DIZZEE RASCAL

Dizzee Rascal, born Dylan Kwabena Mills on 18 September 1984, is a British rapper and MC. He is recognized as a pioneer of British hip hop and grime music. His work has incorporated elements of UK garage, bassline, and R&B. Rascal's music is credited with bringing UK rap into the mainstream and achieving international recognition. After signing with XL Recordings in 2002, he released his self-produced debut album, Boy in da Corner, in 2003. The album received widespread critical acclaim, won the Mercury Prize, and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. It is often regarded as one of the best British hip hop albums. His subsequent albums, Showtime (2004) and Maths + English (2007), were also critically praised and certified gold, reaching the top ten of the UK Albums Chart. His 2009 album, Tongue n' Cheek, marked a shift from grime to a more pop-oriented sound.