Bonkers: Dizzee Rascal has both rhyme and reason

O2 Academy, Birmingham, 23 November 2025

Dizzee Rascal is perhaps one of the most iconic MCs of our generation, still going strong at age 41, having been active since 2000. He is a trailblazer of British hip hop and grime music, even starting his own label, Dirtee Stank.

I had the pleasure of witnessing the Birmingham show of the We Want Bass tour, an intoxicating celebration of all things Dizzee, delivering songs from across the entirety of his career. He is undoubtedly a pioneer of bass, producing tracks that have become ingrained in British culture. So, if you’re a fan of phonetic spelling and incredible dance tunes, a Dizzee Rascal concert is the place to be!

His impeccable stage presence cannot be put into words, an unfathomable bundle of energy and passion

Support act IRAH transformed the O2 Academy into a temporary rave, commanding a restless crowd with the chart-topping drum and bass track ‘Baddadan’ by Chase & Status and Bou, also featuring vocal contributions from Flowdan, Trigga, and Takura. The track is an electric amalgamation of dubstep, R&B, and hip-hop artists, assuming most of the responsibility in making IRAH’s set successful. He is a veteran of the dancehall scene, his unique deep tone, along with an ability to effortlessly switch between an English accent and Jamaican Patois, curating a performance of mass appeal to Dizzee’s audience.

Although a great set, the main event was, of course, Dizzee Rascal himself. His impeccable stage presence cannot be put into words, an unfathomable bundle of energy and passion. Having collaborated with many notable artists such as Arctic Monkeys, will.i.am, Robbie Williams, and Shakira, Dizzee is fearless, refusing to conform to neither sound nor genre. He claims that the We Want Bass tour is one “for the ravers, the real ones, the bass lovers. We’re bringing the energy back to the stage – loud, live, and direct.” He certainly fulfils this promise, faithfully performing songs for fans both old and new.

However, it could be said that a certain edge is lost when at an Emcee’s concert, the use of a backing beat along with the pre-recorded vocals of ghostly singers from collaborations past undermining the performance slightly. The performance is therefore not authentically live as one would normally expect, perhaps proving a disappointment to some. Additionally, there is a marginal predictability to Dizzee’s lyricism, the simplistic rhymes and repetitive song structure leaving room for some impartiality to his music. That being said, maybe that’s what so many love about Dizzee; the mindless, easy-to-dance to nature of his music making it accessible to all.

As a proud Essex girl, it is a rite of passage to learn the lyrics of ‘Dance Wiv Me’ back to front and inside out

Appropriately opening the set with ‘Hype’, an EDM collaboration with DJ Calvin Harris, the frequent beat drops kept everybody on their toes, giving us a taste of what was in store for the rest of the night. Although it was arguably apparent that half of the audience weren’t even alive when ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ was released in 2003, it didn’t hinder the track’s popularity one bit, the audience instantly imitating Dizzee’s infectious tone. Often regarded as one of the best UK drill tracks of the 2000s, ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ proves itself as a standout track amongst Dizzee’s discography.

As a proud Essex girl, it is a rite of passage to learn the lyrics of ‘Dance Wiv Me’ back to front and inside out, the first note of the track igniting enthusiasm in all members of the audience including myself. It has perhaps one of the most well-known hooks of UK club tunes, the main melody solidifying its position at number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks when it debuted, making it Dizzee’s first number one.

We were left with little time to regain composure before being launched headfirst into ‘Bassline Junkie’, its conversational style and aggressive demand for heavy bass relatable for all Dizzee fans. Its hyperbolic humour is self-aware, the absurdity of the song playfully promoting a passion for music as a healthy alternative to drug use. It certainly fulfils its purpose, serving as an example of how bass can indeed be as addictive as speed or ketamine!

It was evident, however, that all were waiting in anticipation for ‘Bonkers’, the audience rapidly becoming aware that it was yet to be performed

‘You’ve Got The Love’ is a song that has lived many lives, and on Sunday night it took on yet another. Most famously known for being covered by Florence + The Machine, Dizzee Rascal also couldn’t resist putting his own twist on the track. ‘You’ve Got The Dirtee Love’ is a highly enjoyable fusion of indie and rap, showcasing the indescribable value of artist collaboration. It was evident, however, that all were waiting in anticipation for ‘Bonkers’, the audience rapidly becoming aware that it was yet to be performed. As I have experienced more times than I care to admit, audience members were exiled to the outskirts of the venue in preparation for a mosh pit. Dizzee also performed the Buckley remix of the track, and I believe he could’ve performed it a third and fourth time with no dissipation in energy or enthusiasm from the audience.

So, although Dizzee’s songs may have blurred into one another, surely this is a sign of a successful concert: one of seamless transitions and perfectly formulated grime classics. Ultimately, Dizzee Rascal is responsible for fathering a new generation of emcees, producing addictive grime that no bassline junkie can resist.

★★★