Dizzee Rascal vs. Music
Remember that Pepsi commercial from about 10 years ago, with the guys banging away on stuff and making all that cool music?... You do? Well, that's what Dizzee Rascal sounds like... minus the cool music.
Riding on the heels of the transatlantic buzz generated by The Streets (aka Mike Skinner)... Dizzee Rascal synthesizes disparate genres like garage, rap, jungle, and ragga -- and takes it to the next level fuh sho. He's the doe ray mee... to your latte, dude. And the jungle connection is undeniable: Dizzee is drum and bass... minus the drums... and the bass. Every once in awhile you get one of those resonated "pirate radio" style bass sounds (critics just love "pirate" stuff). But I'm going to agree with Dizzee on this one... "Stop Dat".
Quite simply... listening to Dizzee Rascal annoys the shit out of me. As if the clanging and banging weren't enough to rouse a full-body headache... the vocals elevate this commotion to the level of symphonic incoherence. If R. Kelly has an arch-nemesis... it must be D. Rascal.
Many critics have informally nominated Dizzee as the archetypal 21st century music maverick. He rummages through the ruins of the 20th century, gleaning disparate bits of gizmo tech, throwaway sounds, and drum and bass gadgetry. Maybe that's why it sounds like someone dug it out of a trash can.
Where is the coherence? Is he hiding the lyrics? Is this the only way English artists can be considered innovators: to make something amazingly wack? Is it supposed to be cludgy and off-kilter? Is there a device I plug into my ear that "translates" the music? If this is music for the Post-Apocalypse... where are Mad Max and Tina Turner? The Thunderdome would be a fitting venue. I'll grab the chainsaw.
On the bright side, punk rockers and English people will love this stuff. Construction sites can play this music after hours to deter thieves. When the government wants to lay siege to a compound like the Branch Davidians or Osama Bin Laden, they can use this music to torture the bad guys.
Maybe the most noteworthy thing about Dizzee Rascal is how many examples of poor taste he crams into each song... yet each song is clearly distinct from the others! No one will accuse Dizzee of making the same bad song twice. Seriously... a song like "I LUV U II" is compellingly bad, and distinct amongst the shitty music rank-and-file. Let's just say Dizzee is the English equivalent of Busdriver... minus the bus... and the driver.
Sorry Dizzee... nothing personal.... I just don't like your music.
Posted by Eric on January 21, 2004 06:11 PM
It's kinda funny: I was checking out "Fix Up, Look Sharp" while reading your latest entry.
After 1 listen I am ready to disregard anything else by this dude! Annoying and uninspiring like a mug!
Eric, Eric, Eric.... You have just reached 0 on my respect-o-meter. As much as it hurts a true fan of hip-hop to not swear, I feel that doing so will reduce my intellect to a level much like yours... oh, forget it, you sh*t headed mutherf*cka! Dizzee Rascal's music is original, catchy and, above all, street. And as for your comment on the Jin 'The Amazing Asian Rapper' page, well... I agree with your statement about how racism only exists along with the belief that race exists, but come on - the fact that only 'punk rockers and ENGLISH people' contradicts your preceding statement so much that I feel inclined to tell everyone who reads this that you suck c*ck on a regular basis. You are as racist as Hitler’s granddad if you believe that your nationality can possibly dictate your taste in music.
P.S. Learn to spell 'mute'
P.P.S. You're American, right? Only a yank could be as racist as you!! (Joke)
Yes... thank you. I was wondering when someone would come along and help me flog the dead horse a little.
What I meant to say is that only punk rockers and English people -- OF COLOR -- will appreciate Dizzee Rascal.
Eric, Eric, Eric... yet another example of needless racism. You feel threatened by the black supremacy of the hip hop industry? He is innovative and exciting, something that is missing in a lot of today's music. As for the idea that only people of COLOUR will like it - I have a white boy next to me that disagrees, and he isn't a punk rocker!
P.S. Learn to spell 'colour' - if you guys have to steal our language, then the least you can do is spell it correctly.
That's great: you have a white friend. Does he like Dizzee Rascal?... He does?!?!... I guess that blows a big hole in my theory.
Oh, and we didn't steal your language... we just make it sound better on the microphone.
;)
Just for the record, I challenge Tom to name one innovation of Dizze Rascal, aside from being the most amazingly bad English artist ever.
And that's bad meaning bad, not good meaning good.
If one has to ask to know about any more great uk creations, a question occurs wondering if this person is a true urban music follower?! uk has a vast underground rap and hiphop base, so big if u have not heard of any of the new talents u must be a classical music and teeniepop follower. dizzie rascal has appeared at concerts with the likes of jayz (jayz is an american rapper for the ignorent) he has numerous underground mix tapes and a few traks that are breachin into the charts. another artist asher D is meant to be in contact with american artists and producers to make more music..so this us-uk relatoinship is expanding..the uk is getin into the game. crtics who claim any sort of statment in the hope it holds any validity should not be so bigotry. uk rappers are proply better crtics cz they get all the shit from america, as well as uk. jus lettin all you kno out there that american hiphop is now gettin a bit tired and the new thing is uk rap, its comin..whether u like it or not
One innovation...? How about five?
1) On 'fix up look sharp', he uses the clipping sound you always get at the start of any ripped sample, and uses it to progress the rhythm of the beat.
2) On 'I luv u' he uses a nice trick of skipping a 'hey' sample to add a break beat effect to the drum track... I don't think I’ve heard this used anywhere else.
3) On 'Brand new day' he defies music convention by interpolating the B minor scale with the B Dorian scale (starting on the third, for the non musical literate), which can only ever work if you reverse the order of the notes in one scale. I have only ever heard this musical technique used once, and that was on Beethoven's 9th - arguably, an act of musical genius.
4) Being in its entirety a new rhythm style for you mentally backward Americans, UK garage is, in itself, an innovation. Although this isn't purely Dizzee, he is the only one that blends this new genre with drum 'n' bass (WITH drum and WITH bass, d*ckhead) and conventional hip-hop.
5) And finally... This is probably the first time anyone has ever done this (I know the techniques of every major producer in hip hop, and none of them have adopted this style.) - on 'sittin here' he completely edits music structure to an amazing effect. On this track, the typical role of the bass line is replaced by the hat rhythm (hat is a type of drum, moron), while the sparse drum pattern takes overall the role of bass and lead.
To conclude...
Number of known innovations by Dizzee Rascal = 5+
Number of known innovations by Eric = 0
Next time you challenge me, do your research, and make sure you know what you're arguing about.
P.S. Big up to Exodus, and the rest of the B.M.F Souljahs!
P.P.S. How do you guys sound when you're not on the mic? I wasn't talking about pronunciation (don't get me started on that issue) but I was actually talking about spelling. The version of English that you guys speak was how we spoke when we gave you guys your country - only difference is, we have evolved, which makes you technically retarded by over 300 years!
P.P.P.S Answer me this - how did you guys let a small nation such as Britain to OWN YOUR ASS for so damn long!! You really are a bunch of pussies (Don't say that you guys won the civil war, because we had more important stuff to do in Europe at the time!) If that isn't enough, you also got your ass kicked by Japan and Vietnam, both of which are less than a tenth of the size of the 'Divided States of Embarrassment' (A term coined by Eminem, one of your own - you may have heard of him, if you actually listen to hip hop). On the contrary, our shores have not been breached since 1066! :)
Tom... all that shit you are talking about are not major innovations. Innovation doesn't mean doing something different, it means doing things that will inspire and influence other people.
1. clipping sounds have been used by numerous artists including Prefuse 73 from Atlanta.
2. skipping samples has been done by everyone from Prefuse 73 to DJ Shadow, Push Button Objects, etc, etc.
3. interpolating a b and a b minor scale is not really an innovation in a genre of music where notation and theory have almost no significance. If it sounds good... it doesn't matter what the notes or scales are.
4. Garage has been around for, what... 10 years already? and dudes been rapping over jungle for quite sometime now. i used to go to a club where Peace, Micah 9, and Busdriver would rap over jungle every week. that was in 1998. Zion I rapped over a jungle beat on their debut single from 1998.
5. dude, give me a break. i played drums for 10 years. there are plenty of rap songs without basslines. how about "Tried By 12"? how about 50 million other songs that don't follow convention. Ragga music is full of this sort of rule breaking.
You know, I think I might have misread your original post. I saw that "joke" thing you wrote and I assumed you were being tongue-in-cheek. you brits are always so dry-witted and ironic that i thought we might be having a friendly tete-a-tete. but at least i am still dry and witted.
relax buddy... don't be such a snob. I'm not dissing English people... I'm dissing Dizzee Rascal.
Well, first off, nowhere in the defintion of 'innovation' as I know it states that one must be inspiring or influential; an innovation is the introduction of something new, or something contrary to custom. If your definition is off, it completely invalidates your arguments which are all based on the idea of innovation.
Secondly, I don't think Tom stated that you were dissin' English people - the problem seems to be that contradictory to one of your earlier and (at the time) respectable comments about racism, you've since made several racist remarks - all seemingly with The English in the crosshairs. I must agree with Tom that it's more than a little annoying.
Taking a leaf from your own book of writing techniques...
'I agree, Eric is dry and witted...minus the witted'.
Uh oh... everybody ganging up on little ol' me.
OK... we've all expressed our feelings about Dizzee. You say he rules. I say he sucks. You say innovation = doing something different. I say innovation = influencing other artists. case closed. now shut up about all that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I made no references to race in my original entry. Correct? Please quote me if I missed it.
In fact, it was Tom who brought up the issue of race and accused me of being racist, which I thought was a joke since he wrote "joke" at the end of his comments.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but English people come in all colors and sizes (although maybe not as obese as most Americans). If not... no worries. I thought English people came in all colors and sizes.
For anyone else reading this, please take note of the fact that 90% of what I wrote is very silly and poses no threat to the English music scene.
I am mostly reacting to the fact that I believe the overwhelmingly positive reviews of Dizze by critics here in the States does not reflect the tastes of most Americans, who I believe will reject his music because it is too cacophonous and experimental. You call it innovation, I call it experimentation. I give him props for trying something different, but I do not believe this is a new standard for music.
I think Mike Skinner is much closer to the sound that will eventually be embraced in the U.S. I think a change is coming, but American audiences want grooves. Garage doesn't have quite the swing or syncopation that American audiences want. Different strokes... different folks. It is taking decades for ragga to crossover, and the similarities between hip hop and ragga are much closer than hip hop and garage or jungle.
Where are Mad Max and Tina Turner when I need them???
OK, regarding your claim that there's no racism to be found in your initial statement, I beg to differ. "Is this the only way English artists can be considered innovators: to make something amazingly wack?" Being an Englishman myself, I find this comment particularly offensive. Considering Dizzee was around 16 years old when he made this music, in comparison to the American artists of around the mid to late 20's, you must allow time for the artist to mature musically. With respects to his age, he is musically superior AND innovative to any American artists I've heard in a long time.
Another comment that I interpreted as being racist was referred to earlier by Tom, "On the bright side, punk rockers and English people will love this stuff." How can the belief that "your nationality can possibly dictate your taste in music" [Tom] not be racist?
Last time I checked, there was no such thing as an English race. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I guess you might call my latent international antagonism "cultural nationalism" then, instead of just boring old racism. I've explained that I meant nothing racial, and yet you still want to accuse me and call names and stuff. Relax... I wasn't dissing YOU buddy. I was dissing Dizzee. All that other stuff is just take-it-or-leave-it humor. I'm trying to generate some tension, but not without acting the fool a bit.
By the way, when you use terms like "superior" and "innovative" it seem you are suggesting some sort of competition between America and the UK. Look man, I've been to England and it's a nice place... chill.
I'm talking about music. I don't know what your head is caught up in. But stop calling me a racist, cuz it makes no sense my fellow human homie. For the last time, stop talking about this, walk away, and spread a little joy instead of looking for a fight.
I picked on Dizzee in my original entry because of all the hype he has been getting. I'm a counter-hype machine of sorts. I say things maybe other writers don't want to. I'm also saying: don't get your hopes up that Dizzee will crossover in a few years. Sure, maybe he'll be the Lou Reed of his generation. But unless he completely changes his sound, he will not last in the U.S. market. Not enough grooves. Lyrics are fine... but the beats will need to loosen up a bit. People here aren't ready for punk rap.
And if I'm wrong... so be it... come back in a few years and say "I told you so big fat stupid brainwashed arrogant stupid ugly American!!!" If American audiences opened up to Dizzee... I would be pleasantly surprised. But it still won't change my opinion of Dizzee's first album.
How about it?
Eric, Eric, Eric... you big fat stupid brainwashed arrogant stupid American (That's called sarcasm - maybe you guys haven't reached that level yet, but that's called humour). I think you are taking my anti-American rants a little too personally, but it needs to be said - the degree of anti-American hatred in Britain is overwhelmingly high. Don't hate me; I’m just a messenger.
Maybe you don't quite get what I meant by my previous list of innovations. It's not a problem; I'll say them again in nice simple words for you;
1) On 'fix up look sharp', he uses the clipping sound you always get at the start of any ripped sample, and uses it to PROGRESS THE RHYTHM OF THE BEAT. I know others use clipping sounds - I have just told you it always happens when you rip a sample. Dizzee takes this unfortunate side affect and uses it as a rhythmatic aid. Simple as.
2) Maybe I didn't explain this first time round... On I luv U, he skips a sample to CREATE A BREAK BEAT EFFECT. I know other people skip samples, that's what DJ's were invented for. If you play drums, you should know that the defining characteristic of break beat is that the kick keeps the rhythm whilst the snare goes wild. Dizzee's innovation is that he replaces the snare with the skipping sample, rather than using the sample. Simple as.
3) First of all, interpolating a B and a B minor scale is normal - it's how musicians add emotion to their tunes. What I actually wrote was that he used a B minor and a B DORIAN scale, which means that, as I said, the order of the notes must be reversed. Secondly, do you know why some songs sound good and others sound shit...? It's because of the scales used. Music theory has as much to do with hip hop as any other form of music - if you don't believe me, listen to any track produced by the Neptunes or Dr Dre and you will realise that the pentatonic scale (usually in the key of E) is king. Simple as.
4) Jungle? Who mentioned Jungle? I'm talking about drum and bass. And anyway, rapping over jungle IS NOT combining jungle with hip-hop. To adequately combine drum and bass with hip hop, you must take the typical aspects of the hip-hop style (Emphasised snare of the 2nd and 4th beat, minimalistic basslines, etc) with the aspects of drum and bass (Unruly rhythms based around the synoptication of the kick and snare drums, powerful attacking basslines, etc.). This means that he is blending one type of music with its effective antithesis, NOT rapping over jungle. Hence, innovation. Simple as.
5) Now, take the time to look back upon what I originally wrote. I DID NOT say that the song had no bassline; on the contrary, I said that the rhythmatic role of the drums has been taken over BY the bassline. If you have been involved in music for ten years, like you say you have, you should know the different instrumental roles. ALL music, of ALL genres, follows the following basic set-up - drums for rhythm, bass for progressing the song and lead for melody. Dizzee reverses the instrumental roles of the drums and the bass, NOT removes one from the mix! SIMPLE AS!!
Now, I know it may appear that I am getting a little vexed by you and your comments, but as I said earlier, don't take it so personally. It's not you PERSONALLY I'm dissing, nor is it the American people I'm dissing; It's America itself, and everything that it represents (War Mongering, Brainwashing, International Bullying, Betrayal of smaller countries, etc). Maybe it's just part of the 'English sense of humour' (if there is such as thing) to take irony to its extremes.
Now you have two options. Either;
1) Give up, admit that Dizzee, even though you don't like him, is valuable to music. Abandon your generalisations about the English populace, and send me my cigar and Remy Martin.
OR...
2) Post a response, and wait for me to tear it out of you again. Believe me, I have plenty of ammo. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that you still can't spell (NO is not spelt KNOW). If you take this option, then I will be forced to destroy you, not only on this article, but also on ALL of the others! I'm looking forward to the Christian rappers one; I have enough shit to say.
The choice is yours, Eric.
P.S. Big up to Dave for the support, as well as B.M.F. Souljahs (Judas, Exodus and Nakilla)
P.P.S. Big up to all of the underground rappers, DJs and producers in the Birmingham Area. We'll own this rap game one day!
Just so people know. About 15 minutes after I posted my previous message, I edited my message a little and dropped a line about offering Tom a bottle of Remy and a big fat green stogie, if Dizzee blows up in the States. The offer is still on.
OK... back to our little squabble.
First, I take it personally when you call me a racist. Don't call me a racist and I won't get upset.
Second, I don't consider myself an American any more than I consider myself a citizen of planet earth. I have friends and family on every continent. I don't vote and if there were a draft I would get the fuck outta here. I don't kill people and I don't let friends kill friends.
Third, although my comments about Dizzee seem to suggest otherwise, I have been a big supporter of UK hip hop, especially Ty and Roots Manuva. Over the last FIVE years I have maintained a UK hip hop message board. Also, I have also included Ty, Roots Manuva, Kela, and Vadim in various charts over the years. And one of my favorite artists of all time is Daddy Freddy.
www.stinkzone.com
www.stinkzone.com
Fourth, if you wanna talk politics... shoot. I have been studying and living politics most of my life. My specialties are economic development, international politics, and grassroots activism. I would MUCH rather talk about politics than the merits of my opinion on a music artist. I can give you insights into America that might give you a better understanding of why we are fucking up so badly
But all that said... definitely big up for staying engaged. Stick around and hassle some of the other visitors!!
Peace....
hey, eric...
Just for reference what kind of music do you consider to be good and innovative?
My guess you just ain't from the acid/bleep/glitch generation of music admirers... Do u even consdier concrete as music?
Anyways, if hip-hop is about being able to take other people's material and transform it into something very personal which reflects on your influences and environment, then Dizzee has done extremely well. This is what the inner city London feels and sounds like. Granted the album is perhaps not the most innovative in that it uses bits and pieces of other genres, but the way he does it has to be recognized to be unique. And personally while sometimes a bit harsh I still enjoy listening to Dizzee, his music is authentic, it is "real" in the hip-hop sense of the word and it comes straight from his soul (all the characteristics which make a good album for me, given a certain degree of talent, which Dizzee has).
As for his popularity in the US, I think it will fit in neatly into the Dirty South side of things, which is not one of my favourite sort of hip-hop, but the album along with the work by Diplo have opened my ears to that sort of thing. Maybe he will not get extremely big, but Hollertronix parties are already playing his records at the parties. We all also know very well that how big something will get has to do more with the major labels giving it mad exposure and nothing else really... and it is already popular in the sort of intellectual/underground circles.
peace...
Do you mean "musique concrete"?? or whatever that stuff was called. Yeah, I'm down.
I think Kanye and Just Blaze are innovative. I think a lot of West Coast artists are innovative: Project Blowdians, Droop Capone, Busdriver, Gift of Gab, Encore, and Madlib has his moments. On the other side we got MF Doom, and Common (who is still one of the nicest in the game), along with, well... actually, I think it's all been done and innovation is overrated. As Defari said, "A lot of emcees try to be new instead of classic."
To get a sense for my taste in current hip hop, check out the charts...
www.stinkzone.com
...or click on that mix at the top of the weblog main page to hear some of my outlandish mixing.
On a side note...
They played "Fix Up, Look Sharp" on Friday Night Flavas tonight in Los Angeles -- during the "Ill or Buzzkill" segment of the show. Listeners voted: buzz kill. But it shoould be noted that a few brave souls admitted they actually liked it on the air.
I'm sure they got their ass kicked immediately.
Peace to all non-hateration devices implanted within your cranium or sternum.
Well, I'm not gonna predict that Dizzee will be big in America, nor will I say he won't. I'm sure you know more about the typical American and their tastes than I do (I've never been there).
My point is that Dizzee can be good and innovative MC without being big in America - the USA is not the world, it's just one of hundreds of nations that may like Dizzee's music.
Word. I agree. I kinda baited people on this one. I was mostly trying to be funny. And, contrary to appearances, I actually do have a fair amount of respect for Dizzee and the UK music scene. I do actually believe that y'all are onto something, but I think it will be somewhere between Dizzee and Mike Skinner... and The Troggs.
;)
Personally, I dislike The Streets' music. Some of the lyrics are OK...I don't like the vocal though - call me picky.
From the British stage, the likes of Roll Deep and Heartless Crew are more to my liking. From a little further back, So Solid too...but they seem to have faded out now.
Whichever direction British hip-hop takes...watch yourselves...something big's comin'!
First off, you only "owned our ass" until precisely the moment at which we decided that we wanted our independence. How many times have you defeated the U.S. in war? One-to-nothing is still a victory.
Second, it wasn't the Civil war. If you're going to call one of mine uneducated, educate yourself. An uprising against tyrannical rule is known as Revolution. So was our war of independence.
Third, Dizzee Rascal is dance music, plain and simple. As such, it isn't relevant in the least. But his lyrics are sharp, smart, political, and insightful, and indeed relevant. But please give props to America, as our people of "COLOUR" were hip-hop's originators. Much like Eminem and the Beastie Boys made hip hop marketable to a larger, predominantly white audience, British hip hop tweaks it and gives it more international appeal. It still started here.
Hey British heads/ladz,
When I travelled back in 96' out of the US for the first time, I learned that Brits like rap...kinda. The stuff I listened to then was kinda weak. Is there still a B.G. "Prince of Rap"? (He's like LL, Marky Mark, and a vaccum cleaner) I think that guy is from your 'Isle'. He sux ballz. Anyway, I think I'll start diggin' in ya crates again. Last UK act I listened to was Tricky (Brit?) and that dude who sang 'Return of the Mack'. What happend to that 'chap'? I heard he got zapped by a cop's tasor and got a 3 yr. bid. (American radio clowned his ass, it was jacked up) And oh yeah, is Germany anything like UK? I may be out there for a while, there and Belgium. One more thing, are the Paki chicks (oops, I think thats' racist in UK, in DC Paki's are cool wit it.) hot in UK? Can any British female emcees 'Bend it like Becham'? And do you guy's ball, like play basketball, or just 'footbaw' Soccer is only fun on PS2/XBOX...siike, I stepped on toes, b'NEway, this is ignorant American signing off. Out.
All I want to say is that this is coming from an ENGLISH PERSON living in LONDON, all of you artists here in america have the companies the base and connections to make it big in music, but in england its hard to make it big especially in rap, because not everybody will be interested in listening to english rap they are all interested in american rap that glorifies guns,drugs,sex which is not a bad thing to rap about cuz its saying the truth, but most of the artist rapping bout it in the US dont even have THE FUC***G talent,nobody knows that it took DIZZEE RASCAL 20 MINUTES TO PRODUCE AND WRITE "I LUV U" ON HIS MUSIC TEACHERS COMPUTER WHEN HE was F***ING 16 YEARS OLD. All the haters in america go and read dizzee rascals lyrics and check out his album, his flows are out of this world and he can make catchy tunes and he also make songs that say how it is to be a teen growing up without a dad in the housing estates in south east london which believe me is not the nicest place to grow up, delivering a powerful and message on life . OH I forgot to say that MAYBE dizzee rascal's beats aint the greatest thing you have heard but you need to realise he produced the album by himself, but one thing you need to admit is he has KILLER LYRICS, as far as a celeb status for a boy to come out of east london, he HAS WON ALL OF ENGLAND at the age of 19 winning the prestigious mercury prize. With all that Dizzee never goes on celebrity tv shows he never goes to celeb parties, because dizzie doesnt care about fame unlike MANY FAKE rappers, dizzie stays on his music, and at the age of 19 that's real.
Children... calm down. I don't know if you've been keeping a close eye on mine and Eric's interchange, but most of what was said was just lighthearted squabbling. If you want to join the debate then that's cool.
Doc T... let me educate you. I don't care what you call your uprising - a violent revolution is still a civil war because BOTH groups were of the SAME nationality (at the time, America and England were technically one). Also, Dizzee Rascal is NOT dance music. If you take a dance beat and mc over it, it is no longer dance - this is how UK garage originally started out before branching of into other directions.
Nobu... I read your comments on the other columns, and I've got to admit that you know your stuff. I agree with you; 'Prince of Rap' does suck ballz. Tricky isn't a Brit though, and I always thought Mark Morrison was Canadian (I dunno). A lot of stuff has changed since '96, including the true arrival of a real scene, not just a bunch of kids messing around in their bedrooms. Last time I checked, Germany wasn't much like the UK. That's like saying the US is like Mexico just because of their geographic proximities. European nations have a much longer history than yours and as such they are more culturally varied. One last thing... yeah, there are some damn fine Asian girls in the UK, but then again there are some nasty ones. Like any other group of girls. Anywhere else.
Now, don't get all pre-menstrual on me just because I've made a reply. Take it well or don't take it at all.
Peace
Tom,
Thanks for your o-pine (mountain fresh, hehe).
Yo, I'm not stupid enough to think that Germany would be like a sister country to England; true they speak German, I just figured it'd be like Canada/US similarities. I've heard that most Germans don't speak any English, I guess that was my biggest worry, I've not practiced any German seriously, and only know some from when my cuz was studying it back in HS.
My pops went on a train through Europe (Belgium-Germany), I figured since the borders were so open that people would have alot more in common, and that maybe taste in music and style would be similar.
I know it was a very general question about the girls, I was kidding mostly, I just figured since I've seen some of that movie 'Bend it like Beckham' that ya'll have some'DSL' (Desi Sexy Ladies). I was at heathrow for a stop-over so I know ya'll do anyway.
I was curious to know if there are any talented 'Girl Emcees' out in UK. In the US female rappers are mostly marketed for their sexuality. A few like Jane Doe, and Jean Gray(ey) are exceptional and make serious efforts, and get respect from indie/underground/tru-school heads, but get no props in the mainstream. Only Eve (not as bad as most), Foxy Brown (has skills and wastes her rhymes on her looks), and Lil' Kim (Biggie rip-off) get any attention from music publications, radio, and the masses.
I learned from you of one coincidence between us was that London as in DC, has a concentration of the worst living conditions and violence in the South East of the city. Isn't heathrow close to SE London?
Is Dizee Rascal a black-Brit (as in his ancestry in UK go back a long while), or is he from recent immigrants like Jamaican, or African? Or is he not of African descent at all?
Peace.
p.s. I realized after writing that, that I had some favorite British DJs (Yoda, and RJD2). RJ is my favorite, his stuff is so cool, even my mom, who listens to Jazz mostly, loves like 3 of his tracks (I blast it in the house.) Out.
RJD2 is from Columbus, Ohio, right?
Ok I am from the uk and am from the ghetto! and as you all may know urban england is very much influenced by urban america through the rap culture. but however uk garage as given us a channel to create our own style of hip hop which is all about being original and trying not to be american. no direspect to americans were just trying to be innovators. Dizzee Rascal in a word is a geeneus!! this eric dude is just very narrow minded and doesnt seem to like change. the music that Dizzee Produces Is not uk Garage it is infact a sub genre of uk garage which he basically inveted along with fellow "Roll Deep" Members. Which Is know as Grime Or Sub-lo. (roll deep is the crew of dj's and mc's dizzee came from before his record deal with xl) Dizzee is opening doors for people like me and other youths from the uk who are laso talented.
if any one wants any links to other uk mcs producer just e mail me. i will be glad to give you info. its all about getting heard at the end of the day
Nobu (yo daddy!)
First off...yes, "Paki" is a racist term in here in Britain. Just like callin' you a 'yank' is racist from where you're at, but here is just normal, but I won't go there in case I step on any toes (oops).
Second - don't be so short-sighted and narrow-minded to think that British hip-hop hasn't evolved since 1996.
With reference to duane, urban England isn't influenced by the USA. Every country on Earth has it's uptown areas and low-like ghetto slums, the fact that the USA thinks that people getting killed, beat up and stole from on the street is something to glamourise illustrates where it's minds at - in the gutter. No offence intended, just stating my view.
But back to Nobu. What's with the pride you seem to have taken in saying American radio made Mark Morrison out to be a joke? Take a listen to any of the majority of US hip-hop. Almost every "artist" your side of the ocean talks about gettin' thrown in prison with the aim of creating a false "badboy" image when they're just pussies. Just because Mark Morrison actually did shit to live up to that image isn't something to joke about when your rappers wannabe like that and fail. Instead, they set up pretty little photo shoots of them countin' money on tables scattered with drugs and guns - grow up.
Dave...Simple as,
Wha's good witchu, baby? Ay man, I'z jus' trying to have a chill discussion, I admit my ignorance of UK Hip-Hop.
Mark Morrison... that was dudes name. Yeah, you're right about many Rap acts frontin' like they hard or somthin'. RnB is somthing different.
Mark M. is RnB, right? I'm just saying the way the radio stations clowned him was funny. Just like when other artists get in embarassing situations, however most American artists, once they are embarrassed come back with their own statement, and try to comeback into the spotlight. For instance Halle Berry and her hit and run incident, embarrassing for sure, but she apologized to the vic, and continued her career. Other examples: Whitney (crack-head ho) Houston, R. (Jailbaiter) Kelly, P. Diddy (Shyne incident), etc. I was just saying it was pretty sad how he let himself get clowned by cops, and the media, and didn't say a peep, nor did he have a comeback single/album.
There are actually RnB artists who really still belong in the ghetto like Jaheim. I wouldn't give any rap artists any street credibility unless he's had 'priors'.
I don't know this Dizzee guy, and maybe his music is interesting, but that still doesn't make him 'real', thug, official, or whatever your people call an actual criminal or ex-criminal. In fact, I don't care about who is more thug. If an artist has a story (Biggie), tha's cool, if he's a story teller (Big-L), that's fine also. Whether or not someone did dirt, it's still glamorizing that lifestyle, isn't it? It's kinda a double-standard to say American artists are fake thugs, and they glamorize street life, and then turn around and say "Dizzee is a 'reeeal' thug and his music is truly from his past, but dizzee isn't glamorizing it".
Get ya mindz right.
Out.
Nobu (yo daddy!),
One of your first statements in that reply of yours, I'd have to completely agree with - when you say you don't care who's more thug. I listen to an artists music because I like their music, not because they've killed someone or whatever.
As for Dizzee, I never said he was a criminal. I don't mean artists glamourise thug life if they've been criminal before they were famous, my point with many recent American artists is that, although they haven't run into much trouble with the law, they put on a front like they're as bad as that - that's what I mean with glamourisation. If a rapper has broke the law in the past, he can't really help but make music about it as most good music comes from experience from the artists life. What I don't like is when they act like they're people you should fear because they've done some bad shit during their life, when they really haven't.
In this way, I don't have a double standard. British artists (on the whole, I'm sure there are some who do) don't brag about having guns and doing drugs etc. unless they really do. For example, one recent occurance was Asher Ds arrest for gun possession (from So Solid).
Yeah dave,
I agree with you. But the reality of all emcees from the dawn of this culture is that emcees are usually gonna do either or both: rhyme about their experiences and their cohorts, or rhyme about what goes on in others lives whom they've known.
On one of J-live's albums there is an interlude where people on the streets give their opinion about what they think an emcee is and should be. One commenter says something like "great emcees are great liars".--I'd take that to mean that emcees are lyrically deft, and use imagery to satisfy the audience, even if it isn't real. If that image is obvious enough that it isn't the artist, then it's still honest work from the emcee; but if as you say they completely front like they are criminals and haven't lived it at all, then I'd agree with you completely.
Who do you think is guilty of this charge of fake-thugs?
In my opinion, unless you've really lived the life of scarface, (like it's possible before most of these guys rhyme at age 17) you've really no real-life material to talk about. I think then that 90% of all the hard-core stuff is fantasy.
Even 'official' types like Tupac, haven't murdered anyone, at least he can't prove it without incriminating himself, so why even rhyme about it? Because it sells.
Even dizzee, if he lived so 'thoro', he'd run out of rhymes after like 5 songs if they were strictly from his short time on this planet thus far.
Hey again,
Since it's the last part I read (and therefore the first part I have a response for) I'll start with Tupac and the last paragraph about MC's runnin' out of rhymes. The thing that stands rappers like Tupac outta the crowd is that they talk about their opinions in their songs. That's what rap is supposed to be all about, and the reason for the whole "keep it real" aura it has around it. Rappers don't HAVE to talk from experience the whole time, they can talk about their views on certain issues. I recently read an article about Tupac that referred to him as the 'voice of a generation' as he preached the need for a social change. Fair enough, an emcee wants to cook up a little cash by releasing the odd song just because it sells, but nowadays it seems every song is just a variant of the last.
As for my accusation against certain rappers for basically being bitches (for lack of a better term) in the sense of being fake, I'll start off with an obvious one; Ja Rule. Benzino. There's an example I've used in arguments with "real-life" friends - an interlude on the Eminem Show that shows a phone call where Paul Rosenberg leaves a message for Em saying:
"...Don't bring your gun outside of your house you can't carry it on you. Leave your fuckin gun at home."
This one really annoys me (yeah I know, why should it? It's only an interlude :P). But why include it on an album? What does it accomplish? Are we supposed to think he's a complete badass now?...Naaaah. To some extent, 50 cent is an exception (being shot, dealin'...he's obviously lived rough for a while) and in one way, so is Eminem, in the sense that in a lot of his tracks he raps about things worth rappin' about.
Anyways...I'll have to agree with another of your comments, "these guys rhyme at age 17...you've really no real-life material to talk about." I agree, but they have views on things - express them!
I'm looking for the names of the UK's top underground emcees. A crew of producers, with a full studio, is looking for emcees. Help me out and drop some names, or send me an email. Thanks!
eric@stinkzone.com
My god some of views on UK rap are a bit outdated arent they.....Mark Morrison!!!..Come on.......Germany,the UK are not similiar to US/Canada.....I dont know how you thought that up!!.....Another shining example of how fantastic the american educational system is!!!!...Most Germans(and Northern Europeans) speak three or four languages so when you meet a few germans more than likley they will speak english........As for Dizzee, I think is one very innovative artist with wicked lyrics for an 18year old and doesnt talk a load of shite like most rappers i can think off......I think America needs to hear an album like Boy in Da Corner as US Hip Hop is fulla artists just copying each other(with the obvious exception of the brilliant Outkast)......ye Americans really need to expand yer horizons.....Check out some of these euro artists-Just Jack..... kinda a bit similiar to The Streets-has some crackin tunes...listen to some of his tunes at:www.justjackmusic.com ......The Streets obviuosly www.the-streets.co.uk........Audiobullys(some Brit lager lout Rap!):www.audiobullys.co.uk ........Roots Manuva:www.smokecds.com French hip-hop collective Saïan Supa Crew: www.saiansupacrew.com..........also listen at:www.bbc.co.uk those links out and listen to some decent music!!......
Woah, easy on the attacks my friend. You Brits might speak a language or two, but don't tell me you lost your sense famous sense of humor. Most of us up in here are civilized human beings. If I'm not mistaken, the fellow who mentioned Mark Morrison is English.
Anyway, keep sending the names of UK emcees. I know a studio in London that is looking for emcees.
Yo!
I brought up Mark Morrison (not in name because I forgot it, and 'Tom' helped me out with his name). What was his charge anyway? He got tazored, right?
No matter how much Hip-Hop you guys in UK give props to, you are still being unfair and nationalistic in your criticisms of rap in US so far. You guys keep criticising only the mainstream crap which is obiviously engineered for sales. Name some underground stuff, or not even under ground, how about under-radar stuff like Black Moon, Lous Logic, Sage Francis, C-Rayz Walz, All Natural, Jedi Mind Tricks, Canibus, Family Tree, J.U.I.C.E, Mr. Lif, Natural Elements, Dan the automator, Benefit, Necro, etc. Any criticism here? Are these artists 'fake' or not 'innovative'? I've not yet heard this Dizzy cat yet, so I'm in no postition to juxtapose and compare, but still, America is still very much teeming with creative cultures like a vat of primordial protein stew at the birth of this planet.
We should all not fall for that gay-ass Nationlistic whisper we hear from ourselves, and realize that Hip-Hop has no borders physically, only mentally. Anything Dizzy has to say, probably has been said 20 or 30 tims this year by someone else. And for ya'llz info there are huge rap scenes in many languages all over the place. There are serious hip-hop cultures in Japan, Germany, France, the Mid-East, Latin America. And within America Filipino's are rapping in Tagalog, Native Americans are flowin' about their situation, and many others. If all you are tuned into is the BS coming out, then I guess it takes a DA to listen to DA music. I may be ignorant of UK rap, but that's okay, I'm learning, how about you of our masterpiece emcees?.
And I may only speak English fluently (making me a dumb yank, or whatever corny epithets fish n' chip eaters can think of) but my Espanol is pretty good after 5 years of Spanish in High School and College. My Arabic (reading) is getting better from visiting the Mideast, and My Japanese speaking and reading (with the exception of Kanji--damn hard to read!) is pretty good for 1 years study. And I like to listen to Rap in many of the languages I understand and those I don't understand. That's how much I love Hip-Hop, just the intonation, attitude, and hook are enough to get my interest.
Calm yah hot ass down 'saoirse'. I was asking about German, because I may have a job out there, and I wanted to know if it is fun to live there, and if people spoke English. My friend is in the armed forces and is stationed in Germany and he told me I'd HAVE to learn German to get by, which is cool by me. Lastly, 'saoirse', US/Canada similarities with UK and Germany are more than you took in. If people are bilingual/multilingual in Germany, are most Brits bilingual (i.e. speak German)?--No! Just like the US and Quebec (French speaking);-- even though many French speaking Canucks speak English also.
Out.
Ay brah'z,
I downloaded some tracks off of the 'Boy in Da Corner' album. So far I like 'Fix Up Look Sharp' alot. That song is tyte...At first I noticed that the drum beat was the same as Das EFX's 'Buck Buck' off of the 'Hold it Down' album, (96'). Brand new day is probably the best overall cut I've heard so far (4 tracks heard thus far). On the track 'What U On?', in the hook part, they use some American slang addresses like 'dun', and 'G'. Do ya'll really use some of those addresses, or is Dizzee just making a statement about rappers from everywhere who are frontin like they are official? The song itself is pretty mediocre, though. I Luv U is pretty good if you like listening to Aphex Twin. Since I used to listen to Apex, and other IDM, (Intelligent Dance) I could kinda feel what he's trying to do, but Eric is right, this stuff probably won't go further than the indie crowd, but that's cool. His beats all resemble, Aphex twin stuff to me, oh I said that, well it does. It's like listening to Cardinall Offishall over an Aphex Twin beat. Very different, as stated earlier by someone, but it isn't necessarily 'better' per se than other experimentations in disparate genres. Tha's mah piece thus far.
Peace.
nobu
stick to black moon and the rest of the names you mentioned cos dizzee aint really worth checkin.
i'm from Scotland ( real Braveheart ! ) and real headz dont even consider dizzee hip hop in any way, you'll find itz the headz who are into other forms of music with a little hip hop influence in it who like it or those that think 2pac and biggie are the be all and end all of hip hop and that maybe b2k and the such are in some way hip hop.
Real hip hop headz don't play that shit.
I can believe that daz 156,
Yo, are you 'Scottish', like an actualy Scot (Scotsman? Sorry I'm Ignint)?
Thas real. I clean forgot about Scottish and Irish people, I guess Hip-hop is interesting there as well. Everlast is Irish-American, are there any good Scottish, Irish, or Welsh emcees?
After listening to more Dizzee, he reminds me of a slightly more coherent Jamaican version of Ol'Dirty Bastard (not his content, mind you). His voice and articulation, I mean. He kind of has that ungulating, vibrating, gutteral thing down like ODB. Eh, ish, jus' my ear maybe?
Out.
Wassup im bak again wid an announcment i think that ALL YOU YANKS SHOULD COME DOWN TO SOUTH LONDON AND BRIXTON TO SEE WHAT THE REAL ENGLAND IS ABOUT,NO MORE OF THIS TEA AND CRUMPETS BULLSH*T YOU IGNORANT YANKS LIKE TO SAY.
Then u can judge how thuggish dizzee is.
ps:u can also come down to east london and hackney
we can also great u all with tea and crumpets there.
Is that an honest invite?
Or do you want us to bring our cameras, and make commercials about poor kids in E.London who could live a decent life with a small donation of .35 pence a day.
Look, let's not start comparing hoods. If you want a hellish hood, check out Kashmir, Gujrat (India), Chechnya, Acech (Indonesia), Mindinao (Philippines), Medellin (Colombia), Kingston (Jamaica), Most of South Africa, Central Africa, Somalia (South), Palestine, the list goes on.
I don't give a flunxion about who's hood sux this year. In the US it flaps between DC, Detroit, LA, NO, STL, and various other cesspools. The only difference between the hoods here and there is that we won't know what ya'll are saying unless we take a ghetto English slang primer, or watch Jason Statham, Snatch and other 'Cockney' talkin' flix.
Look, us 'Gizzas' will only respect ya'll when we get to know you guys, true. I think the most realistic way this can happen is through cinema.
I was going to bring this up a while ago. Why doesn't someone make a documentary about Hip-Hop in Europe (emphasis on the UK), or a drama about ghetto life in London, or sumthin'? Or even a comedy? Like a 'JUICE in Brixton', or 'Jersey Drive', or 'The King of York', or 'Boys in the Hull', you get my drift. I think that'd be ill. Mad people here liked Snatch, and that was all cartoonish. Some real grimey imagery of the English experience would definitely spark some interest from our side of the Atlantic.
Oh, and ya'll need a flag bearer, an NWA, Eminem, Tribe Called Quest, sumthin' great. Ya'll need a big name with a really different/innovative, provacative, and attractive image. You need a Yao Ming of UK...a 'UK Ming', okay that was corny, b'NEway...
Peace.
You sir, are rather unintelligent.
And your review was uninspiring.
Only an opinion of course.
Can you do better?
Laughs at Nobu
"Or even a comedy? Like a 'JUICE in Brixton', or 'Jersey Drive', or 'The King of York', or 'Boys in the Hull'"
...nice one!
Thanx Dave,
...hey, I got to admit, I've been listening to this Dizzee stuff awhile now, and I actually do like 2 tracks alot. But then again I like my coffee black, no sugar no cream too. So I can still tolerate 'raw', with no additives. Lyrically though, I'm still not much impressed. Dizzee needs to grow abit, he needs to go to the states, gain some perspective, and try making better music. But for his age and inexperience, I'd say he did aiight. Mobb Deep was better lyrically, and they did their own outstanding production around the same age as Dizee, so no excuses. Many artists are more polished very young...but production does require some maturity, usually (exception: DJ Premier)...Alright, I think I deaded the convo...Out.
I read an article in Time about Dizzee Rascal and how great he was. I listened to it open minded, but after about 30 seconds it became monotonous and boring. You can't really flow with his beats.
And why read his lyrics if you can't tell what he's saying the the first place? its like listening to a foreign rap cd that you don't understand. Maybe i have the attention span of a gnat, but this sht just got lame. Sorry but Dizzee sucks, props for trying something new, but he won't blow up in the future. To me he is just hooking on the upcoming ragga fad. Big L Flamboyant for life.
you are an american dick head who's country will bomb anywhere that calls your president a wanker. I find your review was boring and written by a true american who cannot get his head out of his own ass. I jus so happen 2 no dizze rascals brother and he would batter the fuck out of u dick head.
Wow... Dizzee Rascal's brother would "batter the fuck out of me".
First of all, name dropping won't score you any points here. Second, I encourage Dizzee's brother to batter the fuck out of me. It would make a great story.
i happen to agree with you, dizze is a rubbish artist and i think english artists should try alot better. it is no wonder that the sales by british artists in america are dropping. Dizze should concider a new job in somerwhere else like lets say....... burger king.
Look, Dizzee's new, an he takes garage 2 a new level. Wer i come from we make music from download samplers an it sounds ta same but giv ta kid some cred...culd u do beta? Just alow music to evolve,,,,,just wait 4 dazzaa, strait from valencia, check me out in 3years init
you are an american dick head who's country will bomb anywhere that calls your president a wanker. I find your review was boring and written by a true american who cannot get his head out of his own ass. I jus so happen 2 no dizze rascals brother and he would batter the fuck out of u dick head./////well said but dizzee dont have a bro!!?? Emial DJ_dazer@hotmail.com if he has...
ohyes eric, come on and give us some innovating shit from the us. u guys just reproduce yourself all the time. Chingy here we go!!!!!
nobu, we don't need no nwa. wat we need to get in to the us is some chick singing along with Fabolous or some rapper with new york accent rhyming on an atl track. american hip hop is dieing, europe has to save the world ha! saian supa crew (french) should even appeal to rnb lovers like ya.
For real shit check out wiley - what u call it.
dizzee rasuical iz da best ever! dont dis im u morons. u dont no good music when it hits you in the face. if u wanna dis im den go do it but not on ne website mova fuckers
oi what is it about americans your music int all the shit and that. UK grime is gonna take over...we'll be laughing!wether u like it or not..u KNOW dizzee's original. no'ones ever taken what hes taken into the mainstream and made it big. 4 proof of grime talent also check out some shiystie and wiley.
ERIC U FOOL IM WHITE I LOVE DIZEE! SO U CAN JUST KISS MY BIG WHITE ASS....HA!
It's all about colors (colours) I hear. Man it's time to put away your colors, cause it is a cemetery gear. Hip hop is about music, about skills you know?! It'a about turning the negatives the evil to the positive that's why it has all started. It is about peace unity love an havin fun. And all others who wanna play Gangsta they're playin theirselves.
Peace Akhi/Queen
Look all u Americans,the whole world views all of you as ignorant self centered pricks who are caught up in their image and think all the great things are in America,once again you've proved yourself's wrong. I have a couple of things to say go and look up wot garage is about , go and get a listening tape of pirate radio, and go see what it is about rapping from 12 at night to 3, 4am on quick drum and bass beats,i wannna know how many american rappers can do that, then go and judge dizzee rascal.
Ok ass hats get off it.Im an American and im feelin Dizzee like the thoughts of a first kiss.Dizzee's style is fresh,doesnt matter what side of the pond your on.Ta me the kids style has a raw sound that can only be found in underground downsouth basement beats.His first release is a stripped down hard hitta that I cant help but atleast nod to.Not since Canibal Ox have I enjoyed a hip-hop album this much.
I can understand what the argument is about.Dizzee Rascal is just plain different.Maybe not musically minded,but more musically influenced.This is very noticeable in his music.He is just putting together his only peace of what he has been influenced into -this grimy orginal sound.Ive heard Wileys album too,its pretty similar,they must use the same PC based setup? Also Im awaiting to hear Asher Ds album.I personally think this will be better.
"I think Kanye and Just Blaze are innovative."
kanye steals 50 cents rhymes. and 50 cent is hardly original is he?
ERIC YOU TALK THE BIGGEST LOAD OF SHIT.
your reviews are lame.
You yanks will be left with cum in your butts when we take over.
ERIC was right about that dumb ass DIZZIE RASCAL..dizzie rascal needs to take that dumb shit back to his fucked up country ..ENGLAND that is...he sound annoying as hell, and everybody here(Including my friends and Most of the guys in school) did agreed with me..so It wasn't just my opinion..
I was watching BET OR MTV(can't recall) and his video came on ..and I said to myself who a fuck is this annoying guy and he does sound weird is fuck. If you call that hip hop, damn you have to shoot me first. I'm glad he's not that big (atlist in america anyways) ...the british are a whole bunch of loosers..man they like to kiss(our) america's ass all the time that's why they followed our ass, and went to war without even asking a question(they're like our lil bitch)... get off our dick you weird sounded muthfuckas...I don't even like the way they talk It' really annoys a hell out of me..hey britons I got one advice for y'all 200yrs behind ass...keep your dumb shit there across the atlantic in your tiny country, and don't bring it here. we sufferd enough with your dumb bitches like the spice girls(I don't wanna go thru that again)
and wtf is this TOM guy thinkin, gettin all political and shyt , tellin us our language sucks like we really do give a fuck..yo Tom you better leave that crack alone you dumb fuck. you have no idea how much people don't like a british accent here in america..only BUTLERS in movies sound good when they talk like that. we use that in here to make fun on someone who we consider a stupid or nerd ..so don't hate cause we made english sound good (while you guys still sound annoying) I can't even understand y'all sometimes to be honest I'm glad y'all are only writing in here... anyways that dizzie shyt is wack... so does British hiphop... keep playin that dumb rock shit only, which no one gives a fuck about anymore.
yea..I agree with y'all michael and eric. Dizzie rascal does really sucks, not to mention annoying. I say fuck that dumb British hiphop scene too, what their dumb asses gotta rap about... and I can't understand their ugly asses. anyways,I hope you toothless, ugly muthfuckas with a fucked up accent , will stop fuckin up rap soon. for real.
Michael, I think you were a little hard on the british..I just didn't think that was all nessecary, even thou I do agree with most of it.
yea, Dizzie does sucks . british hip hop by itself is a scary thing(not in a good way). If they're gonna come with artists like that, I say fuck'em, I just didn't quite get their style thou... maybe they're doin it to their own (I hope they don't try to cross atlantic with the hip hop shit again)
hey Michael, the (Butler) joke is kinda funny, about british accent and everything. my friend talks like that when he tryes to makes us laugh.
I know I fucked up with the spelling and shit, for all of you trying to correct it, this ain't a fucken essay aiight. peace
I hate when people like D make a comment about how british hiphop is the next big thing, and we're gonna be doomed in the face of british hiphop..yo D listen a fuk up punk, you and your stinkin ass rap of yours can kiss our beautiful ass...british hip hop is the worst thing that happened to civilization if you ask me, so don't think for a minute you got some big thing goin on in your small country. I'm a be real with you , and definetely Dizzie rascal sucks
Look,we didnt follow ur ass at aal into war it was tony blair-we dont bumlick any of you
..we hate u lot.
u think ur all clever and everything but your not...the fact that many scientist and authors are mainly english does account for something!!
yes dizzee rascal is good but not all of us have bad teeth(like u we r no false....we r won people and we're not plastic like u lot are)
i have a friend who is american and he h8s america ...so there!!
i cant blieve u think so badly off us
dizzee rascal does not sing ukhiphop
ITS UK GARAGE!
we made ur asses anyway so at least have respect for us
Dizzees the top boy. if u yanks dont like his beats try hearin some of his freestyles over ur U.S hip hop beats. Dizzee could take on ANY rapper in music history period, and do u know why, cause he is young, aware of what goes on in this world and a musical genius. Check out his new video. boom ting!
young, aware of what goes on, and a musical genius... sounds like Avril Lavigne.
I'm from America. Dizzie Rascal is da shit. I bought his CD awhile back. All the people who say different are haters. There are a lot of haters and fucked up people here who overshadow the people who keep it real. I'm feelin the whole grimey scene, and the whole UK hip hop scene too. Hip hop is on a respirator here in america. Don't let what they say fool you. Look at what rappers here in america talk about. Then go listen to Dizee's lyrics. There is no comparison. In the UK people will go and invent a whole new style of music in a flash. Here everybody just copies what the next person did. I wish I had more access to British music
you ugly toothless brits make me sick, If you guys think for a minute your dumb ass's is tha shit I got word for your 200 years behind ass. you ain't shit and no fucken body cares about your stupid ass..Dizzie rascal is one dumb fuck and he sucks , I don't see him nowhere here and only a few people know who a fuk he is.brits can't fucken rap go read some books or brush your teeth and talk funny bitches...
dizzie rascal is not great or even good, but I'll give him credit for bringin somethin different to tha game, eventhou noone knows that he is exsisted at all...
hey UK_RULES guy, what a fuk you thinkin, we made your asses so respect us shyt. I was respectin british people since you brought that dumb shit up, I'll break it down to you , what a fuk did british do to america except invading this country and try to colonize it, like you guys did to everyone around the world, but your dumb asses got whupped and y'all ran like a bitch. british is the prime example next to germans for being evil, yo dumb fuck go back and read history, you guys brought nothing but disaster and suffering to others around the world. I'm not black so don't think this is some racial shyt but, I'm just tryin to be real here..anyway I hope you'll go back and brush your teeth and guard that stupid empty palace so the goats don't invade it hahaha.
you better show respect whenever you see an american, don't forget our superpower is kepping you safe and without us y'all will be some dumb fucks who sound stupid when they talk.
hey y'all, aight dizzie might not be that good or couldn't break to america's music scen but, atlist he's bringing a new flavor and hopefully more people will start feelin him soon. I hate what most of you guys posted about british people in here, I was in england not too long ago to visit, and they are the coolest people on a planet, and they were very nice to my black ass and showed me a good time. I think blacks and whites in britain, I mean there are a lot of different races but blacks and whites are likely to take over hiphop soon from us. they are amazingly creative and, they don't rap about a sell out and nonsense shit like us...so please do not talk bad about british people anymore...
"Tom... all that shit you are talking about are not major innovations. Innovation doesn't mean doing something different, it means doing things that will inspire and influence other people."
in·no·va·tion
-The act of introducing something new.
-Something newly introduced.
"3. interpolating a b and a b minor scale is not really an innovation in a genre of music where notation and theory have almost no significance. If it sounds good... it doesn't matter what the notes or scales are. "
That kind of attitude is what keeps music going in circles. Music has been moving so slow lately, Dizzee has made the first obvious leap in ages. Knowledge will always be power and you cant capatilize with out the capabilities.
As for you saying things other writers wouldn't say, that might be because they have intelligence, most good writers tend accept the definitions given to words in the dictionary. Also a good writer can argue his/her way out of a paper bag where as you have had your ass handed to you, handed to you, and handed to you.
popeye...
The nature of semantics is such that if you state your definition of a word, there is not much else to say. I stated my definition and you stated yours. Let us be gentlemen about it and agree to not both be mindless robots (i'll leave that part to you and your friends).
The word innovation is not static. Its meaning is based upon context. In the context of music, I am saying innovation is primarily relative to the actual development and progression of the music AS PRACTICED, not in theory. If I make the most "different", "unique", "unusual", and "hitherto unkown technique or style"... yet not another soul hears it -- much less gives shite bollocks about it -- it isn't innovative. That's what I'm saying.
With reference to your very creative store-bought definition of innovative... I don't dispute that defintion of innovation. But what I am saying -- and take another look at that definition -- is that Dizzee Rascal didn't "introduce" anything. The real word that should be of concern to you is "introduce", not innovate. It's like knocking on someone's door when they aren't home and calling that an introduction.
It's kind of like that bear shitting in the woods... you know... that bear nobobdy hears. But again, this isn't personal, or racist, or anti-Brit... Dizzee Rascal's music -- in case you missed my article up there -- is like music... minus the music.
And bring it on... hand me my ass again and again... that's the whole point my friend! This whole Dizzee thing is like cultural affirmative action for the Brits. Everyone is cheering for the Brits and wants them to do really well and make a big contribution to hip hop. Too bad most Brits sounds so damn stiff on the mic. And I got nothing against Brits... some of my favorite artists are Brits: Ali G., the whole Monty Python crew, Faulty Towers, the Young Ones, Are YOu Being Served... wait... R U being served??
I GOT NEWS FOR PEOPLE: hip hop is not changing very much.... and it doesn't need to change. all you have to do is make dope, soulful, and stylish music... and people will respect you and buy your shit. it's that simple. this isn't iggy and the stooges. this isn't the velvet underground. this isn't muthafuckin skiffle hour with ed sullivan. it's called hip hop. go listen to some lil jon and get crunk with it. you'll feel better about yourself in the morning.
USA!! USA!! USA!!
well said ERIC, I think Dizzie is over ratted because everyone wants the brits to do well in this hiphop scene, they're not capable or don't have the ability to live up to that expectation, and that's sad. Americans are definetely not felling his style and beats and that's a fact..I feel bad for the guy but damn, British hip hop is kinda corny too.Brits don't sound good on a mic..
you know you suck, when people in TIME magazine starts feelin your shit..If a white guy(who doesn't know shyt about hip hop) in his mid 50's(like those in Time who writes review's) feels that you the next big thing, you should stop and think... I'm glad britons are not sending another spice girls thou lol..Britons are only good that heavy rock shit which is very annoying and definetely sucks..
Mindless robot ? I thought we where going to be gentlemen. Its not witty.
I agree that if nobody hears it its not innovative, on the soul basis that if nobody hears it, It probably hasn't been produced very well. Not many people other than beethoven try to write songs deaf. But just because nobody else hears it doesn't mean its innovative. Thats like saying If I invented a car that runs on water but didnt share the technology it wouldn't be innovative, which isn't true.
As for if a bear shits in the woods does it make a sound debate I can solve that very easily. Sound is movement, vibrations, if the bear actually shits then it makes a noise.
I can't relate to Dizzee's culture anymore than you can, infact I dislike the british almost as much as americans ( who am I kidding, its not nearly as much. ). Its not about culture, you where the one who brought up culture in the first place, and have brought it up a few times, now I'm not saying your racist, anti-brit or anything of the sort just that you are definetly letting culture play a major role in your critique of this album. Its about music. And if you still say this isn't music I have no respect for anything you say and your opinion is about as valid as a middle-aged soccer mom (thats what you yanks call em right).
Hip-hop will eventually change, its been doing the same thing and it does work, but its getting boring listening to the same beats with the same styles, same flows.
If you want hip hop to stay the same and never change, why buy new stuff at all ?
Im gonna leave it with this, would you rather Dizzee faked an american accent and used american beats ? Rather than taking influence from what are his influences. If you want him to conform and such, how then can you say its not innovative. Pick one.
To answer your question... yes, you are definitely right about that... I definitely don't want to hear Dizzee fake an American accent and use American beats. In fact, I don't want to hear him at all.
To be fair, I should say that Dizzee might do well in political affairs... that's where we need something different. And I'm sure that is -- at the very least - one thing we can both agree on.
But for the sake of really throwing your question right back at you... would you prefer that I, in my position as an innovative, progressive, and revolutionary journalist, stopped using my totally unappreciated and criminally-misunderstood style of bait-and-switch or my uncharacteristically reverse dry wit? Would you prefer that I stop bringing so many misfits together for the purpose of mashing it up? It can't be done with that classic British propriety and restraint! Although a fully operational sense of humor does help keep the ego in check.
If you are looking for good hip hop -- new and old -- you should tune in to my radio station. You might be surprised with what you find. Although, considering your taste in journalism and innovative-centric culture, maybe not. I'm in the process of setting up a dedicated server, which will enable me to broadcast 24-7 and possibly expand and have a number of different channels/themes.
To hear the radio station, you can click on the link on the main page of the Stink Zone, or you can click on my name here at the bottom of this comment. Let me know what you think.
I agree a more political standing point with dizzees sound would work well, but in all honesty I dont think its what he knows. then again I dont know the guy that well.
"Mashing" it up is what the english are best at, argueing is like their official sport. They will argue over toilet paper till they are blue in the face and still go for pint after. (I used commas cause to me mashing it up is getting mashed smoking, pish, americanisms)
But that said harsh opinions are needed in journalism, its just that your so anti-dizzee its almost because he is getting in things like time magazine that you chose to real harsh rather than just a little, but yeah harsh critics are needed its just the way you did it which slightly insults anyone who likes it with not so much as a detailed reason why.
I understand how it sounds wrong to you too, the uk drum n bass + garage scene has created this, yeah its different maybe its alot harder to listen to without knowing the UK scene intimately.
I found dizzees stuff a good while ago now... and I played it to my brother who listened to it the first time and said thats just annoying and its got no flow, but then he started hereing it more, when he was out, not just in the house and it grew on him now he claims that he like him all along, another one of my mates I showed liked him.. three weeks later decided to tell me about this new guy that could spit, had new beats, and I told him that it was me that introduced him and he was like oh .. yeah, pish stoner..
ehm kinda rambled on there and for got my point, but you know what I mean. Hes a wave, you can sit on the beach and not get wet its your choice.. what the hell has dizzee got to do with waves ?
popeye... thanks for finally seeing things my way. we just having a good time and shootin the shit up here (er, well at least I myself am having a good time and shootin shit).
believe it or not, i actually have enormous amounts of appreciation for Dizzee Rascal. for without him i would never have gotten the chance to meet you and all these other fine English chaps. you are a tenacious and hearty bunch. maybe someday you will loosen those morals a wee bit and learn to ironically enjoy the crunk and bling that we Americans take for granted. seriously though, we are only about 50% stupid over here.
do give yourselves a little credit though. george bernard shaw was the man. shakespeare wasn't bad either. Tom Stoppard ain't bad either.
peace is the word to play...
keep those skivvies unbunched...
oh, i forgot to mention Led Zeppelin and Aleister Crowley.
Im Irish :)
So Im pretty loose enough and have no morals...
You have us to thank for fun, after all we invented it.
yes, thank you for inventing fun. now teach those Brits some real manners. heavy manners.
haha, Irish and fun! do not go together , maybe, Irish and Drunks????? and that's definetely not a fun thing to see ....hahahhaha
British people are obviosly loosers, I mean they have nothin to offer to our society, no fashion sense, no rhytm, no style and no flavour..Damn that country must be boring like a muthfu**a.lol
Popeye, what you need to understand is ,hip hop is just another type of music for you guys,but for those of us here in america is it's what we eat talk,dress,breath and live. It's our lifestyle, so when someone like Dizzie brings somethin we are not familliar with, it would be so hard for us to get used to it ,because we don't know it,can't relate to it or we can't feel it.
Eric,
why do I keep sensing that you are some dumb fuck racist? you talk about fuckin affirmative action shyt like it bothers you or somethin, you're comparing british hip hop scene to some kinda affrimitve action shyt to the rap game, listen faggot even ,in your picture you look like one of those german nazis but you're missin the tatoo's thou and, If you are I would have the pleasure kickin your stinkin ass...lol
It's a joke, after all..lol ..gotta ya... or did I????????
"haha, Irish and fun! do not go together , maybe, Irish and Drunks????? and that's definetely not a fun thing to see ....hahahhaha"
It may not be fun to see, its fun to be, so in another words its not fun to not be irish.
Micheal thats the kind of arrogence I hate in americans, assuming that you are the only ones who eat talk dress breath and live hip hop, dizzee has been working his ass off since he was 14. Its like you think you own a genre of music, you can't own it.
michael is in no way representative of those involved with hip hop. every single person i know who is actually involved with hip hop is extremely appreciative of the opportunities and dialog created between America and esp. Europe, although also everywhere in the world. in fact, many artists -- including Prince Po last night on the radio -- have pointed out the fact that Europe is often much more appreciative of U.S. aritsts (esp. indpendent and underground artists). of course, michael claims to speak for people that he doesn't know. always be wary of people who refer to 260 million people as "us" or "we". in america, IT IS MORE FRAGMENTED THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. You simply can't speak for all Americans.
black guy... yeah, you got me alright. thanks for having a sense of humor about this. the only thing i am affirmative about is the fact that I am definitely not German. I wouldn't mind being Jewish German, but regular German would be too much. For the record, I am half Swedish... and half Osama bin Laden. Heil Akbar!
SERIOUS,
ok whatever
1) im not a guy!
2) im only fifteen and i dont really pay attention in my history classes(so please dont have a go at me about me not knowing my facts ..so sorry!)and what you said is a bit exaggerated we didnt torture anybody we are decent civilians....its you that go to war just for oil!..u torture everything that you dont like and u have a thing against muslims
which is bang out of order ...u stereotype everything...'a man with a tea towel on his head must be a terrorist!'
england is a wicked country ..we know our facts we have people of many religions living amongst us!..we doint hiss whenever a lady with a scarf walks past.
we dont have bad teeth!...well i dont.....england is quite trendy and cosmopolitan and i think we have decent taste in fashion ..well i do!
we dont sound stupid when we talk,we invented the language so its you that dont talk properly.
yes we did colonize everything ..duh! british empire!!!
why should we show respect to you guys ..its should be the other way round.
i cant believe u americans are like this !!
its totally out of order...
u guys think that america is the best its far from it!
i was offended by u saying that english people are ugly...u find ugliness and gorgeous people everywhere..buts its the americans who are really self conscience and have extreme makeovers n stuff like that...we have nothing to prove...if every brit did that we would all look like bimbo's
ERIC, you know exactly what I'm sayin, when I said people in here eat and live hiphop so they won't relate to dizzie.It's true A couple of white guys in vermont or utah might feel his shit, but If you take his record and play it in Harlem, bronx or Brooklyn(the foundation of hiphop)no one would feel it, and If urban america can't feel it and it's not hiphop. period, why are we arguing?
Popeye, don't get mad cause we americans are the coolest people in the world, right at this moment take a look around you and, you would find a lot of things that are relates to america .the movies you're watchin the music you're listeninig the devices that you're using e.t.c... but in here there is nothing that reminds of ireland or britain except for those drunk fucks up in a 4th floor...I'm not tryin to be nice(politically correct) like most americans in here. I'll keep it real and, like it or not this is the greatest country in the world ,if it wasn't for us you would have nothin but that ugly empty castle.
Our power is not the easy one, and y'all are lucky enought that our ancestors and yours knew each other.. lol
sometimes it is better to NOT point out why someone is wrong. but i'm gonna try one more time.
michael... you have TOTALLY misunderstood what hip hop is about. It is absolutely NOT about what black people in the Bronx are up to. What you are talking about is black culture, or american culture, or ghetto culture. hip hop is something else entirely. i'm not saying i have a foolproof definition of hip hop, but what about filipino deejays in CA? what about the Scratch Perverts in England? What about the fact that much of hip hop's origins can be traced back to Jamaica? Where do you draw the line? Why do you feel the need to exclude others from the right to claim themselves part of the hip hop family? I never said Dizzee was -- or was not -- I simply said his music is wack and most people over here won't be feeling it. We are arguing because I want other people around the world to know that hip hop knows NO borders. And KRS, Bam, Flash, and Kool Herc would all back me up on this, without a doubt.
uk_rules...
you are just as guilty of generalizing about we Americans as these people are of generalizing about Brits. like i said, our country is extremely diverse and fragmented. in los angeles where i live, there are more people of color and immigrants than white people. we're not talking hundreds of thousands... we're talking millions. Latinos, Asians, Blacks, Middle Easterners, Jews, etc, etc... Unfortunately, it's not major cities like Los Angeles that run America. we might not always get along, but its not like this big racist, xenophobic, fundamentalist mess in Los Angeles. Actually it is surprisingly peaceful (aside from the gang violence).
Suburbs run America. And, yes, in the suburbs they are stupid. The suburbs and rural areas do somewhat resemble your stereotype. But again... it's a generalization. Try to have a little fun and roll with the punches... it'll make your experience at this site a lot more pleasant. It's about having a good time while you learn how stupid and ignorant we ALL are.
Eric,
are you're tryin to seprate hiphop from black(america)culutre, you're just one dumb fuck. what's next???
10% of america claims to be of Irish heritage. It is infact more than that, Their are 50 million irish people across the world. 5 million live in ireland.
Americans are not the coolest people, infact 'most' americans are disliked for their arrogance and their ignorance across the world. the arrogance and ignorance you are consistent in showing us. Your attitude is the sole reason people hate america, I hope your happy.
If it wasn't for europe, america would not exist.
and micheal, black culture and hip hop are seperate, what your saying is rediculous
here is another version of what your saying:
America is the only country that can be christian, all other countries are pagans.
Where the truth is every person decided for themselves what religion they are, the same goes for what music they like, you cant be excluded, and the fact that you want to exclude people makes you an idiot for not spreading something you love, but rather hoarding it into one culture and claiming it.
michael... to say that hip hop is inextricably black is just as racist as saying only black people can do hip hop. it's like saying only white people can truly understand classical music. it's like saying only latinos can salsa.
michael... since you are such an authority on this subject.... why don't you share your definition of hip hop with us?
popeye... again, i think you are also writing us off without realizing that you haven't met 0.0001% of us. Are you saying that I myself am an arrogant fascist? Would you not agree that th
