DIZZEE RASCAL
winning the Mercury Prize this year, in many ways mirroring his own achievement six years ago. ‘I didn’t see it, man, I was at the GQ Awards, they were on the same night.’ Ah yes, the GQ Awards where, according to the tabloids, he spent the evening cracking on to Natalie Imbruglia and opera singer Katherine Jenkins, then had an argument with Kate Moss in front of journalists. It’s a strange state of affairs for someone who rapped on early single ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ that, ‘Being a celebrity don’t mean shit to me, fuck the glitz and glamour’.
‘I see all that celebrity stuff now as whatever, man,’ he says. ‘What’s more important is that everyday people are liking my music, it’s got to that stage. I’ve worked really hard for a long time for it to come to this point, where I’m putting smiles on people’s faces, and I’m loving it.’
It’s impossible to begrudge the man his time in the spotlight. He remains a genuinely engaging character and artist, funny and intelligent in equal measure, and while his new dancefloor anthems might not be to the taste of those who preferred him edgy and gritty, they’re certainly a damned sight better than most of the insipid, four-to-the-floor dross that hits the charts every summer. Rascal himself spent the summer on the festival circuit, where his crossover success was confirmed by huge crowds of predominantly white, middle- class indie kids going nuts for his act.
‘Glastonbury was amazing, that’s the reason you get into it, man, the bigger the crowd the better,’ he says. ‘When you’re doing things like Glastonbury main stage, and there’s 80,000 people and your hits are going off, it’s at those
moments you sit back and breathe and take it in, man, cos it might never happen again.’ The breadth of appeal that Rascal now has is remarkable, from four-year-old kids to music professors, from hardcore clubbers to stag and hen parties to, apparently, Prince Harry. If he could bottle the essence of that appeal and sell it he’d make a fortune, but then he’s making a
‘I’M PUTTING SMILES ON PEOPLE’S FACES’
fortune anyway.
‘It’s about articulation,’ he says. ‘Everyone can see where I’m coming from, the music’s real. It evokes feelings, so that no matter where you’re from, or who you are, music will make you feel something, music will make you relate in some way.’ Like any successful young, black British artist, especially one who comes from a difficult background, Rascal has long been held up as a role model to kids from a similar background. Does his increased profile create any added pressure in that respect?
‘Man, I get asked that question so many times, my ears are bleeding,’ he laughs dryly. ‘I was a role model before the press and everyone picked up on me. People have been following me from when I was on pirate radio eight years ago, so I guess that’s your answer.’
Not for the first time in the interview, he sounds a bit shirty. Earlier, he ignored a question about his three MOBO nominations and rather dismissively revealed he wouldn’t be at the awards ceremony, in Glasgow for the first time. Maybe he’s just fed up doing endless press. For an artist so young, his career has already been an incredible journey, so I ask if he thinks he’s changed along the way.
‘A fundamental part of me is still the same, but I’ve adapted to every situation that’s been thrown at me,’ he says honestly. ‘So in that way, I guess, I’ve changed quite a bit.’ Finally, I ask what his unsigned, teenage self would’ve thought if he’d been told that he’d have three number one singles in a row on his own independent
label. Rascal gives out a confident laugh. ‘I might’ve believed it,’ he chuckles. ‘I probably would’ve said: “hurry up, give it to me now.”’
Dizzee Rascal plays HMV Picturehouse, Edinburgh, Sun Oct 4 and 02 Academy, Glasgow, Mon Oct 5. Tongue N' Cheek is available now.
DIZZEE RASCAL’SUXXXTU HITS Nicola Paul revisits a selection of Dizzee’s most colourful moments, available for posterity on YouTube
‘I Luv U’ Video (2003) Dizzee wrote and produced this breakthrough single when he was just 16, bringing him to the attention of the mainstream for the first time. The video features some textbook hip hop video set pieces, best of all a group of faceless ‘youths’ making hand signals behind Dizzee as he raps. The song was track two on Dizzee’s first album, Boy In Da Corner, which won him the 2003 Mercury Prize. ■ tinyurl.com/listiluvyouvideo
Band Aid 20 (2004) Joining the likes of Bono, Bob Geldof and Chris Martin, Dizzee didn’t fit the typical charity single line-up. Yet he managed to prove his musical credentials by being the only artist allowed to contribute new lines to the song. Admittedly, ‘Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived’ isn’t his best ever lyrical vignette, but he propped up an otherwise forgettable line- up with a bit of genuine talent. ■ tinyurl.com/listbandaid20
Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge (2008) A long list of stars have attempted cover versions for Radio One’s Live Lounge, some more successful than others. Dizzee upped the standard, reworking the Ting Tings’ ‘That’s Not My Name’ into a rowdy stomper and changing the lyrics to be more appropriate: ‘They call me black, they call me rudeboy. They call me “oi”, they call me mate.” Cue an instant YouTube classic. ■ tinyurl.com/listlivelounge That Jeremy Paxman Interview (2008) Invited onto Newsnight on the night of Barack Obama’s election, Dizzee clearly had no intention of letting a condescending and grouchy Paxman get the better of him. ‘Mr Rascal’ brought a cheeky grin, a skee-wiff hat and a positive outlook to combat Paxman’s contempt. His own soundbite, ‘Dizzee Rascal for Prime Minister!’ brought him new fans by the bucketload. ■ tinyurl.com/listpaxman interview
Arguing with Kate Moss (2009) Being interviewed at The GQ Men of the Year awards, a jubilant Dizzee was interrupted by a furious Kate Moss who stormed through the cameras, only to come careering right back again after losing her lipstick. Clearly not one to bow down to other celebs, Dizzee gained the laugh of the night by joking to the cameras, ‘Kate Moss has lost her lipstick – fucking disaster!’ ■ tinyurl.com/listkatemoss
20 THE LIST 24 Sep–8 Oct 2009