Released 20 September 2009 Length 41:32 Artist Dizzee Rascal Label Dirtee Stank Recordings | Recorded 2008–09 Tongue n' Cheek
(2009) The Fifth
(2013) Release date 20 September 2009 | |
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Producer Cage
Tiësto
Shy FX
Calvin Harris
Danja
Armand Van Helden Genres Hip hop music, Grime, Pop music, Hip house Nominations Brit Award for MasterCard British Album of the Year Similar Dizzee Rascal albums, Grime albums, Other albums | ||
Tongue n' Cheek is the fourth studio album by British rapper Dizzee Rascal. The album was released on 20 September 2009 and includes the number one singles, "Dance wiv Me", "Bonkers", "Holiday" and "Dirtee Disco". It has been certified platinum by the BPI for sales of over 300,000, making it the best-selling album of Rascal's career.
Contents
Background
Its release was announced on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross when, in an interview, Rascal revealed details including track information and production. He confirmed in an interview on Radio 1 that he is leaving his grime roots behind, in favour of more mainstream pop music. On 23 May 2009, Calvin Harris revealed on his Twitter that he was producing a Dizzee track. At the Evolution Festival in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he confirmed that there will be two new singles from the album called "Road Rage" and "Dirtee Cash". Dirtee Cash heavily samples The Adventures of Stevie V song "Dirty Cash.". Samples are also used on "Can't Tek No More" ("Warrior's Charge" by Aswad from the film Babylon) and "Chillin' Wiv da Man Dem" ("Oh Honey" by Delegation).
In early August the track listing was confirmed in a preview of the album by music website NME.
Notably, Rascal designed a Nike-distributed Tongue n' Cheek shoe, to be in released at the same time as the album. The proceeds from these shoes going to Tower Hamlets Summer University of which Rascal is a patron.
Release and chart performance
On 27 September 2009, Tongue n' Cheek entered the UK Albums Chart at number 3, charting behind Muse's The Resistance and Madonna's Celebration.
Critical reception
Tongue n' Cheek received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 75 based on 14 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars saying "If it's less wilfully uncommercial than his earlier oeuvre, which frequently made the listener feel like they were being mugged in the middle of an amusement arcade, its distorted synthesisers are still edgily thrilling". Pitchfork Media's Ian Cohen gave the album 7.5/10 saying that "He sounds damn good over trashy, flashy electro that manages to keep pace with cadences as hyperactive as his own, and, above all, he's way more fun than he's often given credit for". NME gave the album 7/10 saying that "The beats on Tongue N' Cheek are still raw, clamorous and unpredictable, but in a springy, primary-coloured way". Q Magazine gave it a favorable review saying "It's been a long time coming, but Brit-rap's first genuinely huge album is here". musicOMH.com gave it 4 out of 5 stars saying "There's a party to be had and Dizzee's in charge, but don't forget to engage your brain for at least some of it". Observer Music Monthly gave it 4 out of 5 stars saying "It unquestionably adds up to a pop record sharp enough to be the bratty but irresistible younger brother of Lily Allen's "It's Not Me, It's You". RapReviews.com gave the album 8.5/10 saying "All in all, Dizzee hasn't gone all out to make an artistic masterpiece, but it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference".
Track listing
All lyrics written by Dizzee Rascal.
Songs
1Bonkers2:58
2Road Rage3:15
3Dance Wiv Me3:24