Rascal will probably always stay 18 years old in the minds (and reviews) of many journalists since his age at the time of his debut album was the most hyped aspect of this London emcee/producer's blazing entry into the U.S. hip hop circuit, but age aside, Dizzee is obviously one of the most talented new rappers in the game right now. A few people have told me they were disappointed with his live show in the past, but they must've seen something totally different from what I witnessed at Doug Fir's.
Dizzee, his talented partner Scope, and DJ Wonder set off the explosive set on a pitch black stage, with Dizzee lounged in the center shooting off the opening lines from "Sittin' Here", the first track from his debut album. He quickly burst into a busy acapella that left the crowd both stunned and amazed before continuing to blaze through a short but sweet set, switching back and forth between cuts from his critically acclaimed debut album and his newest release, Showtime. Highlights included "Jezebel" and his radio hits from Boy In Da Corner such as "I Love You" and "Fix Up, Look Sharp", which came out in a slightly predictable encore (along with some bouncier tracks I'm assuming are found on Showtime).
As great as Dizzee's albums are, his live show is even more mesmerizing and comes across as a bit more rap oriented. Good sonic representation is key since his thick, synth-filled and distorted drum production is the most captivating element of his sound, and Doug Fir's system handled it exceptionally well. My only complaint would be DJ Wonder's lack of...well, DJ'ing. Other than that, Dizzee's got his formula down right.