Wiki
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Release Date
21 July 2003
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Length
15 tracks
The electrifying debut album of rapper/producer Dizzee Rascal, released 21 July 2003. One of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2003, Boy in da Corner has since been credited as instrumental in the development of Grime - as well as being one of the first albums in the genre to enjoy international commercial success.
The record's departure from the sensibilities of slower-tempo UK Garage (popular in sound system culture at the time) culminated in an all-round more aggressive, raw and gritty sound. The production on the record is hard and unapologetic in nature, characterised by sparse electronic beats and flourishes of experimentalism - like for example, the pitch-shifted vocal samples littered throughout the LP.
The instrumentals provide a fitting backdrop for the lyrics on the album - complementing Raskit's rapid-fire flows and borderline pictorial verses on street life and London youth culture. Dizzee masterfully describes his urban environment, ruminating on the warped sexual values of those around him, the endless cycle of violence in his ends and - most damning of all - the lack of understanding shown from both adults and figures of authority. In Dizzee's introspection and attempting to come to terms with these societal ills, he involves the listener and forces them to engage with them just as he has - resulting in an absolutely engrossing listen from start to finish.
Singles for the album are: "I Luv U" (produced by Raskit when he was just 16), "Fix Up, Look Sharp" and "Jus' a Rascal".
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