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Dizzee Rascal – Sirens
(W.I.Z.)

5 April 2007 7 Comments | written by: Los

DIZZEE

Question: You’re a U.K. rapper named Dizzee Rascal. You need to grab people’s attention for your lead single off your junior release, Maths & English, that will not only heap some buzz on top of your already solid name, but will generate anticipation for the album as well. What do you do?

Answer: You get U.K. music video pimp maestro W.I.Z. (responsible for Kasabian masterpiece “Empire“…’nuff said) to helm your lead video for “Sirens”. You also do not object to his treatment regarding “Urban Fox Hunting,” even if that means running around the streets of London (via Romania) at night, cutting your hand on broken glass, hanging out with dead rats, or being chased by dogs and horses. Because like it or not, this shot will be analyzed, discussed, and fought about, thus accomplishing the goals of exhibiting your hardcore new song, familiarizing your face with a growing audience, building buzz around your name, and generating anticipation for your album.

Congratulations, you’ve just elevated your game, your status, and moved hip-hop a step in the right direction just for thinking outside of the box. Move ahead one space.


Dizzee Rascal – Sirens
Directed by W.I.Z.

VIEW
Via Factory Films

7 Comments »

  • Odelay’s Space :: Nuevo single de Dizzee Rascal: Sirens :: April :: 2007 said:

    [...] (esto lo ví en Shots Ring Out)  [...]

    # 5 April 2007 at 5:13 am
  • George said:

    It’s BA that’s for sure. What is not for sure is that fact that I should have a horse and that cool red jump suit.

    # 12 April 2007 at 12:30 am
  • Barry Wasserman said:

    Dear Reviewer,
    just read your blurb about the Dizzee Rascal video -Sirens and i want to say something to you directly. But since it is late and i am on a feature film shooting in Cape Town, doing 12 hour days and 6 day weeks, i don’t know exactly how to communicate with you “off the record” so here it is, on the record.

    you, my dear sir, eiher don’t know the definition of the word ‘pimp’ or are taking a cheap shot about a film maker who you obviously have never met personally and have little idea of who he is either as a person or a film maker.

    Why you should keep, yet cross out the word ‘pimp’as applied to WIZ and then put ‘maestro’ is obviously a broadside aimed at WIZ which i for one will not leave un-noted.

    FYI, unlike most music film makers Wiz has turned down many offers to make commercials and as far as i know still does. A feature film or ten is definitely on the cards for this, still young and hitting his prime, film maker.

    Although it is true that Wiz will, on occassion, work with main stream artists, his take on them and what he sees and hears in their songs is always unique and interesting.His heart and his vision are impeccable and you do him a huge injustice in cavalierly perpetrating your slimey left handed complement.You have no idea.

    it’s easy to contact me….if you have the inclination!

    Sincerely,

    Barry Wasserman 1st AD

    # 14 April 2007 at 4:08 pm
  • Los (author) said:

    Dear Barry Wasserman 1st AD,

    Glad you could take a glance at the article, especially as someone who’s partially responsible for its existence! It seems as though there is a slight miscommunication on your end regarding the whole “pimp maestro” part of my write-up. Let me clarify if I could.

    I’m not sure if you’re from America or not, but in case you aren’t, the word “pimp” is commonly used as slang now-a-days in the form of a compliment. For instance, if my friend (let’s say his name is George) said, “Damn Los, you are a pimp!” George would be implying that I’m quite the ladies man. Or if he were regarding a piece of work that I accomplished, he would instead be implying that I’m highly skilled. An official example of this would be Mtv’s “Pimp My Ride” show, in which rapper X-hibit takes a broken down or near ruined vehicle and “pimps” it out, thus creating a newer, cooler car.

    That being said, the reason I left the word pimp visibly crossed out, is because I wanted people to see that W.I.Z. (in my opinion) is BETTER than a “pimp” and thus I gave him the more fitting “maestro” title. I wanted the audience to take notice at how skilled I believed he was is and therefore constructed the sentence accordingly. Unfortunately, there was no backhandedness in that post, and its good to hear that W.I.Z. is picky about what projects he wants to be attatched to.

    So Barry, my apologies for confusing you regarding the excellent work that is “Sirens.” Keep coming back and checking out our stuff, its much appreciated and I encourage you to call me out as you see fit in the future. Also, tell W.I.Z we say “What Up!” the next time you run into him. : )

    # 15 April 2007 at 12:49 pm
  • patrick said:

    As am American and a hip hop head, I need to wade in here, just for a sec, and say this:

    I hate the word “pimp.”

    “Pimpin’ ain’t easy.” “Pimp my ride.” “I just pimped my weblog,” which is by far about as idiotic a use of the word I could think of.

    “It’s hard out here for a pimp.” Yah, no shit.

    First of all, it’s an ugly word. It’s the first syllable of “pimple.” And it is, much like its sonorously similar cousin, filled to bursting with nastiness.

    Pimpin’, let’s not forget, is running a stable of prostitutes. A pimp takes a prostitute’s money, pays her in drugs and beats her when she gets uppity about it. We have come to associate material flamboyance as a lifestyle with the word, but let’s not gloss over the word’s origins.

    How someone managed to market Slavery to us as a commodity is beyond me.

    Pimping is Slavery, make no mistake.

    So, this is why every time I hear someone say “Man, that is SO PIMPIN’!” I think “That is so SLAVEOWNING!”

    You can use the word all you want, I just want you to be AWARE of what you’re actually evoking for people who are paying attention.

    It creeps me out. I’m just saying.

    # 3 May 2007 at 7:06 am
  • Barry Wasserman said:

    Dear Los,
    i am now back in dear old Blighty after a very grueling but magic 2 months filming in Cape Town.

    Thanks for your response. i am satisfied that you were not trying to be snide about WIZ and am happy to leave it at that.

    But i do whole heartedly agree with my American Brother Patrick. The use of the word “Pimp” is at best sloppy and at worst an ambiguous and ill thought out bastardization.

    As a word-smith yourself you should be vigilent about your use of the language. A pimp is a person who has no respect for others and is prepared to sell his woman or his soul for financial gain and no amount of mTV marketing is going to change that.

    Where i come from in the Bronx, you better be careful if you call someone a Pimp.

    Enough said. Karma restored.

    Hug sand Blessings to you and yours

    Barry Wasserman 1st AD

    # 9 May 2007 at 1:23 am
  • Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me (Feat. Chrome & Calvin Harris) (Mark Anthony) at Tyler Perry Presents Shots Ring Out said:

    [...] was making his escape from white oppression, or something of the sort, in W.I.Z.’s shot for Sirens. We made a bit of a stink regarding the high profile and social consciousness of the video and [...]

    # 5 June 2008 at 12:18 pm