E3 AF

E3 AF
The album title is displayed in bold black text in the centre of the image. A fly is shown sitting beside the letter E.
Studio album by
Released30 October 2020
GenreGrime[1]
Length33:33
Label
Dizzee Rascal chronology
Don't Gas Me
(2018)
E3 AF
(2020)
Don't Take It Personal
(2024)
Singles from E3 AF
  1. "L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large)"
    Released: 20 August 2020
  2. "Act Like You Know"
    Released: 10 September 2020
  3. "Body Loose"
    Released: 2 October 2020
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.9/10[2]
Metacritic79/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
The Arts Desk[5]
Clash8/10[6]
DIY[7]
The Line of Best Fit7/10[8]
musicOMH[9]
NME[10]
The Observer[11]
Pitchfork7.2/10[12]
The Telegraph[13]

E3 AF is the seventh studio album by English rapper Dizzee Rascal, released on 30 October 2020 by Dirtee Stank and Island Records.[14]

Background

[edit]

E3 AF is Rascal's first full-length album since 2017's Raskit.

Rascal announced the album on Instagram on 19 August 2020, stating:

"I've spent the last 3 years losing and finding myself in music and I've made something flawless. I made this album for YOU! I want you to play it at home, in your car or wherever you want but I want you to listen to it all the way through and you better have some BASS!! The link-ups are mad and I didn't come to play! You're welcome."[15]

The album's title refers to the E3 postal code district where he grew up in Bow, East London.[15]

Shortly before the album's release, Rascal was scheduled to perform alongside Wiley, M Huncho, and The Streets at Utilita Live from the Drive In, a series of socially distanced drive-in concerts, which were cancelled due to reimposed COVID-19 lockdowns in Leicester, England.[16]

Release and promotion

[edit]

The album was announced on 19 August 2020, alongside the release of the lead single.[17] The album was originally announced for release on 9 October,[18] but was later delayed to 30 October.

Singles

[edit]

E3 AF was preceded by three singles. The lead single "L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large)", featuring Chip, was released on 20 August 2020.[19] The second single, "Act Like You Know", featuring Smoke Boys, was released on 10 September 2020.[20] The third and final single, "Body Loose", which samples the Architechs 2000 hit "Body Groove", was released on 2 October 2020.[21]

Track listing

[edit]
E3 AF track listing
No.TitleLength
1."God Knows" (featuring P Money)4:05
2."That's Too Much" (featuring Frisco and D Double E)4:17
3."L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large)" (featuring Chip)3:14
4."Body Loose"2:31
5."You Don't Know" (radio edit)2:30
6."Energies + Powers" (featuring Alicaì Harley and Steel Banglez)2:54
7."Eastside" (featuring Ghetts and Kano)3:06
8."Act Like You Know" (featuring Smoke Boys)3:39
9."Don't Be Dumb" (featuring Ocean Wisdom)3:31
10."Be Incredible" (featuring Rob Jones TV)3:41
Total length:33:33

Personnel

[edit]

Other musicians

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for E3 AF
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 13

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Chase, Tonie (4 November 2020). "Dizzee Rascal Puts UK Grime On The Map". The Heights. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. ^ "E3 AF by Dizzee Rascal reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. ^ "E3 AF by Dizzee Rascal Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  4. ^ Simpson, Paul. "E3 AF – Dizzee Rascal". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  5. ^ Hasted, Nick (29 October 2020). "Album: Dizzee Rascal - E3 AF". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  6. ^ Murray, Robin (23 October 2020). "Dizzee Rascal - E3 AF". Clash. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ Hamilton-Peach, Chris (30 October 2020). "DIZZEE RASCAL - E3 AF". DIY. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ^ Watkin, Matthew. "E3 AF is a fun and confident return from Dizzee Rascal". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. ^ Devlin, Ben (5 November 2020). "ALBUM REVIEWS - Dizzee Rascal – E3 AF". musicOMH. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ^ Balram, Dhruva (28 October 2020). "Dizzee Rascal – 'E3 AF' review: a potent reminder that the rap legend still has so much to give". NME. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  11. ^ Morris, Damien (November 2020). "Dizzee Rascal: E3 AF review – direct from his magpie soul". The Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  12. ^ Pritchard, Will (2 November 2020). "Dizzee Rascal: E3 AF Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. ^ Hobbs, Thomas (30 October 2020). "Dizzee Rascal, E3 AF, review: the elder statesman of British rap returns". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  14. ^ Collins, Sophie (7 October 2020). "Dizzee Rascal set to release 7th studio album 'E3 AF'". Buzz.ie. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  15. ^ a b Ward, Billie (20 August 2020). "Dizzee Rascal claims forthcoming 'E3 AF' album is "flawless"". Dummy. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  16. ^ Ward, Billy (16 July 2020). "Drive-in gigs from Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and The Streets cancelled due to local lockdown fears". Dummy. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  17. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (20 August 2020). "Dizzee Rascal announces new album, teases Chip collaboration". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  18. ^ Skinner, Tom (18 August 2020). "Dizzee Rascal announces seventh album 'E3 AF'". NME. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  19. ^ Moore, Sam (21 August 2020). "Dizzee Rascal confirms new album details and shares 'L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large)'". NME. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  20. ^ Moore, Sam (11 September 2020). "Listen to Dizzee Rascal team up with Smoke Boys for new single 'Act Like You Know'". NME Australia. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  21. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (2 October 2020). "Dizzee Rascal shares new anthem "Body Loose"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2020.