{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = E3 AF | type = studio | artist = [[Dizzee Rascal]] | cover = E3 AF by Dizzee Rascal.jpg | alt = The album title is displayed in bold black text in the centre of the image. A fly is shown sitting beside the letter E. | released = 30 October 2020 | recorded = | studio = | genre = [[Grime (music genre)|Grime]]<ref name="genre">{{cite web |url=https://www.bcheights.com/2020/11/04/dizzee-rascal-uk-grime/|title=Dizzee Rascal Puts UK Grime On The Map |work=The Heights|date=4 November 2020 |access-date=4 November 2020 |author=Chase, Tonie}}</ref> | length = 33:33 | label = * [[Dirtee Stank]] * [[Island Records|Island]] | producer = | prev_title = Don't Gas Me | prev_year = 2018 | next_title = Don't Take It Personal | next_year = 2024 | misc = {{Singles | name = E3 AF | type = studio | single1 = L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large) | single1date = 20 August 2020 | single2 = Act Like You Know | single2date = 10 September 2020 | single3 = Body Loose | single3date = 2 October 2020 }} }} {{Album ratings | ADM = 6.9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12631/Dizzee-Rascal-E3-AF.aspx |title=E3 AF by Dizzee Rascal reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=November 4, 2020}}</ref> | MC = 79/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/e3-af/dizzee-rascal |title=E3 AF by Dizzee Rascal Reviews and Tracks |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=November 4, 2020}}</ref> | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/e3-af-mw0003419898 |title=E3 AF – Dizzee Rascal |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=November 4, 2020 |last=Simpson |first=Paul}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[The Arts Desk]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-dizzee-rascal-e3-af |title=Album: Dizzee Rascal - E3 AF |publisher=[[The Arts Desk]] |access-date=October 29, 2020 |last=Hasted |first=Nick|date=29 October 2020 }}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' | rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/dizzee-rascal-e3-af |title=Dizzee Rascal - E3 AF |publisher=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |access-date=October 23, 2020 |last=Murray |first=Robin|date=23 October 2020 }}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://diymag.com/2020/10/30/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-album-review |title=DIZZEE RASCAL - E3 AF |publisher=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]] |access-date=October 30, 2020 |last=Hamilton-Peach |first=Chris|date=30 October 2020 }}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'' | rev5score = 7/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-album-review |title=E3 AF is a fun and confident return from Dizzee Rascal |publisher=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |access-date=October 27, 2020 |last=Watkin |first=Matthew}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[musicOMH]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/dizzee-rascal-e3-af |title=ALBUM REVIEWS - Dizzee Rascal – E3 AF |publisher=[[musicOMH]] |access-date=November 5, 2020 |last=Devlin |first=Ben|date=5 November 2020 }}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-review-smoke-boys-ghetts-d-double-e-2774820|title=Dizzee Rascal – 'E3 AF' review: a potent reminder that the rap legend still has so much to give |publisher=[[NME]] |access-date=October 28, 2020 |last=Balram |first=Dhruva|date=28 October 2020 }}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[The Observer]]'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/01/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-review |title=Dizzee Rascal: E3 AF review – direct from his magpie soul |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |access-date=November 1, 2020 |last=Morris |first=Damien|date=November 2020 }}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev9score = 7.2/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/dizzee-rascal-e3-af/|title=Dizzee Rascal: E3 AF Album Review|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Pritchard|first=Will|date=2 November 2020|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' | rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-review-elder-statesman-british-rap-returns/ |title=Dizzee Rascal, E3 AF, review: the elder statesman of British rap returns |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=October 30, 2020 |last=Hobbs |first=Thomas|date=30 October 2020 }}</ref> | noprose = yes }} '''''E3 AF''''' is the seventh studio album by English rapper [[Dizzee Rascal]], released on 30 October 2020 by [[Dirtee Stank]] and [[Island Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzz.ie/music/dizzee-rascal-set-to-release-7th-studio-album-e3-af-392431 |title=Dizzee Rascal set to release 7th studio album 'E3 AF' |website=Buzz.ie |date=7 October 2020 |access-date=9 October 2020 |author=Collins, Sophie |archive-date=15 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015160739/https://www.buzz.ie/music/dizzee-rascal-set-to-release-7th-studio-album-e3-af-392431 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==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: <blockquote>"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 speaker|BASS]]!! The [[guest appearance|link-ups]] are mad and I didn't come to play! You're welcome."<ref name="D">{{cite web |url=https://www.dummymag.com/news/dizzee-rascal-claims-forthcoming-e3-af-album-is-flawless/ |title=Dizzee Rascal claims forthcoming 'E3 AF' album is "flawless" |work=Dummy |date=20 August 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Ward, Billie}}</ref></blockquote>
The album's title refers to the "E3" [[postal code]] district where he grew up in [[Bow, London|Bow]], [[East London]], while "AF" stands for "African" referring to his West African heritage. The album title is a callback to a derogatory term Dizzee was called growing up in London: ‘E3 African’<ref name="D"/><ref name="Balram">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-review-smoke-boys-ghetts-d-double-e-2774820|access-date=2025-07-22|date=2020-10-28|author=Balram, Dhruva|title=Dizzee Rascal – 'E3 AF' album review|website=[[NME]]}}</ref>
Shortly before the album's release, Rascal was scheduled to perform alongside [[Wiley (musician)|Wiley]], [[M Huncho]], and [[The Streets]] at Utilita Live from the Drive In, a series of [[social distancing|socially distanced]] [[drive-in]] concerts, which were cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom#July 2020|reimposed COVID-19 lockdowns]] in [[Leicester]], England.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dummymag.com/news/series-of-drive-in-gigs-set-to-stage-wiley-dizzee-rascal-and-the-streets-cancelled-due-to-local-lockdown-fears/ |title=Drive-in gigs from Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and The Streets cancelled due to local lockdown fears |work=Dummy |date=16 July 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Ward, Billy}}</ref>
==Release and promotion== The album was announced on 19 August 2020, alongside the release of the lead single.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/dizzee-rascal-announces-new-album-teases-chip-collaboration/ |title=Dizzee Rascal announces new album, teases Chip collaboration |work=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |date=20 August 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Kenneally, Cerys}}</ref> The album was originally announced for release on 9 October,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/dizzee-rascal-announces-new-album-e3-af-2731810/ |title=Dizzee Rascal announces seventh album 'E3 AF' |work=[[NME]] |date=18 August 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Skinner, Tom}}</ref> 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 (rapper)|Chip]], was released on 20 August 2020.<ref name="LLLL">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/dizzee-rascal-e3-af-new-album-details-l-l-l-l-love-life-live-large-single-2734308/ |title=Dizzee Rascal confirms new album details and shares 'L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large)' |work=[[NME]] |date=21 August 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Moore, Sam}}</ref> The second single, "Act Like You Know", featuring [[Smoke Boys]], was released on 10 September 2020.<ref name="ALYK">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/dizzee-rascal-team-up-with-smoke-boys-for-new-single-act-like-you-know-2751838/ |title=Listen to Dizzee Rascal team up with Smoke Boys for new single 'Act Like You Know' |work=[[NME Australia]] |date=11 September 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Moore, Sam}}</ref> The third and final single, "Body Loose", which samples the [[Architechs]] 2000 hit "[[Body Groove]]", was released on 2 October 2020.<ref name="BL">{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/dizzee-rascal-shares-new-anthem-body-loose/ |title=Dizzee Rascal shares new anthem "Body Loose" |work=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |date=2 October 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |author=Kenneally, Cerys}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''E3 AF'' track listing | title1 = God Knows | note1 = featuring [[P Money]] | writer1 = | length1 = 4:05 | title2 = That's Too Much | note2 = featuring [[Frisco (rapper)|Frisco]] and [[D Double E]] | writer2 = | length2 = 4:17 | title3 = L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large) | note3 = featuring [[Chip (rapper)|Chip]] | writer3 = | length3 = 3:14 | title4 = Body Loose | writer4 = | length4 = 2:31 | title5 = You Don't Know | note5 = radio edit | writer5 = | length5 = 2:30 | title6 = Energies + Powers | note6 = featuring Alicaì Harley and [[Steel Banglez]] | writer6 = | length6 = 2:54 | title7 = Eastside | note7 = featuring [[Ghetts]] and [[Kano (rapper)|Kano]] | writer7 = | length7 = 3:06 | title8 = Act Like You Know | note8 = featuring [[Smoke Boys]] | writer8 = | length8 = 3:39 | title9 = Don't Be Dumb | note9 = featuring [[Ocean Wisdom]] | writer9 = | length9 = 3:31 | title10 = Be Incredible | note10 = featuring Rob Jones TV | writer10 = | length10 = 3:41 | total_length = 33:33 }}
==Personnel== * [[Dizzee Rascal]] – vocals, primary artist {{small|(1–10)}}
'''Other musicians''' {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[P Money]] – guest vocals {{small|(1)}} * [[D Double E]] – guest vocals {{small|(2)}} * [[Frisco (rapper)|Frisco]] – guest vocals {{small|(2)}} * [[Chip (rapper)|Chip]] – guest vocals {{small|(3)}} * [[Steel Banglez]] – guest vocals {{small|(6)}} * Alicaì Harley – guest vocals {{small|(6)}} * [[Ghetts]] – guest vocals {{small|(7)}} * [[Kano (rapper)|Kano]] – guest vocals {{small|(7)}} * [[Smoke Boys]] – guest vocals {{small|(8)}} * [[Ocean Wisdom]] – guest vocals {{small|(9)}} * Rob Jones TV – guest vocals {{small|(10)}} {{Div col end}}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for ''E3 AF'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Scotland|26|date=20201106|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK2|13|date=20201106|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2020}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Dizzee Rascal}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2020 albums]] [[Category:Dizzee Rascal albums]] [[Category:Island Records albums]]