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Showtime | 
| Artist: Dizzee Rascal
Label: XL Recordings/Beggars Group
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy Used: $2.74
You Save: $14.24 (84%)
New (23) Used (24) from $2.74
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 121113
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5 x 0.4
MPN: 40181
UPC: 634904018122
EAN: 0634904018122
ASIN: B000283OA8
Release Date: September 14, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Showtime | | • | Stand Up Tall | | • | Everywhere | | • | Graftin' | | • | Learn | | • | Hype Talk | | • | Face | | • | Respect Me | | • | Get By (feat. Vanya) | | • | Knock, Knock | | • | Dream | | • | Girls (feat. Marga Man) | | • | Imagine | | • | Flyin' | | • | Fickle |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
There was much speculation that Showtime, the second release from 2003 Mercury Music Prize winner Dizzee Rascal, would find this UK garage prodigy turning his back on the Hackney estates and tightening ties with the American hip-hop fraternity. Thankfully, the album presents a Dizzee that's bolder and brassier, but no less indebted to his grimy past. It's all here--lo-tech video game production ("Stand Up Tall"), bizarre threats of violence ("Everywhere"), and frequent flashes of lunatic humor that elevate Dizzee above his garage peers. "Dreams," for example, uses a sample of Captain Sensible's 1982 hit "Happy Talk" to hilarious effect. Sober reflection remains part of the Rascal worldview too, as on "Imagine," a truly fragile wisp of synth and strings reminiscent of Aphex Twin's ambient moments. But balance is crucial, and that's provided by the stone-cold "playa" anthem "Girls," performed alongside curiously high-pitched Dizzee affiliate Marga Man. --Louis Pattison
Album Description
The follow-up to last year's "Boy In Da Corner" is a bigger sounding album; a volcanic ride of crazy wordplay, ghetto techno, and bottom heavy bass. The first single, "Stand Up Tall", is a hyperactive, video game bounce with a hyper catchy chorus. The follow-up single, "Dream" is a re-make of Captain Sensible's (The Damned) 1982 chart hit, "Happy Talk". Includes bonus DVD with three videos and a short film.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Change is Gonna Come September 27, 2004
Open Mike (Montreal)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is what I call the "playing devil's advocate" review.
The UK garage scene is dramatically different to the North American hip hop scene. Yes, the two are similar in that they boast MCs and sampled beats and whatnot, but let me assure you that Dizzee Rascal is like nothing you have ever heard or seen in your life.
First of all, the UK garage scene started out as a movement, not a genre. It began with guys like Wiley and Mike Skinner (The Streets) acting as guerilla DJs hijacking radio waves and playing their own music to get exposure. It was completely illegal, yet it became so popular that these DJs (and MCs) became underground gods. The whole scene blew up and it is now probably the biggest thing to hit the UK music scene since the Spice Girls. Now it's crossing the pond. We all know The Streets, and Eskimo and Wiley and them lot will be emerging soon enough right next to our boy Dizzee at an American CD store near you.
In my opinion, the difference between garage and hip hop is that garage involves a greater emotional investment. Now don't get all huffy on me, hip hop heads, I know there is a great deal of passion invested in hip hop too, but you have to look at the garage scene as if you were looking at hip hop twenty years ago. Back in the 80s hip hop was a movement, just as garage is now. With the commercialization of the garage scene it will probably lose its soul, just as hip hop has done over the years (and don't even try to argue that point with me). For the mean time though it is pure, raw energy oozing out of the speakers and into your virgin ears, just like how hip hop did back when you first listened to EMPD or Boogie Down Productions.
Why am I writing all this? Because people are going to hate on this stuff if they don't bear in mind that the garage scene is like nothing else, just as hip hop was twenty years ago. The mainstream hated hip hop and dismissed it as a fad, yet now in 2004 it rules the airwaves. As recent as the early 90s hip hop was seen as overly subversive, aggressive and hyper-political; today, the UK garage scene is being similarly labelled.
To be honest with you I haven't warmed up to the garage scene yet, let alone Dizzee. I happen to find the production over-simplified and unpleasant. That's just my particular taste though. I do, however, appreciate that this is a movement that is pushing the genre limitations of the mainstream music that has controlled the industry for almost ten years now. I don't have a problem with that - I happen to love a lot of mainstream music - but it's nice to have a change once in a while. I don't know where or how the garage scene is going to evolve but I assure you that it is totally different from what you are used to in your earphones and, like it or hate it, it is truly a beautiful thing to see a subversive underground movement acheiving success in a perpetually close-minded industry, just as hip hop had done way back when.
 UnKnown star December 27, 2004
Ronell Whitaker (Chicago, IL)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
It is rare that an artist can put out two albums in such a short span and still show evidence of growth, but this cat did it easily. Many complained that Boy in the Corner's bleeps and beeps made it less accessible to the average american audience but they will find little to complain about with this album. Showtime isn't a blatant grab for stateside appeal, but Dizzee succeeds in culling together a more tuneful collection of tracks while still adhereing to his "Garage" roots. "Stand Up Tall" and "Learn" are two standout tracks and even the annoying "Girls" grows on you after a few listens. If you liked the first album you will crap your shorts when you get this one. OY!
Clear up October 30, 2004
L. Derbyshire (Glastonbury UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am from the uk and love this stuff. I am amazed how much you like this, so if you like "Grimey UK G" as its kown over here please check out Wiley, Shystie, DJ EZ, More Fire Crew, or anything with sidewinder on it.
The Grime will grow on you! September 26, 2005
Zeb91 (Seattle, WA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you were coming here looking for a rap album turn around right now unless you have an open mind when it comes to music. Dizzee makes what they call Grime music over their across the pond. It is an interesting amalgam of rap, garage, & house. Lyrically Dizzee is a trip. He has a lot to say and the fact that he can flow to these beats is really impressive. His accent adds that extra touch to his songs that make them sound good. He addresses a lot of topics ranging from partying to growing up in the hood's in London (the LD as he calls it). While he is rapping, his beats are like nothing you have heard over here, unless you are a major techno fan. They definitely have the electronic edge to them. While I enjoy the sounds I find it hard to listen to at times because they are so sporadic and jumpy. There are the mellow tracks which are a nice break but overall this album is a straight up party from start to finish so if you are wanted to just chill throw something else on, but if you want to get wild then let Dizzee Rascal pump out of your speakers!
Rapid-fire but very accurate machine gun delivery!!!! October 1, 2004
M. Tigner (USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Rascal's beats are original but sometimes sparse. But it's his lyrical talent and delivery shines through here. Lyrically as good as "boy in da corner" although his talent seems less astonishing this time around. There are some standout songs such as "Stand Up Tall" and "Graftin". Mainly its daring and innovative. Rascal will one day take his place among the rapid-fire legends.
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