On 21 July 2003, an 18-year-old Dizzee Rascal released his debut album Boy In Da Corner via XL Recordings. Little did he know that the 15-track album would go on to win the Mercury-Prize, become the first-ever Platinum-selling UK Rap album released, and lay the foundation for Grime.
XL Recordings will mark the 20th Anniversary of Dizzee Rascal’s seminal debut album Boy In Da Corner with the release of a two-volume deluxe edition that features 14 rare and previously unreleased tracks, alongside the original album. From today (11 July), fans can pre-save the full digital album ahead of its release on 21 July and pre-order the 12” package, as well as, an exclusive run of 20th Anniversary Boy In Da Corner merchandise. For more information, head to boyindacorner.com.
‘Street Fighter’ is the first track from volume 2 of Boy In Da Corner (20th Anniversary Edition) to be released. Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Street Fighter’ freestyle grew to be a legendary myth of the UK Grime scene after it rippled through the airwaves of pirate radio and sound systems of the underground raves. It was only available on a rare white label but today gets an official digital release.
“the most original and exciting artist to emerge from dance music in a decade.” – The Guardian
“The best rapper this country’s ever produced, period…Next to Dizzee Rascal, everybody looks pale, uninteresting and irrelevant.” – UNCUT
“Gutter-garage prophet declares UK Garage’s end-of-days on incredible debut” – NME
“If you want a vision of the future of hip-hop and techno, get this record.” – Rolling Stone
“Dizzee’s despairing wail, focused anger, and cutting sonics place him on the front lines in the battle against a stultifying Britain, just as Johnny Rotten, Pete Townshend, and Morrissey have been in the past” – Pitchfork
LISTEN TO ‘Street Fighter’ NOW
PRE-ORDER Boy In Da Corner (20th Anniversary Edition) HERE
Tracklisting:
Vol 1 –
- Sittin’ Here
- Stop Dat
- I Luv U
- Brand New Day
- 2 Far (Feat. Wiley)
- Fix Up, Look Sharp
- Cut ‘em Off
- HOLD YA MOUF’ (Feat. God’s Gift)
- Round We Go
- Jus’ A Rascal
- Wot U On
- Jezebel
- Seems 2 Be
- Live O
- Do It!
Vol 2 –
- Vexed
- Street Fighter
- I Luv U (Remix) feat. Wiley and Sharkey Major (digital only)
- Give U More feat. D Double E (digital only)
- Win feat. Breeze
- We Aint Havin It feat. Wiley
- Kryme feat. Redrum and Sharkey Major
- Ready 4 War feat. Sharkey Major, Armour, and Stormin
- Street Fighter (Instrumental)
- Go (Instrumental)
- Ho (Instrumental)
- String Ho (Instrumental)
- Ting Ting (Instrumental)
- Wheel (Instrumental)
ABOUT DIZZEE RASCAL
by Martin Clark, London, Feb 2003
Young, angry, articulate and frighteningly talented: Eighteen-year-old Dizzee Rascal is the voice of brand new generation. Alongside Wiley and his fellow Roll Deep Entourage members, Dizzee has been propelled by a popular uprising to underground fame, away from the eyes of the mainstream. All this is about to change. Meet Dizzee Rascal, Britain’s most talented troublesome teenager.
Piercing and poignant, Dizzee’s voice is unmistakable. So is his rare gift. In a capital wracked by gun crime and tension, Dizzee sits MCing in the eye of the storm. Bring the noise. In fact speaking of which, what is that damn noise, booming from every other car? Oh. That’ll be Dizzee then.
The Streets’ Mike Skinner was recently asked: “what’s the future?”
He simply replied: “Dizzee Rascal.”
Two years ago a kid went into a studio to produce “I Luv U.” Dizzee came out with the biggest underground tune since Ms Dynamite’s “Boo.” Teenage pregnancy, badboy bravado, a dark ragga bassline, loose gyals and being so popular in your “manor” you don’t even answer your phone: “I Luv U” has it all. What more could you want?
Since “I Love You” got smashed in the raves he’s been the most in demand MC in Britain. He’s been able to be picky about his remixes, choosing The Streets and Ashanti. He produced an incendiary cut for More Fire Crew’s album and he’s working with Basement Jaxx.
Together the Dizzee and Wiley have supported Jay-Z live and come with vocal anthems “Bounce” and “Roll Deep Regular.” Wiley was 2002’s biggest selling producer, remixing for So Solid Beats and Ludacris. Dizzee was voted best newcomer at the Sidewinder People’s Choice awards. The Sidewinder lot are a massive not easily impressed.
Dizzee grew up and still lives, on the streets of Bow, east London. They are rough, violent and on the edge. What didn’t kill you made you stronger – and Dizzee certainly took some hits. Troublesome and disruptive, he was chucked out of several schools until someone showed some faith in him: a music teacher. Excluded from other classes, Dizzee stowed himself away in the back of the music classroom. It was time well spent.
Inspired by the ghetto glamorous sounds of US hip hop and r’n’b as well as the grimey home-grown rhymes of jungle and garage MCs, Dizzee’s new musical vision began to form. Exposed to Sham 69, The Flying Lizards and Sepultura, he soaked up new sounds like a sponge. So whether it was school, street life, new sounds or natural talent, Dizzee soon exploded into the underground, angry and with a whole pile of things to say. Life hadn’t been good to this only child and his friends. Drug dealing, teenage pregnancy, gun crime, poverty, street robbery and unemployment – for people surrounding him this is how life is.
“It was a struggle as an only child. It felt like me against the world, against everyone. It didn’t feel like I had a lot of friends,” explains Dizzee. “Music rocketed me out into an angry, angry world. I came back and everyone’s angry from where I’m from as well. It’s just like that now boy.”
Music has become Dizzee’s way out, his release. So when he is pensive, so is his music. When he is mellow, out comes the mellow Dizzee. And when he’s angry he’s “screwing,” just completely livid. And like Dizzee, his legions of underground fans share this passion, this release of rage and an empathy for his lyrical message. They relate to Dizzee because he’s just like them: he’s where they’re from and tells it like it is.
“We express what people can’t express, when they ain’t got no way, so they feel like ‘rah, someone relates,’” explains Dizzee. “When they’re listening to our music they’re not out causing trouble; when they’re in the rave they’re getting out their negative energy.”
Talk to Dizzee and you’ll see he’s big on balance. Sure he’s young, sure he’s angry but he sees the big picture. Hence there’s the mellow r’n’b version as well as the angry “I Love You” original. Like love and sex, there’s always more than one side to a Dizzee Rascal story.
Then if you want pure energy, think “Still The Same” which Dizzee produced for More Fire Crew’s debut album. If you want contemplation check “Brand New Day,” and watch Dizzee’s original Oriental hooks sneak their way under your skin. Then watch his rhymes make his way into your brain: “we used to fight with kids from other estates/now 8mm settle debates.” Album cuts like “Live-O” or “Sitting Here” are a fresh new British sound altogether.
Most British MCs struggle to see beyond the end of Jah Rule’s microphone. Bling, bling, cash money Xerox-US rhymes et cetera yawn zzzz. NOT DIZZEE. He’s smart and articulate: gun crime, politics, balance, relationships, social comment or how to mash up a rave, Dizzee rhymes about them all.
Most producers are sheep, afraid to break the rules. Dizzee’s fearless. He heads straight for the rules, bumps right into them before giving them a slap. No one is going to tell him anything. But it’s not all violence for violence’s stake. There’s a plan here, the bigger picture again. It’s about getting out of the “gully” the streets, the ghettos of east London. And it’s about getting everyone else out too.
“We show people: ‘look, I’m from where you’re from and this is what we’ve got now. And you know what? You can do it too, everyone can do it.’ Anything that was initially bad, you can see it rise into good.”
So life on the street, or “on road” as Dizzee would put it, is hectic. Many don’t make it out. Even almost Dizzee himself. “Road gets us, road gets all of us,” explains Dizzee. “People start smoking. Starting trouble, forgetting about things. I almost forgot about music, man. If I wasn’t expressing myself in music, I wouldn’t have carried on.”
But he did carry on so you better watch out for Dizzee Rascal in 2003. London, England? Consider yourselves …warned.
