For the first time in four years, Dizzee Rascal is touching down Stateside to kick off a North American tour. The dates, which begin tonight, come in support of the East Londoners latest album, Maths + English, which came out over the pond last year but was just released in the U.S. in April. And the grime star isnt going it alone in America and Ottawa. On the road, Rascal will be getting some hefty backup courtesy of Definitive Jux label-mate/co-founder El-P, whos co-headlining what's been dubbed the "No Chiefs Allowed" tour.
So why the delay on the Exclaim!-approved Maths + English? "When you put yourself out in America you really need to be there," Dizzee explained to NME. "That's how the delay came about. Now I'm here I get to promote it and be around properly and have some presence. I think I've probably got a new audience. I'll reintroduce myself to America. It'll be like a little discovery.
While talking to NME, Rascal went on to drop some details on upcoming recordings. "I'm working on my fourth album," he said. "It might come out next year but I ain't making no promises."
He also said he has been fast at work at his own label, Dirtee Stank, which exists to promote artists with "social problems that might not sit well with other labels. "I'm putting out a group called the Newham Generals," Rascal said. "They're like a black Prodigy and they're really exciting." (By Prodigy we assume he means the UK fire-startin Prodigy, not half of Mobb Deep because, um, that dude is black. Unless Dizzee is dropping some sort dis.)
Here are the Dizzee Rascal/El-P tour dates:
5/8 Washington DC, 9:30 Club
5/9 Philadelphia PA, First Unitarian Church
5/10 New York NY, Webster Hall
5/11 Boston MA, Middle East
5/12 Ottawa ON, New Capital Music Hall
5/14 Detroit MI, Crofoot Ballroom
5/15 Chicago IL, The Abbey
5/16 Minneapolis MN, Triple Rock Club
5/19 Seattle WA, Neumos
5/20 Portland OR, Berbati's Pan
5/21 San Francisco CA, 1015
5/22 Los Angeles CA, El Rey
Dizzee Rascal "Flex
So why the delay on the Exclaim!-approved Maths + English? "When you put yourself out in America you really need to be there," Dizzee explained to NME. "That's how the delay came about. Now I'm here I get to promote it and be around properly and have some presence. I think I've probably got a new audience. I'll reintroduce myself to America. It'll be like a little discovery.
While talking to NME, Rascal went on to drop some details on upcoming recordings. "I'm working on my fourth album," he said. "It might come out next year but I ain't making no promises."
He also said he has been fast at work at his own label, Dirtee Stank, which exists to promote artists with "social problems that might not sit well with other labels. "I'm putting out a group called the Newham Generals," Rascal said. "They're like a black Prodigy and they're really exciting." (By Prodigy we assume he means the UK fire-startin Prodigy, not half of Mobb Deep because, um, that dude is black. Unless Dizzee is dropping some sort dis.)
Here are the Dizzee Rascal/El-P tour dates:
5/8 Washington DC, 9:30 Club
5/9 Philadelphia PA, First Unitarian Church
5/10 New York NY, Webster Hall
5/11 Boston MA, Middle East
5/12 Ottawa ON, New Capital Music Hall
5/14 Detroit MI, Crofoot Ballroom
5/15 Chicago IL, The Abbey
5/16 Minneapolis MN, Triple Rock Club
5/19 Seattle WA, Neumos
5/20 Portland OR, Berbati's Pan
5/21 San Francisco CA, 1015
5/22 Los Angeles CA, El Rey
Dizzee Rascal "Flex