Album Review: Dizzee Rascal – Raskit
2 min read
Four years Dizzee Rascal has made us wait, but now he has finally returned with his sixth studio album, Raskit. It’s certainly felt like an awfully long time without him.
For those who aren’t as familiar with Dizzee Rascal, you’ll probably remember him for Bonkers, Fix Up, Look Sharp, and his collaboration with Calvin Harris for Dance Wiv Me, so you may not think of him as a deep, hard hitting artist. Listen to this album and your entire perception will change.
Kicking off the record we have Focus. The intergalactic music is flawlessly integrated with the grime genre. The title feels like a mantra, and one that should be adopted if we are to believe “the future of your existence will all be decided now” as claimed at the very start.
The restless energy in his music is contagious. Dizzee Rascal rushes out his lyrics, keeping up with the beat. He manipulates the music for Wat U Gonna Do? to trap you in a nightmare where you’re endlessly questioned, and you will tremble under the pressure of his words.
The menacing atmosphere manifests in I Ain’t Even Gonna Lie, with him spitting out his proclamation as ‘lord of the world,’ and with a ghostly choir backing his claim, it’s hard to argue against him. He further establishes his hold on his world with The Other Side, mocking ‘boys’ who ‘keep reachin’ for my plate knowin’ I don’t wanna share mine.’ Dizzee Rascal’s return is a dictatorship, and he will not be sharing his limelight.
With lighter tracks like She Knows What She Wants, it’s not all a power-play from Dizzee Rascal. The repetitive lyrics will plant themselves in your head and you will not be satisfied until you’re playing the track and joining in.
Raskit has Dizzee Rascal going back to his roots, bringing the old school, 90s vibe into the modern music industry. There’s a lot of personal material here, but with mentions of Brexit, politicians, and space exploration, Dizzee Rascal has left his mark on our current global affairs and never been more relevant.
