Dizzee Rascal – Maths + English & Lethal Bizzle – Back To Bizznizz

XL, V2


Did grime even really happen? Almost every artist who was lumbered with the tag back when Mr Rascal won that prize, fervently defended themselves from the charge. Four years on, and Dizzee has half an eye on the American market.

Absurd macho posturing and megalomania has always been a (the?) defining feature of much rap music, and when detuned guitar riffs try to inject further knuckle-headedness into the single ‘Sirens’ it merely conjures up horrible images of Linkin Park.

Lethal Bizzle falls even flatter when he borrows dynamics from rock music (and r’n’b, and just about anywhere else), and his railing against politicians (and comedy feud with David Cameron) are far flimsier than Rascal’s single acerbic line, “I’m a problem for Anthony Blair”, delivered all those years ago.

It would be a shame if grime retreated into its shell and became some hybrid of hip-hop and novelty pop (see also Back To Bizznizz’s lamentable strum-along closer ‘Reflecting’ where Bizzle decides to “slow things down”, presumably a misguided attempt to ‘connect’ like on The Streets’ ‘Dry Your Eyes’). Where these records work, more often on ‘Maths + English’, is where the producers find a sound that’s recognizable as new, independent and properly thrilling.

Words_Niall Harden

Dizzee Rascal – 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lethal Bizzle – 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DOWNLOAD: Lethal Bizzle ‘You’ll Get Wrapped’, Dizzee Rascal ‘Pussyole’
FOR FANS OF: Wiley, So Solid Crew

Issue #50 - The Power To Know

Featuring The Top 50 NI Songs of Our Lifetime, The Streets, Deerhoof, Seasick Steve, Fucked Up, Garth Ennis and more.