inthemix | Features | Dizzee Rascal [Audio]: The perfect equation

At the rather tender age of 23, Dizzee Rascal has enjoyed a career arc most of his contemporaries will spend a lifetime working away at. From his fiery beginnings on pirate radio, the East London tearaway went on to craft a landmark grime album, Boy In Da Corner, while still in his teens. Within a year, he’d made a follow-up Showtime, dealing candidly with the highs and lows of his ever-growing fame. It wasn’t until last year’s Maths + English, though, that Dizzee Rascal announced himself as perhaps the sharpest talent in UK hip hop. While his urgent, explosive lyricism is still at the fore, the album is unashamedly built for heaving dancefloors. It’s Dizzee Rascal squarely in party mode – a state of mind he seems to enjoying as much as any 23-year-old.

And there’s been plenty of partying on his calendar in recent months, with festival appearances too numerable to count. The man is intensely passionate about his live show, even studying videos of each performance to see what can be tweaked. After leaving the Big Day Out reeling in January, Dizzee is making his triumphant return for the Parklife tour. Is it any wonder he’s been asked back so soon? Here ITM’s Jack Tregoning speaks to the Rascal about going #1 with recent single Dance Wiv Me, attending Playboy parties and why Australia has him all excited.

Dance Wiv Me is available now through Hussle/Universal. Dizzee tours with Parklife this September/October, and also plays two special headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne, all presented by inthemix! For the latest on Parklife 2008 head to www.inthemix.com.au/parklife:

Fri Sep 26th – The Corner, Melbourne
Sat Sep 27th – Parklife, Adelaide
Sun Sep 28th – Parklife, Melbourne
Mon Sep 29th – Parklife, Perth
Wed Oct 1st – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sat Oct 4th – Parklife, Brisbane
Sun Oct 5th – Parklife, Sydney