Song Meaning

The track opens with a dreamy invitation to "close your eyes and dream with me," setting a stage that the verses immediately disrupt with a fierce assertion of self-worth and authenticity. The narrator declares they are "no square" and "don't talk for my health," pushing back against anyone who "try act like we are not there." This isn't just about being present; it's about demanding recognition for genuine substance over superficiality. The core message is clear: if a task is to be done, it must be executed with "quality," a word repeated insistently, underscoring a commitment to excellence that the narrator embodies. They are "not just a commodity," but a source of genuine skill, ready to be called upon. The lyrics grapple with a tension between external perception and internal reality, particularly concerning value and recognition. The narrator questions the "generic" nature of things and the impersonal "direct debit" system, contrasting it with a desire for tangible wealth and legacy, pondering "How much P will my kids inherit?" There's a clear disdain for those who "sheg it, copy and edit," highlighting a struggle against imitation and a fight to maintain their unique artistic integrity. This is further emphasized by the contrast between the narrator's assuredness and the perceived weakness or inauthenticity of others, who are dismissed as "lickle man, givin' it large." A key craft element is the relentless repetition of "Quality," transforming it from a simple descriptor into a mantra and a brand. This insistence hammers home the narrator's self-perception and their standard for others. The verse structure, packed with rapid-fire observations and boasts, mirrors this high-energy commitment. Phrases like "Brains and brawn, I'm sharp like a thorn" and "I stay cool when caught in a storm" showcase a deliberate construction of an image of resilience and superior capability. The lyrics also employ sharp, sometimes crude, contrasts to delineate this self-made "quality" from perceived mediocrity, such as the jarring question about a "prawn" smell. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their unapologetic self-affirmation and the raw energy with which they are delivered. The narrator doesn't just claim to be good; they demand acknowledgement of their inherent "quality" and their refusal to be a mere "commodity." The repeated assertion creates a powerful sense of conviction, making the listener feel the narrator's drive and their insistence on being recognized for genuine skill and substance in a world that often settles for less. The final spoken-word outro, with its casual conversation about dancing "forever," adds a layer of relatable, grounded enjoyment that complements the track's assertive message.

Dizzee Rascal - Rap, UK Rap

Quality

2 Plays

Duration: 3:41

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[Intro] Just close your eyes and dream with me You'll hear the sounds of music [Chorus] I don't know about algebra, but I know that I am no square (Square) I don't talk for my health and I do not ramp or easily scare (No way) Who do they think they are foolin' When they try act like we are not there? (Not me) If you are gonna do a job You better do it proper, better and be prepared, yeah Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, whoa I'm not just a commodity (No) If you want a job done, holla me (Hey) Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, tell them Look how they follow and honor me, listen [Verse 1] Yeah, Gordon Bennet, please don't beg it I've been doin' this since face off phones with the ten pound credit Yeah, I said, and I couldn't care less who misread it (What) They wanna sheg it, copy and edit (ugh) Pull out the suttin and watch them leg it Sick of this bullshit, call me a medic, ah forget it How come everything is so generic? Why I can't pay with stacks and I gotta use direct debit? How much P will my kids inherit? (Hmm) How much P can I get for this yard if it all goes tits up and I've gotta sell it I ain't gonna sell it (Nah) How much P will I get for this headline show? When I pull tonight to shell it (What) Tweet and tell it, call out my name, they scream and yell it Yellin' my bars, reach for the stars, give my regards to all of your spars I'm dishin' out cards, and in addition I'm dishin' out pars Yeah I'm in charge, like I'm the Sarge Look at these lickle man, givin' it large Chuck out the letter and please give me less of the garb (Woo) [Chorus] I don't know about algebra, but I know that I am no square (Square) I don't talk for my health and I do not ramp or easily scare (No way) Who do they think they are foolin' When they try act like we are not there? (Not me) If you are goin' to do a job You better do it proper, better and be prepared, yeah Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, boom I'm not just a commodity (No) If you want a job done, holla me (Hey) Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, tell them Look how they follow and honor me, listen [Verse 2] Yeah, not to blow my own horn, but I should inform That I've been on form since I was a spawn, before I was born Brains and brawn, I'm sharp like a thorn Dusk till dawn I lay on my own lawn Yawn Fool I like to stay warm I stay cool when caught in a storm Never out worn, I just out-perform You've been warned, don't get ripped apart and get torn I've been touring and I've been mourning all through the morning RIP to Stomin, that's Shaun Paigons try and play me like a pawn I could start pawnin' all of this jewellery, and build a school And there'll still be scorned They're too normal, I'm not the norm' They're too pussy, I'm not the porn Why's your pussy smell like a prawn? (Oi) I've been thinking 'bout taking a uni course You might see me coolin' the dorm Might get a law degree and get sworn (Why) So I could half the fee at least partially I try trademark the best part of me They made it hard for me, it ain't hard to see (Oi) [Chorus] I don't know about algebra, but I know that I am no square (Square) I don't talk for my health and I do not ramp or easily scare (No way) Who do they think they are foolin' When they try act like we are not there? (Not me) If you are goin' to do a job You better do it proper, better and be prepared, yeah Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, woah I'm not just a commodity (No) If you want a job done, holla me (Hey) Quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, quality, tell them (Just close your eyes and dream with me) You'll hear the sound of music music You'll hear the sound of music You'll hear the sound of music music You'll hear the sound of music You'll hear the sound of music music [Outro] (Voice 1) Did you guys have fun tonight? (Voice 2) Yeah man (Voice 3) Yeah excellent (Voice 1) Why what was so good about it? (Voice 3) Good atmosphere, excellent atmosphere (Voice 1) Was it good music? (Voice 3) Definitely (Voice 1) Are you guys gonna stop ever, or are you gonna keep dancing forever? (Voice 3) Imma keep dancing forever, me, well at least till I remember where I put my car

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Writers: Nookie
Dizzee Rascal

Quality

Quality

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