A few weeks after Dizzee Rascal was officially named a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music, the rapper released his seventh full-length, E3 AF, which he had described as flawless in a prior album announcement post on Instagram. The albums title is a reference to the E3 postal code of the area in East London where he was brought up, implying a return to the emcees roots, much like 2017s Raskit, an about-face which followed two albums of overtly chart-friendly material. While Raskit was a stark, sometimes menacing hour-long set which found the artist re-focusing his talents, E3 AF is leaner and more refined, with only ten songs and a generally more upbeat outlook. Its as pure a grime record as his Mercury Prize-winning 2003 debut Boy in da Corner, but it sounds nothing alike, and it would be impossible for him to make both records at the same stage of his career. His signature unhinged squawk has all but disappeared from his voice, and hes streamlined his rambunctious energy into something more powerful yet just as determined as his earlier self. In terms of pure rhyming ability, hes better than hes ever been. Tracks like the opening declaration God Knows and L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large) reflect his continual efforts at self-improvement and his drive for respect and success, as well as his aspiration to live the good life. The festive, playful Body Loose is more party-driven, as well as nostalgic -- its beat is based on a slowed-down sample of Architechs 2000 U.K. garage hit Body Groove. You Dont Know is another garage flashback, but has a heavier club beat and a much colder demeanor, with lyrics meant as an observation on peoples relationship with social media. Contrasting with Raskit, which featured no guest vocalists, E3 AF is loaded with appearances by grime A-listers like Kano, Ghetts, P Money, and D Double E, as well as additional hooks by singers such as Jamaican-born Alicai Harley and indie songwriter/bassist Rob Jones TV. All of them nicely complement Dizzees masterly flows, but even he seems daunted by the staggeringly quick Ocean Wisdom as the two trade rapid-fire verses during the head-spinning Dont Be Dumb. Dizzee has accomplished a lot in two decades, from pioneering a genre as a hotly tipped teenage prodigy to collaborating with pop stars on chart-topping hits, but his dedication to his craft has never been stronger, and E3 AF is proof of his lasting vitality. ~ Paul Simpson

Rovi