36 Facts About Dizzee Rascal

Dizzee Rascal released his debut album Boy in da Corner in 2003.

Dizzee Rascal was born as Dylan Kwabena Mills on 18 September 1984 in Bow, London.

Dizzee Rascal attended a series of schools in east London, including Langdon Park School, and was expelled from four of them, including St Paul's Way Community School.

Dizzee Rascal began making music on the school's computer, encouraged by his music teacher Joseph Robson, and during the summer holidays attended a music workshop organised by Tower Hamlets Summer University, of which he is a patron.

Dizzee Rascal was a childhood friend of footballer Danny Shittu, whom he described as "almost like a big brother", and at whose house he made his first mixtapes and tracks.

Around the age of 14, Dizzee Rascal became an amateur drum and bass DJ, rapping over tracks as customary in sound system culture, and making occasional appearances on local pirate radio stations.

Dizzee Rascal signed a solo deal with the record label XL.

Dizzee Rascal had an ongoing feud, from late 2003, with fellow underground grime artist Crazy Titch, which began when a fight broke out between the pair during a set on a guest show on the pirate radio station Deja Vu FM.

In September, Dizzee Rascal was awarded the prestigious Mercury Prize for the best album of 2003.

Dizzee Rascal was the youngest person at 19 years old to do so and the second rapper, after Ms.

The third and final single, taken from his debut album, was "Jus' a Dizzee Rascal", which became his fourth top 30 success.

Dizzee Rascal made his US concert debut on 7 February 2004 at Volume in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

In 2004, Dizzee Rascal won the NME Award for Innovation.

Dizzee Rascal was the first person to add to the song since the original was released; this would mark the first time that Dizzee reached the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart, albeit as part of the ensemble.

In 2004, Dizzee Rascal made an international endorsement deal with urban brand Ecko Unltd.

Dizzee Rascal stated in an interview before the album's release that "Maths" refers to producing, in terms of beats, deals and money and "English" to writing lyrics.

In 2008, Rascal recorded a song for suicide charity CALM; the song "Dean" was about a friend of Dizzee's who took his own life.

Dizzee Rascal released his fourth studio album, Tongue n' Cheek, on 21 September 2009.

At the 30th annual Brit Awards, Dizzee Rascal won the award for Best British Male.

Dizzee Rascal later performed a mash-up entitled "You Got the Dirtee Love" with Florence and the Machine.

On 31 May 2010 Dizzee Rascal re-released the album Tongue n' Cheek with a few new tracks including "Dirtee Disco", which was released on 24 May 2010.

Dizzee Rascal stated that "I know it sounds a bit mad now, but you'll see it and see what's going on, it's me doing something different man, on a merengue tip".

Dizzee Rascal performed during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

On Calvin Harris's third studio album, 18 Months, Dizzee Rascal paired up with Harris and Dillon Francis to create the track "Here 2 China".

In June 2016, Dizzee Rascal collaborated with Calvin Harris for the third time on the single "Hype", which reached number 34 on the UK charts.

Dizzee Rascal released an EP titled Don't Gas Me in September 2018.

Dizzee Rascal began appearing in Ladbrokes adverts on television, with "Bonkers" playing in the background.

Dizzee Rascal recalls being influenced by crunk, grunge music, Black Sabbath and by Timbaland's work around that time.

Dizzee Rascal worked closely with his mentor Wiley, who created one of the first grime tracks, called "Eskimo".

The label was formed and is owned by Dizzee Rascal, and is co-run by Dizzee's manager, Cage, label manager, Laurence Ezra, tour manager Paddy Stewart and executive producer Teriy Keys.

Dizzee Rascal then released his 4th album on the label which along with three number ones spawned the top 10 hit Dirtee Cash.

In March 2005, Dizzee Rascal was arrested for allegedly carrying a section five firearm after a search during a car stop in east London; he was found to be in possession of pepper spray.

Dizzee Rascal said in 2010 that he planned not to use drugs or alcohol at all in the future.

In November 2013, Dizzee Rascal received an honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University of East London.

Dizzee Rascal was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to music.

On 7 March 2022, Dizzee Rascal was convicted of assaulting his former partner Cassandra Jones at a home in Streatham on 8 June 2021, after a 'chaotic argument'.