So says Dizzee Rascal on the appropriately titled "Respect Me" from 2004's Showtime, the widely anticipated follow-up to 2003's breakout Boy In Da Corner. But can one short year really make that much difference? Is the boy really ready to step out of the corner and into the spotlight? Yes and no.
Eighteen year old Dylan Mills' debut as Dizzee Rascal muttered unintelligibly all the way to the bank, cashing in on his status as the only UK hip-hop garage act you've ever heard. Mills, now presumably a year older and wiser, used some of his hard earned cred to pick up a little bling and alot of bounce for this second outing, raising production stakes and filling out his sound without spit-polisihing his incomprehensibly accented delivery. Familiar electronic blips and stutters are supported by more straightforward rhythms and deeper bass as if his markedly grim and grimy sound has been filtered through Miami-Dade customs. You either think this is a good thing or you don't, probably based on whether or not you like the slightly more accessible feel this lends most tracks.
Ultimately what Diz does best is back on display in tracks like "Respect Me" and "Dream" - a sweet ode to the music he grew up with - showcasing the rapper's ability to cut to the heart of a matter with blunt, honest and memorable lines free from convention or cliche. The surprising sting of his lyrics and his now signature, relentless rapping won't take a back seat to shifting styles. Some of his bite is sacrificed to swagger on other tracks and the whole bottom heavy shift may not be as big a step forward as some critics might have been looking for from such a formidable talent - or maybe a step toward hip-hop's US mainstream wasn't the direction they would have chosen - but it's only been a year. I say let the kid have his fun.
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