Dizzee Rascal

The rambunctiously energetic Dizzee Rascal is a certified grime music 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 UK 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 for best album, Dizzee became perhaps his country'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 UK hip-hop.