Dizzee Rascal Biography

Dizzee Rascal is an English hip-hop artist and record producer who is one of the best and most known grime performers.

Early Life

Dylan Kwabena Mills was born in Bow, London on 18 September 1984, raised by a single mother. Highly disruptive and violent as a child, he was advised by a music teacher make music on one of the school’s computers.

Career Beginnings

His songwriting skills started to get better and better, receiving admiration from other MCs. The lyrical content was more introspective than what was popular at the time. Rascal became a member of the underground U.K. garage crew Roll Deep Crew which was building up to be a more aggressive and R&B-ish group.

Success

This would eventually end up to be known as grime music. The single I Luv U was a prime example of what the new genre of music was about. The track enabled Mills to release his own LP Boy in da Corner. The project was praised by critics and as a result, Rascal was given the prestigious Mercury Prize for the best album of 2003. The album was released in the US the following year. Nonetheless, he still encountered resistance from people and remained known as a terrific underground artist. Moving on, he issued two more albums Dizzee in 2004 and Maths and English in 2007. Meanwhile, Mills launched his own label called Dirtee Stank which focused on finding new talent. In 2009 he came back with Tongue n’ Cheek which spawned several number ones like Bonkers with Armand Van Helden, Dance wiv Me, and Dirtee Disco.

Success in the US

The following year, he received the Brit award for Best British Male Artist. In addition, his collaboration with Shakira on her single Loca put the rapper on a new level of atenttion. Mills entered the American Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. In 2013, he issued the pop-oriented album The Fifth with featured acts like Robbie Williams and will.i.am.

Photo credit: Fact Mag