Everyones favorite UK grime rapper Dizzee Rascal is back. Following up his 2004 release of 'Showtime', Dizzee comes hard on his new album 'Maths And English'. He took an odd approache releasing the album this time around, by only offering it to us Americans though internet download, like iTunes. He did sell the physical copies over seas in the U.K., being that it is his home turf. This upsets me though, because Dizzee is definatley one of the most refreshing young emcees in the gme, and I wish his talent was more recognized over here, but I can understand why it is hard for many ignorant Americans to get past his thick accent and unique beats.
His lead single off the album is the obvious rock influenced track 'Sirens', where Mr. Rascal tells stories of the police busting into his house unexpectadly over some funky ominous drums, a guitar riff that would make any rock fan bob their had, and a dope DMX growl. The video is just as dope, with Dizzee acting out what rhymes about, in an almost exagerated form. The album starts out with the song 'World Outside'. It's a fairly simple beat, with angelic synths that Dizzee flows over, rhyming about very optomistic and uplifting subjects. The next song is one of my favorite off the album, 'Pussyole'. It's got those classic drum breaks and shares that classic sample that Rob Base used in 'It Takes Two'. Rascal excells on this track very well, probably due to its very high BPM. Dizzee says some shit like, "A friend in need is a freind in deed, but a friend with no money and no weed, can flip the script ridiculously, can make a best friend to an ex-friend for the plea" which made me say "whoa". The chorus is dope as well.
Dizzee Rascal - Sirens [Video]
Later comes the track 'Where's Da G's' with UGK. I remembering hearing a while ago that UGK would be featured on this, and finally was able to peep the track. When I first heard about this collab, I thought that this in no way would this be executed well, and after first hearing the beat, I thought I was right. After Dizzee's first verse, the real part of the beat comes in just in time for Bun's verse. He rips it to shit, as does Pimp C later in the track. The next track 'Paranoid' is very unique. It's the first real track where Dizzee shows his inner emotions. This song reminds me very much of some of his earlier stuff, like on 'Boy In Da Corner'. Then comes 'Suk My Dick', an obvious dope track just based on the name. The chrous wutever goes 'My hat is low, my trous is too, and people say that im too _____, but I dont care, cuz im da shit, so u can go and suck my dick". A genius little diddy about people trying to hold you back and not giving a shit what they say. We later get the track 'Da Feelin'' which honestly caught my by great surprise. It has a *shock* real sample in it. Some soulful shit too. Luckily the producer doesnt fuck it up and keeps that fast BPM and unique drum pattern in tact. Dizzee flows over it perfectly, bragging about all the ladies he gets with and what not.Then comes 'Bubbles'. This track is a perfect five outta five in my opinion. It's another song about the ladies and rockin the flyest gear, but it has a slightly slower beat and some dope ass synths. The track 'Excuse Me Please' is about all the messed up shit Dizzee has seen, saying "So much madness in this world, so much evil and confusion, but theirs so much good as well, so theres gotta be some solution, so that means there must be hope, maybe room for revolution." Also asking thought proviking shit like "If the police kill a man is he still a murderer?" Then Dizzee pulls a Tell It Like It Is and comes with 'Hardback', which is basically just like Luda's song, how to get up in the music industry and what not.
'Temptation' features Alex Turner on the hook. In this song Dizzee rhymes about his past and getting to where he is now. The beat is funky as hell too. Then comes the Lily Allen guest apperance on 'Wanna Be'. This song seems way to much like 'Dream' off of his last album Showtime to me, but it gets the job done. Lily's chorus is odd to me, but its funny and enjoyable. The last track is 'U Can't Tell Me Nuffin''. The beat gets annoying way to quick to me. It also has some low ass strings in it that remind me of Dead Wrong off of Biggie: Duets.
All in all, this album is dope. There was only about two tracks I didnt really dig at all, which was 'Flex' and 'U Can't Tell Me Nuffin'', which is a real good look considering there was 14 real tracks on this album. The strongest songs in my opinion are 'Pussyole', 'Sirens', 'Where Da G's', 'Suk My Dick', 'Da Feelin', and 'Bubbles', so make sure you check those for sure.
