Dizzee began MCing on pirate radio and at raves at fifteen, but since his mainstream success he has distanced himself from the fledgling scene. Rascal grew up in the East End of London in south Bow in a council estate, raised by his single mother, a Ghanaian immigrant. Little is known about his father, though it is thought that he died when Mills was two. He attributes his musical development to a school teacher who allowed him to skip regular classes and spend time working on music on the school computers.
His music is an eclectic mixture of garage and hip-hop beats with an extremely broad palette of influences, ranging from metal guitars to found sounds, drill and bass synth lines, eclectic samples and even Japanese court music. His vocal performance is also distinctive, he uses a fast version of rapping (known as 'spitting') which blends elements from garage MCing, conventional rap, grime and ragga.
Dizzee Rascal has numerous rivals within the Grime scene, mainly from the Bow, East London area. A notable rival of Dizzee Rascal is Crazy Titch who produced and recorded a diss called "Just An Arsehole" which used the backing track of Dizzee's record of "Jus A Rascal".
Dizzee Rascal has had international endorsements deals with urban brand Ecko and designed his own shoe with Nike. He has also worked with cross genre artist, Beck, on a remix of the song Hell Yes.
He released his debut album in 2003, which was called Boy In Da Corner, winning him the 2003 Mercury Prize. His second album Showtime was released in 2004. His third effort, Maths and English was released in 2007. All three albums received critical acclaim. He experienced commercial success in 2008 when Dance Wiv Me reached the number one spot in the UK charts. His fourth album, Tongue n' Cheek was released in 2009, going platinum for sales exceeding 300,000 units in the UK. Dizzee Rascal's album The Fifth was released in 2013, the same year he received an honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University of East London.
In 2017, Rascal released Raskit, which as well as building on his sound heralded a return on some songs to the grime sound of his earlier albums.
Discography:
Studio albums:
2003: Boy in da Corner
2004: Showtime
2007: Maths + English
2009: Tongue n' Cheek
2013: The Fifth
2017: Raskit
2020: E3 AF
2024: Don't Take It Personal
Get By
Dizzee Rascal Lyrics
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straight action, you don't stop for a fool
most use crime as a way to pay the bills
the un-lucky ones end up gettin caught
we grew up in the ghetto where the growing gets rough
moneys been around but its never been enough
most ain't givin no choice but to hussle
some break down when the going gets tough
mines over east still struggle to be equal
so many characters, 4 main types
the good, the bad, the ugly, and the evil
deep in the manner where the povertys visible
there's not a lot sweet so most look misarable
most cave in to the devil, took the wrong puff
son kick the face but still pray for a miracle
soccastars emerge from the curb
up n coming mcs struggle to be heard
boy.... the next jailbird ??
*censored*s talk murder and they live by there word
shotters keep the money going round
kids goin stray most never get found
iv noticed there a ghetto in every town
the skies are empty because the stars are on the ground
(chorus)
we grew up in the ghetto saw real life pain
real life struggle with real life strain
real life kiddies with real life guns
and real life mothers lose real life sons
gang wars are ruftin on the darf flur on the seeser ??
beef after beef just to be the top geezer
big arms gas, the stratford recs
ghetto high murders gotta maintain reps
what's it all about i ask myself before i swing
more time I'm beefin over any little thing
beefin any area,region or vincity
my ghetto frame of mind makes me prone to hostility
to my bredrons locked up, to my young baby mothers
each and every creed and colour, ghetto sisters and brothers
if you know your from the slums keep reppin no doubt
stay ghetto if you must just remember to get out
In Dizzee Rascal's song "Get By," the lyrics describe growing up in the ghetto where life is harsh and the summers are short. There's constant action, and one can't stop for a fool. For most people living in the ghetto, it is necessary to turn to crime to pay the bills, and the unlucky ones face the consequences. Despite the presence of money in the ghetto, it has never been enough, and most of the people are forced to hustle because they have no other choice. Most people break down when things get tough.
The lyrics talk about different people in the ghetto, featuring all kinds of characters. They describe the good, the bad, the ugly, and the evil, with each person different from the other. Poverty is visible, and most people look miserable. In every town, there is a ghetto, and the stars are on the ground because the skies are empty. The chorus talks about real-life pain and struggle in the ghetto. There are real-life mothers who lose real-life sons, and gang wars are rampant. There's a constant competition to be the top geezer, and big arms gas to maintain reps.
The lyrics are a reflection of the reality of life for many people who grow up in ghetto areas. They describe a never-ending cycle of violence and crime, where people are often forced into lifestyles to remain blackmailed by their environment. Despite all the struggles, there's a sense of pride in coming from the slums, and the ghetto mentality makes one prone to hostility, but there's a need to remind oneself to get out of the ghetto.
Line by Line Meaning
we grew up in the ghetto where summertimes short
I grew up in a poor neighborhood where summers never lasted long.
straight action, you don't stop for a fool
You have to act quickly to survive in this environment, you can't waste time being naive.
most use crime as a way to pay the bills
Many of the people in the ghetto resort to illegal activities to make ends meet.
the un-lucky ones end up gettin caught
Those who are unlucky are the ones who get caught committing those crimes.
we grew up in the ghetto where the growing gets rough
I grew up in a place where it's tough to overcome the challenges of life.
moneys been around but its never been enough
Even though we have money in this place, it's never enough for everyone to live comfortably.
most ain't givin no choice but to hussle
Many people are not given any other choice but to hustle and make money by any means necessary.
some break down when the going gets tough
Some people can't handle the pressure and stress of this life and give up.
deep in the manners all kinds of different people
In this place, there are people from all walks of life and of different backgrounds.
mines over east still struggle to be equal
Even in the eastern part of this place, people still struggle for equality and respect.
so many characters, 4 main types
There are many different types of people in the ghetto, but they can be categorized into four main groups: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the evil.
the good, the bad, the ugly, and the evil
These are the four main groups of people in this place - some are good, some are bad, some are ugly, and some are downright evil.
deep in the manner where the povertys visible
In this neighborhood, poverty is clearly visible.
there's not a lot sweet so most look misarable
There isn't much that's pleasant or sweet about this place, so many people end up looking unhappy.
most cave in to the devil, took the wrong puff
Many people in the ghetto give in to their temptations, like drugs, and end up making poor choices.
son kick the face but still pray for a miracle
People in this place face a lot of hardship and violence, but they still hold onto hope for something better.
soccastars emerge from the curb
Even though this is a poor place, some talented athletes rise from this neighborhood.
up n coming mcs struggle to be heard
New and aspiring musicians in this place have a hard time getting noticed and making it big.
boy.... the next jailbird ??
There are always young people in this place who are headed towards a life of crime and incarceration.
*censored*s talk murder and they live by there word
Some people in the ghetto speak openly about committing murder and take pride in being true to their word.
shotters keep the money going round
Drug dealers are a common source of income in this neighborhood.
kids goin stray most never get found
Children often go astray in this place and many never find their way back.
iv noticed there a ghetto in every town
I have observed that there seems to be a poor area in every town and community.
the skies are empty because the stars are on the ground
This place is dark and empty because the stars, the people with talent and potential, are often held back by poverty and hardship.
we grew up in the ghetto saw real life pain
Growing up in a place like this means experiencing true pain and suffering.
real life struggle with real life strain
Living in poverty entails real struggle and significant stress.
real life kiddies with real life guns
In this place, young children are forced to face the harsh realities of owning and using guns.
and real life mothers lose real life sons
Mothers in this place lose their children to violence and crime far too often.
gang wars are ruftin on the darf flur on the seeser ??
Gang violence is rampant on the streets of this neighborhood.
beef after beef just to be the top geezer
People in the ghetto are willing to engage in conflict with each other just to prove who is the most powerful.
big arms gas, the stratford recs
There are many dangerous weapons and groups in this neighborhood, like the Stratford Recs.
ghetto high murders gotta maintain reps
Murder is often seen as a way to maintain one's reputation and standing in this place.
what's it all about i ask myself before i swing
Sometimes, it's hard to understand the reason for the violence and fighting in this place.
more time I'm beefin over any little thing
People in this neighborhood are quick to engage in conflict over small matters.
beefin any area,region or vincity
People in this place are willing to fight over any part of the neighborhood, no matter how small or insignificant.
my ghetto frame of mind makes me prone to hostility
Growing up in the ghetto has made me more likely to react with hostility and aggression in difficult situations.
to my bredrons locked up, to my young baby mothers
I am thinking about my friends who are in jail and the young mothers in this place.
each and every creed and colour, ghetto sisters and brothers
The people in this place, regardless of their background or race, are like family to me.
if you know your from the slums keep reppin no doubt
If you come from the ghetto, keep representing that part of yourself and where you are from.
stay ghetto if you must just remember to get out
It may be hard to leave this place, but remember that it's important to try to escape the hardships of the ghetto.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HEALEY LE CATOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind