Maths And English (Parental Advisory) [Digipak] - Dizzee Rascal > Reviews > Maths + English = A Good Dizzee Rascal Album

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Lots of variety
Disadvantages:	Some weak tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"Maths + English" is the third album form the UK Grime artist, Dizzee Rascal. He is a London MC who brought UK Hip Hop and Grime to the mainstream. This album was released on the 4th of June last year and peaked at number 7, one better than he previous album from 2004. The title refers to the two components of the album which he had a part in 'Maths', the production and 'English', the lyrics.

1. World Outside

**Three Stars**

To kick us off, we have a short track which tells all the young black males in the UK that they have to realize that the world is bigger than the area that they live in , because this is what s letting them down. If
these people expand, then they can move on from the detrimental things which are holding them back in life.

I like that he was doing something in order to spread his experience to people who perhaps wouldn't realize this otherwise. As it is an inspiring track, it is quite uplifting when you listen to it, so I save it for certain occasions. The music is very mystical and as if the listener is going into an unknown world, as they will do if they follow his advice.

2. Pussy'ole

**Five Stars**

From the title alone you can probably tell that this is a controversial track, and as it was actually released as a single, it makes you worry a bit more that he may face public backlash. This problem was kind of covered-up by having it heavily edited and calling it "Old Skool" on radio-play.

The secondary title makes sense when you hear the sample used, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock's "It takes Two", a old-school Hip Hop jam, which takes you back in time to when there were a lot of party tunes in this genre (we seem to have lost them somewhat). I don't really see how the sample fits in with the main theme, but it definitely works.

The track has Dizzee talk about how people "'Talk the talk' etc. making them worthy of such a phrase (given in the title). It's quite humourous as he says this and repeats it a lot to bring out a huge impact on people who would think themselves 'hard', but know they couldn't stand in a fight really.

3. Sirens

**Two Stars**

This was the first single from the album and it was quite successful in this country, but I really just didn't like it, because it was so boring and uneventful. I really don't see the place of this in Dizzee's music, because he isn't the type to get into serious trouble, so why would he make out that he's always running from the police when he's truly a good boy (and everyone knows it).

The music in this track isn't very good in my opinion, its very slow, which contrasts with the theme and the siren sounds put me off it completely. Due to all this, I hate having to listen to it and I don't think that it should have been included on the LP, but because of it's popularity, it had to be on here.

4. Where's Da G's (feat. UGK)

**Five stars**

This is one of the big tracks on the album and as Dizzee collaborates with the Underground Kingz (UGK), comprised of Bun B and Pimp C. The star quality certainly makes it a sure hit. Dizzee said that he took a lot of influence from the 'Dirty South' so what's better than to have artists from there on such a track.

He said that places like Atlanta, Houston and Memphs were great cities to find music he enjoys, because this is where all of the true 'gangstaz' remain, so he definitely looks up to the Pimp and Big Bun as idyllic figures for his music.

This song refers to th fact that many will listen to gangsta rap and assume that because they have done this, they are fully-entitled to call themself a G(angsta), even though they wouldn't commit any crimes to back this up. The force of UGK makes you want to surrender as they are convincing in telling the listener (if it applies to them) that they shouldn't act like pimps, murderers or hustlers if they don't actually do it.

5. Paranoid

**Three Stars**

Although I didn't like this too much I was very impressed by the effectiveness of the overall track. The beat to this track is extremely hypnotic and strange and it fits in very well with the theme of paranoia, which he is attempting to put across to the audience in order to understand his state of mind when feeling this way.

During this the MC talks about how sometimes he feels that he should reflect on his lif, and certain thins become apparent when he does this. He speaks about how he may feel that his girlfriend his just a gold-digger, or that his friends are just there to

6. Suk My Dick

**One Star**

This is a terrible track, a disappointment in comparison to the rest of the album and I really think it is out of place with all of the quality tracks found on this album. He should have left it out completely, there's nothing he can do in order to improve on it.

7. Flex

**Four Stars**

This is the third track to be released off this album and it is a big tune for dancing to, I'm sure that it was a big hit in the clubs when it gained it's peak in popularity. It really stands out amongst the rest of the tracks, so it should make you pay attention when it comes on.

Dizzee Rascal tells us about he likes to watch girls dancing, and in order to get them to do this, he puts out this track, with a funky beat, which allows them to do it to him.

Not all of the track is good though because after a short instrumental part to it, he comes out with a very distinctive "Gosh golly, my oh my", lyrics like these show that he has really matured yet as an MC and he needs to work on making his best lines clear, not his worst ones

8. Da Feelin'

**Five Stars**

Dizzee shows how adaptive his a style is by jumping on a Shy FX's drum and bass (DnB) beat and displaying how his rhymes can fit in with any genre of music (not jut Grime, Hip Hop and rap). It's good to see that he's embracing another British type of music to give it more power.

This is a Summertime track and gets you into 'Da Fellin' of Summer, in which you have no worries, you can just cotch and relax throughout the day; all you ever what to do. I really enjoyed this as DnB is a genre which I love in small amounts so just a touch of it boosted the energy of the album greatly.

9. Bubbles

**Four Stars**

This tune has a thumping bassline to it and it really helps you to get right into it, during this track he talks about how to show off your style and flaunting it and it's quite a good record and I enjoyed listening to it.

The beat to it sounds quite similar to Lumidee's "Never Leave" and this increases the tempo greatly, I felt that it was a strong song o the album and stands out quite a lot even though it doesn't have too much of a story to it.

10. Excuse Me Please

**Three Stars**

I like how this track allows the artist to expand on his style and show how he has taken influence from conscious Hip Hop artists and is displaying this by taking a look at the world and being shocked by this vision.

Throughout the track Dizzee highlights all of the things which are wrong in this world and have no reason to b e like this. The record is inspiring and thought-provoking, but he doesn't tell us anything new, so I wouldn't say that this was an entirely successful attempt at this mini-genre, but a decent try.

11. Hardback (Industry)

**Four Stars**

I like how in this track he is again passing on advice from his own personal experiences (as "World Outside") but in this one he is actually trying to help people get into the music industry and he gives aspiring artists a step-by-step guide to success.

The beats pound on you throughout the record and I feel that it is a relevant backing sound to the lyrics. Strangely it sounds like a marching rhythm, so it is as if there is a crowd of people following his words on the way to making it in the game.

12. Temptation (feat. Alex Turner)

**Three Stars**

There is a constant whirling sounds during this track which makes you get into a strange mind-set, as the theme of the record, which is about the tempting things in life which he would want to do, but can't due to how far he has progressed in his life.

The lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys sings the chorus, and fits in fairly well with the direction of the tune and what the meaning of it is. I like how Dizzee takes us to his childhood, in which he would rob and joy-ride, but he has moved-on, but he knows that all the friends he did it with will still be trapped in the system.

13. Wanna Be (feat. Lily Allen)

**Four Stars**

This reminds me of a single from his last album, "Showtime", with the song "Dreams", as the track takes an old song and turns it into a big Grime track. This time he takes "So You Wanna Be A Boxer" and changes the last word to "Gangsta", and basically rips the listener so they realize that they will never be able to be accepted as one.

Lily Allen sings the chorus, and it's nice to hear on the tune as she fits in very well with sound of the track as a whole. Dizzee breaks down what it is to be a "Gangsta", just as "Where's The G's", ands just takes the mick out of everyone who attempts to act lie one who puts on a front like they are one, because there are so many like this in the country.

In conclusion this is a good album by Dizzee Rascal and it shows off how adaptive he is, he is able to work with singers (Lily Allen), Indie artists (Alex Turner), and Junglists (Shy FX) to bring out all of his best qualities and display how much his style varies. Generally Dizzee' raps are very unique as he comes with offbeat raps which hit close to home for many people who gre up just as he did. Although there are flaws in the LP, there is a lot to like, an I certainly enjoyed listening to it.