Dizzee Rascal

The rambunctiously energetic Dizzee Rascal is a certified grime pioneer. Born Dylan Kwabena Mills in 1984, the east London MC earned his nickname "Rascal" after teachers witnessed his knack for getting into trouble. Soon, though, he also developed a penchant for music, unloading his frenetic debut single, "I Luv U", in 2003. That same year, he released his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, a largely self-produced LP that earned praise for its blend of propulsive garage production, techno and Dizzee’s expressive delivery. Infusing the hammering production with yelps and spurts of relentless energy, he made an album that helped define a genre. After winning the 2003 Mercury Prize, Dizzee became perhaps the UK’s biggest and most prolific rap export, dropping other acclaimed albums like Showtime (2004), Maths + English (2007) and E3 AF (2020), and reinforcing his status as one of the most important figures in hip-hop.