Released: 2013
“Bassline Junkie” by Dizzee Rascal is the British emcee’s satirical ode to his undying love for high-energy, booming basslines in his tracks. Going against the clichés of hip-hop addicted to drugs and crime, Dizzee flips the script and declares his addiction to the music itself, particularly the bassline. His ‘drug’ of choice, if you will, is the vibration-inducing, subwoofer-loving bassline that drives his music and makes the listeners move.
The track opens with a chorus that repeats the phrase “Big dirty stinking base”, an emphatic declaration of Dizzee’s love for robust, gritty bass-driven beats. The repetition of “base” underscores the intensity of his obsession, and its presentation as something “dirty” and “stinking” adds an almost taboo allure to it.
Instead of using common drugs like speed, heroin, coke, or ketamine, Dizzee insists he’s a “bassline junkie”. The term ‘junkie’ is often used in a derogatory context to suggest someone desperately addicted to a substance. Here, Dizzee playfully appropriates it to express his absolute dedication to his music, his craft.
Dizzee goes on to describe how he turns the “base up”, disregarding the norms and going against the pressures of his environment. He doesn’t care about the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) he gets or the old-fashioned neighbours complaining. He’s all about the bass, staying true to his love of the music at all costs.
The “big dirty stinking bass” is truly the lifeblood of this track. Dizzee paints a picture of an intoxicated state not fueled by substances but by sound. The raw energy that comes from the music and the emotional high it brings him are addicting.
Overall, Dizzee Rascal’s “Bassline Junkie” brings a unique perspective to the addiction narrative commonly seen in rap music. It’s not about the substance but the sound. It’s a celebration of the music, the beat, and most importantly, the bassline’s power. And as Dizzee’s anthem shows, once you’re hooked, there’s no turning back.
