Dizzee Rascal

Dizzee Rascal

Dylan Mills (born 1985 in Bow, East London), known professionally as Dizzee Rascal, is a British rapper and a record producer. His music is a blend of garage MCing, conventional rap, grime and ragga, with extremely eclectic samples and more exotic styles. His debut album, Boy in da Corner, won him the 2003 Mercury Prize.

Music

His music is an electric mixture of garage and hip-hop beats with an extremely broad palette of influences, ranging from metal guitars to found sounds, drill and bass synth lines, eclectic samples and even Japanese court music. Like most grime artists, he uses "beats born of ringtones, video games and staticky pirate-radio sounds" Dizzee's tracks are traditional Grime in that the beats are often asymmetrical and make it difficult to dance to his music. His vocal performance is also distinctive, he uses a fast style of rapping which blends elements from garage MCing, conventional rap, grime and ragga. He raps about the same issues a confused generation of youth tends to; broken family, faithless mentors and a lack of support. Dizzee's videos are similar to many grime and garage artists in the UK. They are frenetic and fast, often matching the speed of the rapping. This is especially visible in the videos to "Fix up, look sharp" video and " I Love You". Although his fast style of rapping and his subject matter are nothing more than ordinary in the UK, Dizzee Rascal's diversity nonetheless separates him from other UK rappers. In songs like "Just remember this: I am you" and "Cut 'em off", "when Dizzee thinks very deeply—worrying about growing up, about those around him who won't grow up, about dying before he grows up—he sounds like"...."He delivers threats with KRS-style meta-awareness" More than just as a venue through Dizzee Rascal chooses to express his thoughts, "music stopped him from drifting into crime like many others on his estate." Dizzee is probably the best known grime artist to Americans. He worked closely with his mentor Wiley (who he had a fall out with) who created one of the first grime tracks called "Eskimo".

Dizzee is Grime's most popular artist globally. Grime is still considered underground even after Dizzee's mainstream exposure because the lack of mainstream success and most artists get their music noticed through independent produced DVDs and by selling their music out of barbershops. Dizzee's DJ, DJ Semtex, says, "the biggest conflict I have is with major labels because they still don’t get it." .

In his song "Brand New Day", Dizzee Rascal used "flat, punching out riddims into cheap PC software, beats born of ringtones, video games, and staticky pirate-radio sounds". He is able to change his sound of music completely, by using different processor. In "Jus a Rascal" he uses "T.O.K.'s hysterical dancehall harmonies, a synthesized guitar line halfway between death metal and English Beat, stuttering Southern hi-hats and a kick drum retarded to a crawl". Dizzee raps, in his high pitched pace, about "fatherless child coming up in the East London councl estates, aimless youth failed by the schools and the shitstem but saved by music, bedroom beat-head who went top of the pops by representing his strees but can't escape their judgement." "They've got estates over there that look just like ours", Dizzee explains, "except there are still bullet holes in the buildings and that's in the nice part. It's definitely being opened up a bit because they've just joined the EU, but away from the touristy part, it's still a deep and eerie vibe. It's like my friend over there was saying, the fa_ade is thin - it feels like anything could happen at any time, and sometimes it does." In "I Luv U", his breakout single, Dizzee describes two teens argue about unwanted pregnancy. They use sex as blackmail, realizing that they are still stuck in their relationship. In an end, boy ends up fantasizing about a college girl, who has left but still gives out sexual favors. "Then the frenetic beat seems to take over and the boy freestyles his last lines as if once the music fades he too might disappear. Dizzee manages to make this all sound funny and horrifying at once".

In 2004, Dizzee Rascal made an international endorsement deal with urban brand Eckō and designed his own shoe with Nike in 2005.

Dizzee worked with cross genre artist Beck on a remix of the song Hell Yes.

Dizzee has also provided guest vocals on an Arctic Monkeys track, the B-Side to their single Brianstorm named 'Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend'. Dizzee's version of the same song is featured as "Temptation" on his album Maths + English. Also in late July 2008 he featured on Rory Campbell's album "smooth mover".

Dizzee once told author Ben Thompson in an interview with the Sunday's Observer magazine that, “Everything I do is for the music – I want to master it like Bruce Lee mastered martial arts."

Boy in da Corner

After winning a Sidewinder award for 'best newcomer MC' in 2002, his album Boy in da Corner was released to universal critical acclaim in August 2003, entering the UK top 40 at #40. The album later reached #23. The album was preceded in June 2003 by the top 30 hit single I Luv U, a tale of accidental teenage pregnancy. In the same year the rapper was stabbed five times in Ayia Napa. Many tabloids suggested that this event was connected to an apparent feud between Dizzee and UK Top 40-topping garage act So Solid Crew. Despite the often serious content of his music, there are frequently humorous elements to be found.

Following the success of the "I Luv U" single and the album, the second single from Boy in da Corner was "Fix Up, Look Sharp". The single, released in August 2003, gave Dizzee his first UK top 20 single and also became the biggest hit from his debut album. In September, Dizzee was awarded the prestigious Mercury Prize for the best album of 2003. He was the youngest person (at 19) to do so and the second rapper (after Ms. Dynamite the previous year). The album was also chosen as the #1 album of the year by Planet Sound.

Along with being picked as the #1 album of the year by Planet Sound, Boy in da Corner was also chosen as one of the top 50 albums of the year by Rolling Stone, joining the likes of Kanye West, Mos Def, Eminem, and Jadakiss for 2004. His unique style, as "words pour out at a high pitch and pace, as if syllables are the only thing that can hold back a scream," have given him a sound that hip hop heads can embrace as something new and original in the hip hop scene.

Later in the year he collaborated with the Basement Jaxx on their third album, Kish Kash on the track "Lucky Star". The track, which was released as a single in November 2003 and gave Dizzee his third top 30 hit. The third and final single, taken from his debut album, was "Jus' a Rascal", which became his fourth top 30 success. The song was also featured in the movie Kidulthood, released in 2006.

"Jezebel" was never released from the album Boy in da Corner, but was well received and was exposed to well reviews and popularity on the underground scene. The song told the tale of a young London girl, who through years of going to parties, getting drunk, doing drugs and having sex earned herself the title Jezebel, translated as a slut, slag, whore etc.

He made his U.S. concert debut on February 7 2004 at Volume in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Showtime

In 2004, Dizzee Rascal won the NME award for Innovation. His second album, Showtime, came out in September of the same year, eclipsing the peak of his debut album by entering the UK album chart at #8. The first single from the album, released two weeks earlier in August 2004, was titled Stand Up Tall. This track entered the UK top 10. This song was written and produced by Jasal.

The second single "Dream", another top 20 hit, was released in November 2004. It sampled (and used the chorus of) Captain Sensible's song "Happy Talk", originally from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific. The "Dream" music video consisted of a mock 1950s style children's marionette show depicting scenes corresponding to the lyrics about Mills' East London youth: street culture, crime, single teenage mothers, pirate radio and garage clubs.

Later in 2004, Dizzee Rascal was part of Band Aid 20, a group of British musicians who re-recorded "Do They Know It's Christmas?" He did not sing in the song; rather, he rapped two lines of it ("Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived, if the table was turned would you survive?" and "You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless, give a little help to the helpless"). Dizzee Rascal was the first person to add to the song since the original was released.

In March 2005, the Double A-side single "Off 2 Work" / "Graftin" was released. "Graftin'" was the third and final single from the Showtime album, whilst "Off 2 Work" was a new track that did not appear on either of his albums. The accompanying music video featured Rascal in various ordinary workplace situations (as a policeman, a fast food vendor, a businessman, etc.) and PM Dizzee Rascal announcing his engagement to Cherie Blair. This was Dizzee's lowest charting single and smallest hit to date, peaking outside the UK top 40 at #44.

Maths + English

Dizzee's third album Maths + English was released on June 4, 2007. He stated in an interview before the album's release that "Maths" refers to producing, in terms of beats, deals and money and "English" to writing lyrics. The first single off this album, Sirens, was released on May 21. While American influences were vital to the creative evolution of “Maths & English,” the album never compromises its distinctively British identity.

Maths + English was one of the 12 nominees for the 2007 Mercury Prize, which went to Klaxons' album Myths of the Near Future.

The official U.S. album was released on April 29, 2008 in retail stores. It contains 2 tracks not on the European release; however, it does not include the track "Pussyole'". It is to be released on Definitive Jux.

In 2008 Dizzee Rascal recorded a song for a suicide charity, the song "Dean" is about a friend of Dizzee's who took his own life.

On December 12, 2008, he was arrested following an alleged incident involving a baseball bat in Southeast London. He was released on bail to return to a police station later in December.

Politics

A measure of the success of Dizzee and of Grime as a whole is the political attention it has received in the UK. Two prominent politicians, then Home Secretary David Blunkett and Culture Minister Kim Howells, have targeted 'black music', and have been accused of "blaming rap for 'glorifying gun culture and violence.'" Dizzee himself has been quoted by UK newspaper for his line that says "I'm a problem for Anthony Blair" As a result in a move to censor Grime Channel U has with the pressure from the police begun to sift through grime videos, being highly selective with the ones that are broadcast.

During the 2008 US Presidential Elections Dizzee gave a live interview to Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman in which he described Barack Obama as "an immediate symbol of unity". Referred to by Paxman as "Mr Rascal" he explained that hip-hop played an important part in encouraging young voters and opined that the United Kingdom could also have a black Head of Government.

Dirtee Stank

Dizzee Rascal has created his own record label, called Dirtee Stank. Dizzee Rascal's explanation of the name: "The name came from one of the first lyrics I had: "going on dirty/going on stank…So I thought 'yeah fuck it, Dirtee Stank.'"" Dizzee has stated "I had Dirtee Stank before I had my record deal". The first white label release of 'I Luv U' was made on Dirtee Stank, released when he was 16. Although both of his albums and their subsequent singles have been released under XL Recordings. It was not until 2005 that Dizzee Rascal 'revived' the label and made his first signings, Klass A, and Newham Generals. Dizzee has stated the ethos of the company is “The label is about bridging the gap between indies, majors and the street. Stank is the way forwards” . The label's logo is a picture of flies circling faeces, when asked why this logo was chosen Dizzee stated that it was: “gulliest thing I could think of".

The label was formed and is owned by Dizzee Rascal, and is co-run by Dizzee's manager, Cage. According to Cage, Dirtee Stank exists to promote gifted artists with "social problems" that might scare off other labels. "People who, through the conditions they live in, might not be stable." The label should also help artists overcome hurdles such as access to studios that "take something from a raw demo to something people will get excited about on the street".

The Newham Generals' mixtape Welcome to Newham and their debut album Generally Speaking were supposed to have been release in 2006 on Dirtee Stank.

As of September 12, 2006 a notice on Dizzee's official site reported on the availability of Newham Generals' mixtape Best of Newham Generals Vol. 1 both in stores and online.

In an August 2007 Q Magazine interview he stated that he was working on his next album. He said that it is due out for release in late 2008 but did not say what the name of his new album will be.

He released the single "Dance Wiv Me", featuring UK electro artist Calvin Harris and RnB artist Chrome, on July 7 2008. The track became Jo Whiley's Pet Sound for the week beginning June 2 2008. The single charted at Number 1 on download sales alone, a week before its physical release. The song was also covered by The Chris Moyles Show sports reading, Carrie Davis, under the pseodonym, 'Camilla Ice'.

Discography

Albums

• 2003: Boy in da Corner (#23 UK)
• 2004: Showtime (#8 UK)
• 2007: Maths + English (#7 UK)
• 2009: TBA (TBA UK)

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions		Album
		UK	UK Indie
2003	"I Luv U"	29	—	Boy in da Corner
	"Fix Up, Look Sharp"	17	—
	"Jus' a Rascal"	30	1
	"Do They Know It's Christmas?" (as a part of Band Aid 20)	1	—
2004	"Stand Up Tall"	10	1	Showtime
	"Dream"	14	—
	"Off 2 Work"/"Graftin'"	44	—
2007	"Sirens"	20	—	Maths + English
	"Pussyole (Old Skool)"	22	1
	"Flex"	23	1
2008	"Dance Wiv Me" feat. Calvin Harris and Chrome	1	1	Single Only

Featured singles

Year	Single	Chart positions			Album
		UK	UK Indie	US Dance
2003	"Lucky Star" (with Basement Jaxx)	23	—	3	Kish Kash

External links

Official sites

• Template:Myspace
• Official website
• Dizee Rascal News at the XL Recordings home page
• Interview @ musicOMH
• Interview @ Format Mag
• July 2008 Interview with L.A. Record

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Dizzie rascal first found his name whist spinning on an office chair rapping to a song, he soon realised that he had talent and went for a record deal, Dizzie rascal is well known for dizzie all over the world and come dance wiv me!! these were in my opinion his best song!!Billie- always happy to help ( this is no joke)