This week’s album is Dizzee Rascal’s Boy in da Corner.
I really, really like this album. Sure, it covers the hip-hop standards of street life, braggadocio and underprivileged existence, but since it’s coming from a Brit’s mouth it sounds almost refreshing.
I mean, I’m bored to death of gun talk, but when Dizzee and Wiley wax poetic about guns and violence on “2 Far” it’s actually worth listening to, if only for the new perspective and slang. And while “Fix Up, Look Sharp” feels the most familiar (down to the Billy Squier sample), even it feels refreshing—which is sad, because the album was released in 2004.
It’s really difficult to single out the good tracks because every track has something unique about it. “Jezebel” is a start portrait along the lines of Nas’ “Black Girl Lost” and “Round We Go” tells of romantic entanglements. Regardless of the song, Dizzee’s voice and lyrics always command attention. His delivery has an almost pained quality to it. His accent and phrasing take a minute to adjust your ears to, but once they do, it’s a rather thrilling ride.
Plus, Dizzee produces his own tracks. The beats aren’t too complex, but they’re far from simplistic. He really knows how to capture a mood. “I Luv You”, a song that touches upon teenage pregnancy, is a chaotic affair that seems to mirror the mindset of character in the song. “Brand New Day” has a whimsical melancholy to it, which suits a song about reflection.
Just listening to this album really makes me wish I’d copped Dizzee’s subsequent releases. But I guess that’s what this whole resolution thing is all about.
