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
Dizzee Rascal
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

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

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

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

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

Other musicians

Charts

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

References

  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.