Dizzee Rascal

Dylan Kwabena Mills, born on 18 September 1984, is widely recognized as Dizzee Rascal, a trailblazing British rapper and MC. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of British hip hop and grime music, earning accolades as one of the greatest British rappers of all time. His innovative sound has seamlessly blended elements of UK garage, bassline, and R&B, propelling UK rap into the mainstream and establishing him as the first British rapper to gain international acclaim.

In 2002, Dizzee Rascal signed with the independent label XL Recordings, leading to the release of his self-produced debut album, Boy in da Corner, in 2003. The album received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Mercury Prize the same year and achieving platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry. It is often hailed as the best British hip hop album ever. Following this success, he released Showtime in 2004 and Maths + English in 2007, both of which were certified gold and reached the top ten of the UK Albums Chart.

His fourth album, Tongue n' Cheek, released in 2009, marked a shift towards a more pop-oriented sound, featuring four number one singles on the UK Singles Chart: 'Dance wiv Me', 'Bonkers', 'Holiday', and 'Dirtee Disco'. This album achieved platinum status in 2010. Although his fifth album, The Fifth, released in 2013, received mixed reviews, it still managed to peak within the top ten of the UK Albums Chart.

In 2017, Dizzee returned to his grime roots with the album Raskit, followed by E3 AF in 2020 and Don't Take It Personal in 2024. Throughout his illustrious career, he has collaborated with a diverse array of notable artists, including Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine, Robbie Williams, Shakira, Ty Dolla Sign, UGK, and will.i.am.