Tongue N' Cheek

It's been one hell of a year for Dizzee Rascal. In the past 12 months alone he's scored three #1 UK singles,
each being released on his own, independent label Dirtee Stank.

That's not to mention scooping an NME Award, being nominated for an Ivor Novello Award and playing a
barnstorming show at Glastonbury on the Pyramid stage.

On 28th September he releases his fourth album “Tongue N' Cheek”, featuring the huge singles 'Dance Wiv
Me', 'Bonkers' and the new smash 'Holiday' which sees Dizzee teaming up with Calvin Harris and Chrome,
the same duo that Dizzee worked with on 'Dance Wiv Me.'

So what else can people expect from “Tongue N' Cheek”? For starters, it's undoubtedly the most upbeat album Dizzee has ever made whilst still retaining that lyrical sharpness that underlines his records. As well as the three singles released to date, there's 'Road Rage', a thumping house track that has been a regular fixture of Dizzee's live sets throughout 2009, whilst 'Dirtee Cash' which features a sample of the classic Stevie V tune, finds Dizzee warning people of the dangers of spending all their money at once and the chores of everyday life: “Let me take you down to London city / Where the attitude's bad and the weather is shitty / Everybody's on a paper chase / on the rat race.”

Shy FX, who collaborated with Dizzee on the “Maths + English” track 'Da' Feelin'' also adds production
duties to the carnival-esque, summertime anthem of 'Can't Tek No More.' dizzee's biting, observational lyrics still shine through as he raps that “ So much war in the world today / even women and kids get blown away / what's the cause of it? / money as usual / The poor and innocent suffer as usual.” However, it's 'Chillin' Wiv Da Man Dem' that is Dizzee's biggest departure. It's a classic, smooth-sounding R'n'B tune reminiscent of Tupac or Snoop Dog, expelling the virtues of hanging out with friends.
 
Dizzee has said that “Tongue N Cheek” is a party album – that it's naughty and nice, something for everyone. On this evidence, you can certainly see what he means.