After a legendary performance on News Night last year not to mention a blossoming partnership with Calvin Harris and finding himself in Ibiza, it has been quite a year for Mr Rascal. From Bow to Birmingham, Dizzee has just released Tongue ‘n Cheek, his fourth studio album and this Saturday saw him performing at the new 02 Academy as part of his European tour.
A bouncy concert on the whole – we didn’t stop jumping up and down with the London born rapper throughout his entire 90 minute set, accompanied by the infamous DJ Semtex. Packed full of number one’s including Holiday, Bonkers and classics like Old School and Sirens, Dizzee displayed an abundance of lyrical dynamism and boundless party energy.
A tactic used mid concert to gauge which side of the venue was the loudest ensured that Birmingham would be a silent Sunday of lost voices the next day. Joined by his cousin who led the stage with perfect synergy and passion….the two performers were an excellent match. What surprised me most was the make up of the audience. While three years ago it would have been full of shady hoodies who related to the forefather of the UK’s urban grime scene, instead the dance floor was full of young middle class dance music lovers and clean cut student types, who I bet had never heard the antics of Mercury Prize winning Boy in da Corner or the ghetto descriptive bars of Showtime. Though Dizzee may have taken a side step into the mainstream to sell more records and attract a mass following, the fact still remains he was excluded from 4 secondary schools in 4 years when he was growing up and until recently was often cagey about a past rife with stealing cars, fighting with teachers and robbing pizza delivery men. Dizzy is a true beacon of hope now however, both for himself and for the many who find themselves in his former position, craving the one thing that doesn’t make them feel ‘bonkers’…..music.
Words: Alex Evens
Photos: Chris Barber
