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
Sittin Here
Dizzee Rascal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still live though, get me (tryna do my best man)
Clear?
You get me Wiley? (Real rap music)
Roll deep on life
Uh, live though
Look, yo
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just think
And my eyes don't move left or right, they just blink
I think too deep, and I think too long
Plus I think I'm getting weak 'cause my thoughts are too strong
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just gaze
I'm looking in to space while my CD plays
I gaze quite a lot, in fact I gaze always
And if I blaze, then I just gaze away my days
'Cause it's the same old story, shutters, runners, cats and money stacks (uh)
And it's the same old story, ninja bikes, gun fights and scary nights
And it's the same old story, window tints and gloves for finger prints
Yeah it's the same old story, police investigate around the area
'Cause it was only yesterday we was playing football in the streets
It was only yesterday none of us could ever come to harm
It was only yesterday life was a touch more sweet
Now I'm sitting here thinking, "Wagwan?" (get me? Wagwan?)
I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
Look, yo
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just watch (you get me?)
I really don't feel like moving so I cotch
I watch all around, I watch every detail
I watch so hard I'm scared my eyes might fail
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just smile
It's funny 'cause I haven't bust a smile for a while
I'll smile for a minute, end up smiling for an hour
I'm scared 'cause it's sweet, but it could turn sour
'Cause it's the same old story, chung intelligent yaps in hospie flats
And it's the same old story, benefit claims and cheques in false names
And it's the same old story, students truant, learn the streets fluent
Yeah it's the same old story, strange, there's no sign of positive change
'Cause it was only yesterday, we was standing firmly on our feet
It was only yesterday, girls were innocent they kept us calm
It was only yesterday, there was less bobbies on the beat
Now I'm sitting here thinking, "Wagwan?" (wagwan, wagwan)
I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
(Listen to me, you get me?) Yo
I'm just sitting here I ain't saying much I'm just vex (shame)
I've seen a lot of bullshit, wondering what's next
I'm vex at humanity, vex at the earth
I keep getting vex, 'til I think, "What's the worth?"
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I feel to cry
I'm sitting here depressed and I don't know why
I try to pull myself together, tell myself fix up
And I keep myself from bawling but my eyes they erupt
'Cause it's the same old story, crazy boys keep getting on my nerves
And it's the same old story, police don't give me no peace
Yeah, it's the same old story, friends slowly drifting from the ends
Yeah, it's the same old story, I've sussed, there's nobody I can trust
'Cause it was only yesterday after school we'd come outside and meet
It was only yesterday, it was all love back then
It was only yesterday, every sunny day was a treat
Now I'm sitting here thinking, "Wagwan?" (wagwan, wagwan)
I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh, uh, uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
Yo, I'm just sitting here (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
In Dizzee Rascal's "Sittin' Here," he reflects on the harsh realities of life in his neighborhood. He starts off by saying that he's just sitting there and thinking, not saying much but observing everything around him. He's watching the same old story play out before his eyes - crime, drugs, violence - and he can't help but feel discouraged about the state of humanity. Despite his attempts to remain composed, he can't help but feel like crying at times. The song ends on a nostalgic note, with Dizzee Rascal reminiscing about the good old days and wondering what went wrong.
The song's slow and mellow beat contrasts with the harsh realities described in the lyrics, giving the listener a sense of resignation and helplessness. The use of repetitive lyrics and a simple melody emulates a sense of boredom and monotony. Furthermore, the use of slang, such as "get me" and "Wagwan," creates an informal tone, relatable to the listener.
A key theme throughout the song is Dizzee's vulnerability and frustration, with powerful lines such as "I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much, I feel to cry" and "I'm vex at humanity, vex at the earth." These lyrics highlight the emotional weight of growing up in a violent and deprived environment, which has affected Dizzee in a profound way.
Overall, "Sittin' Here" provides a poignant reflection on life in the UK's inner cities, highlighting the social and economic inequality that persists today.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just think
I am sitting quietly, lost in thought and reflection
And my eyes don't move left or right, they just blink
I stare forward, my eyes barely moving as I blink
I think too deep, and I think too long
I tend to overthink and dwell too much on my thoughts
Plus I think I'm getting weak 'cause my thoughts are too strong
My thoughts are starting to take a toll on me, draining my mental strength
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just gaze
I am looking off into space, lost in my own world
I gaze quite a lot, in fact I gaze always
I am often lost in my thoughts, lost in space and time
And if I blaze, then I just gaze away my days
Even when I'm smoking or otherwise indulging, I'm still stuck in my own thoughts
'Cause it's the same old story, shutters, runners, cats and money stacks (uh)
I'm realizing that life is often a repetitive cycle of crime, drugs, and money
And it's the same old story, ninja bikes, gun fights and scary nights
The world I live in is full of danger and violence
Yeah it's the same old story, police investigate around the area
The police are always snooping around, investigating and making their presence known
It was only yesterday life was a touch more sweet
I remember a time when life was simpler and more innocent
It was only yesterday none of us could ever come to harm
The world used to seem safer and less threatening
Now I'm sitting here thinking, "Wagwan?" (get me? Wagwan?)
Now I'm wondering what the hell is going on, what's really happening in my world
I'm just sitting here I ain't saying much I just watch (you get me?)
Now I'm just observing everything around me, taking it all in without speaking
I really don't feel like moving so I cotch
I'm too listless and unmotivated to do anything physical
I'm just sitting here, I ain't saying much I just smile
I'm trying to stay positive and optimistic despite everything
It's funny 'cause I haven't bust a smile for a while
It's been a long time since I've genuinely felt happy or joyful
I try to pull myself together, tell myself fix up
I'm trying to motivate myself and shake off my negative feelings
And I keep myself from bawling but my eyes they erupt
I'm trying not to cry but sometimes my emotions overwhelm me
'Cause it's the same old story, police don't give me no peace
The police are a constant source of harassment and disturbance in my life
Friends slowly drifting from the ends
My social circle is slowly breaking apart, with people moving away or turning against me
It was only yesterday, girls were innocent they kept us calm
I remember a time when girls were a stabilizing influence in my life
Now I'm sitting here thinking, "Wagwan?" (wagwan, wagwan)
Now I'm wondering what's really going on in my life, what's next to come
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dylan Kwabena Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@j98765432123
IM JUST SITTIN HERE, READING ON THE LOO, PUSHING OUT A BIG FAT POO
@jamesdillon4748
My poo is liveo (liveo)
@thegamingcast360
😂😂😂 this comment made my day
@boybetterknow500
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
@sonnyslife3964
LOOOOOOOOOL
@Letlooseandpee
j98765432123 remix inc? ^_^
@blackman8950
Almost 6 years later a voice in my head told me to listen again this one
@aishafiaz6155
Omg me right now! Still an absolute banger
@apolloblockboy9795
It literally just happened to me
@adamjames466
Same