This is what I call the "playing devil's advocate" review.

The UK garage scene is dramatically different to the North American hip hop scene. Yes, the two are similar in that they boast MCs and sampled beats and whatnot, but let me assure you that Dizzee Rascal is like nothing you have ever heard or seen in your life.

First of all, the UK garage scene started out as a movement, not a genre. It began with guys like Wiley and Mike Skinner (The Streets) acting as guerilla DJs hijacking radio waves and playing their own music to get exposure. It was completely illegal, yet it became so popular that these DJs (and MCs) became underground gods. The whole scene blew up and it is now probably the biggest thing to hit the UK music scene since the Spice Girls. Now it's crossing the pond. We all know The Streets, and Eskimo and Wiley and them lot will be emerging soon enough right next to our boy Dizzee at an American CD store near you.

In my opinion, the difference between garage and hip hop is that garage involves a greater emotional investment. Now don't get all huffy on me, hip hop heads, I know there is a great deal of passion invested in hip hop too, but you have to look at the garage scene as if you were looking at hip hop twenty years ago. Back in the 80s hip hop was a movement, just as garage is now. With the commercialization of the garage scene it will probably lose its soul, just as hip hop has done over the years (and don't even try to argue that point with me). For the mean time though it is pure, raw energy oozing out of the speakers and into your virgin ears, just like how hip hop did back when you first listened to EMPD or Boogie Down Productions.

Why am I writing all this? Because people are going to hate on this stuff if they don't bear in mind that the garage scene is like nothing else, just as hip hop was twenty years ago. The mainstream hated hip hop and dismissed it as a fad, yet now in 2004 it rules the airwaves. As recent as the early 90s hip hop was seen as overly subversive, aggressive and hyper-political; today, the UK garage scene is being similarly labelled.

To be honest with you I haven't warmed up to the garage scene yet, let alone Dizzee. I happen to find the production over-simplified and unpleasant. That's just my particular taste though. I do, however, appreciate that this is a movement that is pushing the genre limitations of the mainstream music that has controlled the industry for almost ten years now. I don't have a problem with that - I happen to love a lot of mainstream music - but it's nice to have a change once in a while. I don't know where or how the garage scene is going to evolve but I assure you that it is totally different from what you are used to in your earphones and, like it or hate it, it is truly a beautiful thing to see a subversive underground movement acheiving success in a perpetually close-minded industry, just as hip hop had done way back when.

Showtime is a good uk grime album. Many people who do not understand the UK grime scene need to be educated about it before they say that its just Hip-Hop that is sped up, because it is not the case. As you listen to the album you can see that Dizzie's talent increases and that his music is nowhere near hip-hop. However if you are not used to listening to this music or you are narrow minded then this album is not for you. If u are willing to to listen to it with an open mind, then you will abe able to appriciate the talent that Dizzie has and the sound of something that is truly BRITISH. Dizzie is the trend setter for bringing UK grime overseas and his album justifys why he has a cross over appeal to the americans and the British. However there are many Grime artists that will be following in the footsteps of Dizzie. Artists such as KANO will be making it big! In conclusion Grime is British music, for too long the Brits have been trying to do what the americans do e.g. hip-hop, but now its time 4 da U.S. to stand up and take notice of the Grime scene! All of da UK STAND UP TALL!!!!

It is rare that an artist can put out two albums in such a short span and still show evidence of growth, but this cat did it easily. Many complained that Boy in the Corner's bleeps and beeps made it less accessible to the average american audience but they will find little to complain about with this album. Showtime isn't a blatant grab for stateside appeal, but Dizzee succeeds in culling together a more tuneful collection of tracks while still adhereing to his "Garage" roots. "Stand Up Tall" and "Learn" are two standout tracks and even the annoying "Girls" grows on you after a few listens. If you liked the first album you will crap your shorts when you get this one. OY!

This is Dizee's second album released last year and i bought it soona after it came out, it is a dope album with some sick production and tight lyrics

1. Showtime-Good Intro 4/5
2. Stand up Tall-This was a hit 5/5
3. Everywhere-Best on the album 5/5
4. Graftin-Sick 5/5/
5. Learn-4/5
6.Hype Talk-sick 5/5
7.This is tight 5/5
8.respect me-4/5
9. Knock, Knock-4/5
10.Dream-This was another single of the album-5/5
11. Get By-4.5./5-this is about english ghetto's
12.Girls-3.5/5-about girls
13.Imagine-4/5-about imagin if we was never born on a council estate and was raised in a country manor
14.Flyin-4/5
15.Fickle-4.5/5

I am from the uk and love this stuff. I am amazed how much you like this, so if you like "Grimey UK G" as its kown over here please check out Wiley, Shystie, DJ EZ, More Fire Crew, or anything with sidewinder on it.