Video of the Week- THE BPA- "Toejam" Featuring David Byrne & Dizzee Rascal

Check out Fatboy Slim's racy video, "Toejam", the first single off his new side project album, The BPA (Brighton Port Authority) It features this years most unique duo of David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal!

Dizzie Rascal got the big beat

The story of Dylan Mills is one you have heard many times before. Fatherless childhood, high school expulsions, pizza delivery man stick-ups, an inspirational teacher and enough beef to feed the entire UK. At 18, Dylan Mills, aka Dizzee Rascal, won the Mercury Prize - the highest music honor in the UK- for his debut, Boy In Da Corner, and in an instant became the godfather of Grime. Distancing himself from the techno laced London Garage scene, he created some of the most original hip hop on either side of the ocean. He also was stabbed 5 times, a mere week after his debut.

Since 2003, Dizzee has put out two more albums. His best and most recent, Maths + English, was nominated for another Mercury, and released last month in the US on Def Jux. The album showcases what he does best - infusing his clever, playful, and theatrical lyrics with scrappy, ultra-aggressive yet still danceable samples. Getting help from UK superstars Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen, Dizzee also showcases his love for the American South with Houston staple UGK. Whether designed to be his crossover album or not, Maths + English provides his American audience with a more familiar sound in a clearly unique package. Buy it if you haven't.

Unfortunately, the catchy hooks and driving aggression that makes his albums so good, didn't translate well at the Triple Rock last Friday. Diz was energetic and polished, but lacked the improvisation and charisma needed for a live hip hop show. It was great fun to see him, but he might as well have pressed play and let his tape player do the work.

Skinny and pimpled Dylan Mills is not yet 23 - with three great records, one big award, not to mention Dirtee Stank, I think he's doing just fine.

Dizzee was busy writing

The Def Jux caravan were playing video games and trading off wearing the infamous weight vest, when Nick & I showed up at the Triple Rock at 7 on Friday. We talked with Regan Farquhar, aka Busdriver, first, and then hung out for El-P & Dizzee's sound checks. Diz had blown off our originally scheduled interview, which to be honest, didn't surprise me much, but what was surprising was that he made headliner and label owner, El-P, do his sound check for him. I gotta say, El-P does Dizzee just about as good as Dizzee does Dizzee. Oh well. Guess he was busy writing. Whatever. Jaime Meline, Mr El Producto, talked with us after supper and gave me a kiss on the cheek, making me miss New York and it's kisses quite a bit.

Jus' a Rascal

I was in London a little over a year ago and went to a grime show at the ICA (pictured) with my boyfriend at the time. I thought it was ok - I have a hard time standing around watching a DJ DJ, but he was over the moon and for the next few months, pretended to be the hype man for After Shock Productions and would spontaneously yell, SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM! That same week, we saw Kurtis Blow , of all people, play, and went to a hip-hop club where we were the only ones that new all of the words to Ms. New Bootie. Anyway, however much I couldn't get into the London underground, I can get behind Dizzee Rascal, who has made three fantastic albums and will be coming to The Triple Rock on the 16th. Look forward to MMTC doing a little somethin somethin with him - anyone know where I can get an airbrushed t-shirt of myself to wear to the interview?