PUNKCAST#393
Dizzee Rascal
Volume - Brooklyn
Feb 7 2004
sponsored by
WWWhatsup Online Pinstand
with thanks to Volume and Soundlab

'live on truck'

This, a revival of the seminal NYC crossover hip-hop party Soundlab, was the first big show at Volume, a new warehouse space in North Williamsburg run by those cultured folks at Joe's Pub. Despite the MTA uncooperstively knocking out the L train for the weekend, the place was jammed as UK rap wunderkind Dizzee Rascal took the stage - well not exactly stage but the back of a gleaming 18 wheeler flatbed truck. Arriving late, from another show, it took me three songs just to get within shooting distance. Fortunately there was a full-on video crew from Original Media on hand doing a proper job of it, so my efforts are by no means the definitive record. The lighting was remarkably good. Dizzee, appearing with a sidekick whose name I didn't catch, and DJ Slim on the wheels, comes from east London, and rules the local jamaican cockney style known as 'grime'. Somehow he has had the good intuition to sign with well-respected indie label Matador in the states, giving him an intellectual cachet just about unprecedented in hip-hop. This show proved he has the skills to back it up, despite his repeated avowals that he would be "back in the summarr to do shit proply," whether set-piece or freestyle, he dazzled with rhythmic dexterity and lyrical virtuosity. After climaxing the set with the hit - 'Fix Up - Look Sharp' - he came back with one more, an uplifting tune called 'Brand New Day' - killing the rhythm half way thru for a freestyle finale. That is the clip here.



And yes i have knocked up a VCD of the show, 8 songs that I actually got not too bad, however, considering that as mentioned Original Media have a better project in hand and as I did not speak directly with Dizzee and his people, I'm going to sit on it, for now. If you really want a copy email orders@pinstand.com with the subject=VCD393, stating your interest, and I'll let you know if and when. UPDATE OCT 2019. Someone asked about this so I have posted the files.



capture captain: joly
date posted: 2/13/04

dusted review of this show

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