Showtime [Explicit Lyrics]

There was much speculation that Showtime, the second LP from 2003 Mercury Music Prize winner Dizzee Rascal would see this UK Garage prodigy turn his back on the Hackney estates and tighten ties with the American hip-hop fraternity. Thankfully, this is a good a time as any to say 'You can take the boy out of Bow but you can't take the Bow out of the boy', for Showtimepresents a Dizzee bolder, brassier, but no less indebted to his grimy past. It's all here - lo-tech video game production ("Stand Up Tall"), bizarre threats of violence ("I'm 5'10", chocolate skin/ I'll punch you in your nostril, I'll punch you in your shin," goes "Everywhere"), and frequent flashes of lunatic humour that elevate Dizzee above his UK Garage peers: take "Dreams", which uses a sample of Captain Sensible's "Happy Talk" to bemusing and hilarious effect. Sober reflection remains part of the Rascal worldview, as on "Imagine" - a truly fragile wisp of synth and strings reminiscent of Aphex Twin's ambient moments. But balance is crucial, and that comes with stone-cold playa anthem 'Girls', performed alongside curiously high-pitched Dizzee affiliate Marga Man: "So much gash, no time to rest" --Louis Pattison

Calling all tribal warriors. Your King has left his corner and stands proudly centre stage. Huge drum calls, banging beats and thrilling jump-up energy herald his arrival. And rightly so, because Dizzee Rascal's second album, Showtime, puts a lot of other rap in the shadows. Tightly packed with stories, phrases, descriptions and life;its impact made all the greater by its genuineness.

Themes such as jealousy, being dissed and keeping above it all are combined with an understanding of the challenges and heartache of concrete living. Dizzee's not bigging up some Cristal lifestyle and talking about his bling.As he says, 'I'm curious of where I come from. I ain't completely detached'.

"Learn" is the kingpin of the album; its droning bass and melodic hooks mesh with speeded up snake-charmer horn, working below the rhythm of his delivery to give the track a hypnotic force. The first single, "Stand Up Tall", is one to rave to with its infectious beat and message of self-belief. On "Get By", vocalist Vanya's youthful plea' brings sweetness to the brooding electronic darkness.

Make no msitake, this is an intense album. He really gets into his lyrical delivery, imbuing it with emotion and spit. Then there's the menace of the twisted English, 'people are going to respect me, if it kills you' ("Respect Me").

Track after track bombards the senses. It's not easy to listen to this album in one sitting, the Cockney twang and shout-speak don't have the melodic lilt of a Snoop or depth of a Biggy Smalls. However, Showtime proves Dizzee has a special talent, all at once sophisticated and primal, raw and eloquent. His powerful and instinctual use of percussion drives the album throughout. Proper real and as sweet as a nut. --Debra Richards

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INCLUDES STAND UP TALL, DREAM & RESPECT ME Quality album from dizzee rascal, includes the massive tracks "stand up tall", "graftin", "respect me". "dream" and many more. Includes a bonus dvd full of exclusive footage!