Newham Generals’ Darren “D Double E” Dixon is a veteran from the pre-grime and early grime eras, an MC’s MC without much overground attention. His devastating single Bluku! Bluku! on Dizzee’s label was the tune of seven summers ago, the one that could have led to a big solo deal, but didn’t.
Bluku is Dixon’s signature phrase, the sort of space-filling lyrical arrow every rapper has carried in their quiver since the very first verse of Rapper’s Delight. It’s that trademark quirky slang – “doolally”, “shenanigans” – that carries most of the charm here. Wiley gamely plays along on his feature, shouting out to Dallas and Falcon Crest, but the 80s references add to the air of a man paddling gently behind the pack.
There are too many B-list, dated tunes and Dixon sounds too tinny and nasal for the bangers. He’s best as a relief rapper on a posse cut. The lurching Schoolin’ and glowering battle track Better Than the Rest are promising, but Dixon doesn’t ride their rhythms as much as hang on for dear life, then get thrown off by the bucking beast of a beat.
