003's Boy in da Corner or 2004's Showtime, not only due to an appearance from Texas underground giants UGK on "Where's da G's." Another obstacle is that, due to sample clearance issues in the U.S., one of the album's most hip-hop tracks, "Pussyole (Old Skool)" -- with its use of the well-known break from Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)" -- had to be left off Definitive Jux copies. Even without it, the album is even more of a grime disconnect than Showtime, often more rooted in Southern bounce than anything else. Only "U Can't Tell Me Nuffin'" resembles the Dizzee of old from a production standpoint, its perturbed bass thrums and synth-string stuns, chirps, and sound-shards served up in a circular gait; it's buried near the end of the album. At the other end of the sequence, however, is "Sirens," a tense narrative over a chaotic production that throws neck-snapping percussion, head-banging guitars, and sound effects into a whirlwind of manic energy worthy of early agitated Cypress Hill. That track, as well as the others mentioned above, stand out most, with only a couple others rivaling them. While Dizzee can still drop a bewildering rhyme while being an MC of greater skill than before, his developments are not strictly for the better, as heard on "Hard Back (Industry)" (where he dishes out tired wisdom about the recording industry), the pointlessly and relentlessly crude "Suk My Dik" (i.e., "I do not care about haters, but here are some rhymes about how much I dislike them and what they can do"), and the Lily Allen feature "Wanna Be" (a lighthearted, amusing track with no replay value). It's Dizzee at his least unique and least riveting, both sonically and lyrically, thus far.
The grime scene is fierce and brutal, even towards its most talented players. Amongst longtime fans, Dizzee Rascal's name has become synonymous with "sell out" since signing a deal with XL in the U.K. last year. Next thing we know, Dizzee's face is everywhere; he's appearing on TV, touring around the world, etc., while his mates are still struggling in the streets and small studios in London....
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So everybody is in a tizzee over the latest collaborations between Dizzee Rascal and Miss Lily Allen, and Dizzee and the Arctic Monkeys. Pitchfork thinks that one or the other collaborators must be daft, BBC has been playing Dizzee's music on 3 channels this week, and numerous news sources are just scratching their heads over the idea of the Arctic Monkeys having a rap vocalist on the next alb...
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The grime scene is fierce and brutal, even towards its most talented players. Amongst longtime fans, Dizzee Rascal's name has become synonymous with "sell out" since signing a deal with XL in the U.K. last year. Next thing we know, Dizzee's face is everywhere; he's appearing on TV, touring around the world, etc., while his mates are still struggling in the streets and small studios in London....
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XL has a new video for "Flex" from Dizzee's summer release Maths & English. The single will be released November 19th on XL Recordings. Where do Dizzee and Wiley shop for threads? Check the leather Dizzee is sporting in the "Flex" vid and check Wiley out here:Here's the behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of "Flex":
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In other grime news, Dizzee Rascal's new single, "Sirens" hit stores this week. Bleep.com has "Sirens" as well as Dizzee's collab with Arctic Monkeys "Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend". You can listen to them on Bleep and/or order individual tracks in mp3 format. "Sirens" is from Dizzee's upcoming album (available in the US as digital only, but available on vinyl and CD in UK a...
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It's been a season since Dizzee Rascal released his Maths + English on XL Recordings, but he's been busy making vids and competing for music awards and ish. Now he's getting round to releasing a new single off the album: the old-school garage tinged "Flex" will hit the streets on 9 November while Dizzee is in the midst of a UK tour.25 Oct "Some Days Never End", The Irish Museum of Modern Art...
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Dizzee Rascal's future is now intertwined with Pete Doherty's. What's Dizzee thinking? Well, I guess rascal's don't get much say in who they tour with. Now it all rides on whether Doherty can stay out of jail and off drugs long enough to complete a Baby Shambles tour.Dizzee Rascal's current tour dates:16 Aug Pukkelpop Open Air Hasselt17 Aug Lowlands Festival Biddinghuizen18 Aug V2007 ...
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Dizzee Rascal and Amy Winehouse both scored four nominations each for UK's Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards. Dizzee was nominated for best UK male, best song for "Sirens," best video for "Sirens" and best hip hop act. I hope he wins best video because I LOVE that "Sirens" video. In fact, I'll include it here for you to watch again:SirensHowever, he doesn't get my vote for best UK male bec...
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So everybody is in a tizzee over the latest collaborations between Dizzee Rascal and Miss Lily Allen, and Dizzee and the Arctic Monkeys. Pitchfork thinks that one or the other collaborators must be daft, BBC has been playing Dizzee's music on 3 channels this week, and numerous news sources are just scratching their heads over the idea of the Arctic Monkeys having a rap vocalist on the next alb...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 World Outside |
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| 2 Sirens |
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| 3 Where's Da G's |
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| 4 Paranoid |
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| 5 Suk My Dick |
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| 6 Flex |
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| 7 Da Feelin' |
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| 8 Bubbles |
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| 9 Excuse Me Please |
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| 10 Hard Back (Industry) |
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| 11 Temptation |
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| 12 Wanna Be |
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| 13 U Can't Tell Me Nuffin' |
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| 14 G.H.E.T.T.O. |
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| 15 Driving With Nowhere To Go |
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| 16 Where's Da G's (El-P Remix) |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Maths and English")
