Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner turns 20 – here's how it ushered in the era of grime
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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
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For the black community – especially its boys and men – it became clear the promise was as empty as Tony Blair’s Millennium Dome was eventually left.
Key Points:
- For the black community – especially its boys and men – it became clear the promise was as empty as Tony Blair’s Millennium Dome was eventually left.
- In their quest for economic survival, they were still not regarding each other’s lives as sacred.
- With no money for advanced music technology, a skeletal sound emerged from the most basic of DIY music tech.
- Developed to deliver the reportage of early-2000s east London life contained in his lyrics, grime was perfect for his urgent, high-pitched, staccato delivery.
- Read more:
25 Years of Garage review – music documentary falls prey to the same mistakes that killed the sceneHis first album, Boy in da Corner, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.
Boy in da Corner’s track list
- And it’s the same old story, Ninja bikes, gun fights and scary nights.
- And it’s the same old story, Window tints and gloves for finger prints.
- Stop Dat is an energising rap battle track.
- Boy In Da Corner made young black men and boys feel seen.
- The rapturous reception Da Boy In Da Corner received from both the estate and the establishment illustrated that black British stories (and therefore black British lives) were important.