Genre-bending artists come through the pipeline ever so rarely. Genre-defining artists are even more rare a species. However, in Dizzee Rascal, we may be seeing a truly special individual. Dizzee has taken his native England by storm, winning the Mercury Music Prize for his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, received endless critical praise and now, heís been nominated for three Brit Awards, the UK equivalent of the Grammy. All of this at the ripe young age of 19 and with only one album under his belt. Boy In Da Corner is full of hip-hop and street anthems, but itís so varied and different that the first five listens cause five different reactions. The album kicks off with ìSitting Here,î which almost musically references The Cure, and rolls on through two-step vibers like ìI Luv U.î Dizzeeís vocals are like none heard before, his voice almost unnatural in its pitch. Streetwise flow, poignant lyrics and dope beats are all equal parts of the Rascal equation. Then there are the floor-fillers like Billy Squier-sampling first single ìFix Up Look Sharpî and the sure-to-be jam of spring 2004, the incredibly anthemic sing-along ìJus A Rascal.î Bizarre sounds, Dizzeeís off-kilter vocals and tight-yet-different beats elevate Dizzee Rascal to status beyond his one album and 19 years. No wonder heís feeling Dizzee. Itís got to be the heights heís already reached and the realization that the skyís the limit.

Dizzee Rascal
XL Recordings/Matador

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