After growing up surrounded by hip-hop and reggae, a stressful upbringing led Ocean to leave home at 17 years of age to focus daily on music. Since then he has seen a steady rise in popularity over his last five years of activity as an MC. 2014 saw the release of his debut single ‘Walkin’ on High Focus Records, a single that at the time broke the record for fastest rapping with 4.45 words per second, dethroning previous record holder Eminem’s ‘Rap God’ by 0.14. Looking to expand his sound past fast rap, Ocean found himself releasing his first two albums through High Focus, featuring an array of fan favourites including the Dizzee Rascal collaboration ‘Revvin’’, amassing over 20m streams on Spotify. Due to the popularity of the song, his second album landed at position 39 on the UK album chart, putting him in a good position for his third album and first self-released project.

Ocean released his own statement about the new fourteen track offering, “This album is called ‘Stay Sane’ and I made it to help myself cope after losses and tribulations. I hope it can help other people to heal and relax.” Stay Sane serves as a widely accessible instalment in the Ocean Wisdom discography. The project touches on current world issues and politics, over a variety of production by underground beatmakers Staticbeatz, Breadboy, Harvey Gunn, Kofi, Westy, Jackie Marua, Renshaw, KillMiami and Kostaki. Physicals can be purchased on Rough Trade, with a CD and translucent red vinyl available.

Watch the video for ‘Drilly Rucksack’ taken from the album below.

‘Uneven Lives’ speaks to being unable to relate to someone because they are living worlds apart. Ocean Wisdom enters the thoughtful track saying ‘Can’t understand how you’re feeling / I try to relate but our lives too uneven, chill’, with the message complimented by Sabre’s lyricism ‘I’m just tryna make my money anytime I don’t change / So why you gotta be so funny, see it right on your face’. The track communicates the feeling of gaining fame but having people throwing accusations of change and acting differently. With Ocean Wisdom’s friend, BayTrilla, passing away early last year, ‘Uneven Lives’ also conveys being unable to speak about grief and have someone understand the loss and pain. He states in his verse, ‘If I had one wish for the genie it’d be bring back Bailey / But genies for TV, ayy’ and ‘I just need some more time for more healing’.

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Produced by Breadboy, ’Uneven Lives’ shows Ocean Wisdom can dominate the smoother flows with Maverick Sabre’s dreamy, hypnotic vocals. The music video was directed by Louis Mackay, who has worked with Wisdom before on Dizzee Rascal’s album track ‘Don’t Be Dumb’.

The track comes shortly after Ocean Wisdoms first release of 2020 ‘Drilly Rucksack’. Also produced by Breadboy, the story-telling track lays out societies problems, with Wisdom hitting back at those in power ‘especially if they’re a Tory.’ Speaking about the track, Wisdom said, ‘Drilly Rucksack’ is a fictional tale of a magical rucksack that protects its owner from evil Tories whilst also offering consolation and reassurance to the daughters whose lives they have presumably made miserable.” In typical Ocean Wisdom style, the track incorporates his ability to fire out clever wordplay at an alarmingly fast rate.

Wisdom’s next mixtape, ‘Stay Sane’ is set to be released on 26th March 2021, after suffering production delays. 

On talking to NME, Dizzee said about his new album, “This album is making a statement – I’m a fucking serious rapper.” He added that,  “East London influenced me, but I was also on pirate radio in Tottenham. South London influenced me as well. If it wasn’t for music, I would never have met anyone from Leeds or Manchester or Liverpool. They were the only places I knew about because of football. Music took me out.”

The album is made up or elements of British music including grime, trap, drill, dubstep and garage. There are also moments of dance-pop with the track, ‘Body Loose’ which samples Architech’s chart topping hit ‘Body Grove.’ The track, ‘That’s too much,’ features other rap legends ‘D Double E’ and ‘Frisco’ as they bounce off of each other trading verses over the music.

Tottenham rapper Chip is another feature on the album, with the first track ‘L.L.L.L‘ (Love Life Live Large). Dizzee also collaborates with London dancehall singer Alicai Harley and as she opens the track, ‘Energies and Powers’  NME describes it as being, ‘a respite from five intense tracks of Dizzee spitting bars over hyped-up, frenetic beats. Her warm vocals are the refreshing summer air outside a sweaty club night.’

For the track, ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ he is joined by London rapper Ocean Wisdom who beat Eminem’s ‘Rap God’ by rapping at 4.45 words per second. Dizzie’s own verses are fast paced enough but as Wisdom deliver’s another line, Dizzie reacts with, “Jesus that’s a bloody mouthful.” – The Times

Dizzee told NME that he had named the album as a, ‘calback to a derogatory term Dizzee was called growing up in London: ‘E3 African’.’ There is no doubt that Dizzee is well routed to his hometown in East London. It was during lockdown that Dizzee returned to Bow to distribute food parcels to support local families. He told NME, “To be fair, they were dishing out the food parcels. I don’t want to claim it because child poverty is one of those things that needs to be highlighted.” 

He has certainly payed tribute to his roots in this album by staying true to the grime sound of East London. He has been named, ‘for at least eight years Britain’s best rapper,’ by The Guardian and there is no doubt that this title is well and truly deserved after releasing this album. His versatility and creativeness can be heard throughout the ten tracks on the album and there are high hopes that this won’t be the last from Dizzee.

Track List

1. God Knows
2. That’s Too Much
3. L.L.L.L (Love, Life, Live, Large)
4. Body Loose
5. You Don’t Know
6. Energies + Powers
7. Eastside
8. Act Like You Know
9. Don’t Be Dumb|
10. Be Incredible