Fix Up, Look Sharp

"Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Single by Dizzee Rascal
from the album Boy in da Corner
B-side"Stop Dat"
Released18 August 2003
StudioBelly of the Beast, Raskits Lair (London, England)
GenreRap rock
Length3:44
LabelXL
Songwriters
ProducerDizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal singles chronology
"I Luv U"
(2003)		 "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
(2003)		 "Lucky Star"
(2003)
Music video
"Fix Up, Look Sharp" on YouTube

"Fix Up, Look Sharp" is a song by British rapper Dizzee Rascal from his debut studio album Boy in da Corner (2003). It was released as the second single from the album on 18 August 2003 by XL Recordings, following "I Luv U". The song was written and produced by Dizzee Rascal and samples the instrumental and vocals from "The Big Beat" by American rock musician Billy Squier. It is widely considered one of the most popular and prominent usages of the classic song.

"Fix Up, Look Sharp" was the most commercially successful single from Boy in da Corner, peaking at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and was later certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It received significant acclaim from critics for its innovative production, and is viewed as a standout track from Boy in da Corner. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 25 on its "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

Commercial performance

"Fix Up, Look Sharp" debuted at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart on 30 August 2003, which made it Dizzee Rascal's first song to crack the top 20 in the United Kingdom. This was higher than Dizzee's debut single "I Luv U", which debuted at number 29. The song spent a total of five weeks in the top 100 during its initial run. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" would re-enter the UK Singles Chart for an additional week on 23 May 2009, charting at number 78 on downloads alone. The re-entry was fuelled by massive hype surrounding Dizzee Rascal at the time, specifically the release of his smash hit single "Bonkers", which went to number 1 that same month.

The track also reached number 5 on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and number 3 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. On 3 January 2025, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for exceeding sales of 400,000 certified units in the United Kingdom.

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Ruben Fleischer.

Track listing

Digital download

  1. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (radio edit) – 3:16
  2. "Stop Dat" – 3:40

UK CD single

  1. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (radio edit) – 3:16
  2. "Stop Dat" – 3:40
  3. "I Luv U" (video) – 3:32

UK 12-inch vinyl

  1. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" – 3:44
  2. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (radio edit) – 3:16
  3. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (instrumental) – 3:44

UK 12-inch remix vinyl

  1. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (Remix) (featuring Wiley) – 3:28
  2. "Stop Dat" – 3:40
  3. "Stop Dat" (instrumental) – 3:40

US promotional mini CD

  1. "Fix Up, Look Sharp" – 3:45
  2. "I Luv U" – 4:04

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts)17
UK Hip Hop/R&B (Official Charts)5
UK Indie (Official Charts)3
2009 weekly chart performance for "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts)78
UK Indie (Official Charts)20

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 18 August 2003 XL
25 August 2003 Digital download
United States 20 January 2004 Mini CD

Notes

  1. ↑ The remix version of "Fix Up, Look Sharp" also received a standalone vinyl release.
  2. ↑ In the United States, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" was released as a double A-side promotional CD with "I Luv U".

References

  1. ↑ Withers, Murray (3 July 2023). "The Big Beat — Billy Squier's 1980 track was endlessly sampled, sliced and diced". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  2. ↑ 150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years Archived 23 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. NME.
  3. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 24 August 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 24 August 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 24 August 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 "British single certifications – Dizzee Rascal – Fix Up, Look Sharp". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 January 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Fix Up, Look Sharp Dizzee Rascal in the "Search:" field.
  10. ↑ Joyce, Colin (5 August 2014). "XL Previews Collectors' Comp With Unreleased Vampire Weekend, Odd Future Footage". Spin. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Fix Up, Look Sharp – Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Dizzee Rascal (2003). Fix Up, Look Sharp (CD single). United Kingdom: XL Recordings. XLS167CD.
  13. ↑ Dizzee Rascal (2003). Fix Up, Look Sharp (12-inch single). United Kingdom: XL Recordings. XLT 167.
  14. ↑ Dizzee Rascal (2003). Fix Up, Look Sharp (Remix) (12-inch single). United Kingdom: XL Recordings. XLR 167.
  15. ↑ Dizzee Rascal (2004). Fix Up Look Sharp/I Luv U (CD single). United States: XL Recordings, Matador Records. OLE 608-2P.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 23/5/2009 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 30/8/2009 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Dizzee Rascal – Fix Up Look Sharp". XL Recordings. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Dizzee Rascal – Fix Up, Look Sharp / I Luv U". Retrieved 6 July 2026.