Dizzee Rascal: Maths + English

Dizzee Rascal’s new album, Maths + English may not be selling as well as Atmosphere’s record, but that may have something to do with the fact that the album has already been available in the UK for the better part of a year now. XL records may have been cautious about exporting Dizzee and his decidedly English patois after fawning press over “Boy in Da Corner” didn’t translate to record sales back in 2004. Thankfully, Def Jux records have absorbed some of the perceived risk by taking up distribution duties in the US. Maths + English is not really similar to anything in American hip-hop. The ‘grime” style popularized by Dizzee is sort of a combination of gangster, two-step, island dancehall, and synth. Dizzee’s heavily accented and aggressive flow is the perfect compliment to the unusual timing of the beats on this album. Many of the songs, like “Flex” and “Da Feeling” are meant to be club bangers, but the better songs are the 90’s west coast gangster funk jams like “Excuse Me Please” or “Where Da G’s”. SOURCE: CRAVEONLINE