28-year-old English rapper Dizzee Rascal has been living in the twilight zone between underground and mainstream for a while. He won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2003 for his debut Boy In Da Corner and was a 'critic's darling' at the time. Ten years later, his music is played in every British supermarket and Princes Harry and William are big fans. Blame him for being smiling broadly on the cover
… on his fifth album. Dizzee Rascal is a real power rpper and especially on songs like I Don't Need A Reason and H Town he is lightning fast. The combination of house with its inimitable flow of words in a fine London accent comes out best on these tracks. Unfortunately, the Briton does not always distinguish himself from contemporaries such as Taio Cruz or Pitbull. Dizzee Rascal is also not averse to commerce and the songs with Jessie J, Robbie Williams and Will.i.am are fine for a party, but add little. With The Fifth he nestles nicely in the mainstream and leaves the underground for what it is. (JE)more
