Mercury Prize winning pioneer of grime, Dizzee Rascal today announces his eagerly awaited return to Australian shores for three headline shows in February. Presented by Astral People, Handsome Tours, Complex, FBi Radio & Primary Talent, the platinum chart-topping UK MC and producer will indulge fans with a headline performance at Perth International Arts Festival on Saturday, February 17 and two special one-off shows at Melbourne’s The Forum on Tuesday, February 20 and Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Wednesday, February 21.
Since the breaking reception of his self-produced debut single ‘I Luv U’ at age sixteen, to the now considered grime classic Boy in da Corner, which won the Mercury Prize in 2003 – Dizzee Rascal has kept the UK garage and hip-hop scenes alight as a prolific rapper, collaborator and producer. Maintaining top position in his field across the world ever since, Rascal has won BET, Brit, NME and Urban Music Awards for a back catalogue that spans six full-length albums – many platinum selling – and includes number-one hits like ‘Dance wiv Me’, ‘Bassline Junkie’ and ‘Bonkers’.
Dizzee Rascal continues to reset the goalposts in grime and UK hip-hop, and on his sixth album, Raskit, he returns the compliment of Drake’s recent grime-flavoured mixtape. Raskit teams precision-tooled beats from an astute array of US producers (including Valentino Khan, Cardo and Paul Salva) with the sound of Britain’s most prestigious MC. The result is in a spiralling sub-bass vortex of introspective jeep-beats, which takes Jeremy Paxman (aka Dizzee) back to his roots, along with a hip-hop twist Jay-Z or E40 would be proud of.
Off the back of performances at renowned UK and US festivals Glastonbury, Bestival and Afropunk, and his own arena-sized UK tour – Dizzee Rascal makes a hugely anticipated return to Australia in February. As a figurehead and pioneers who continue to play a role in shaping the evolution and story of grime for many of today’s up-and-coming artists, don’t miss the chance to see this celebrated British MC in peak form. To sign up for exclusive access to pre-sale tickets visit www.handsometours.com
DIZZEE RASCAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Saturday, February 17 – Perth International Arts Festival
Tuesday, February 20 – The Forum, Melbourne
Wednesday, February 21 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney