A Rough Guide to Dizzee Rascal

Boy in da Corner (XL, 2003)

Talk about making an entrance. 17-year-old Dylan Mills scoops plaudits everywhere, including the Mercury prize, for this gritty tale of urban dystopia (or, as its better known, reality). Disjointed, bleak and certainly unsettling, a landmark in that it singlehandedly transformed grime into a form of pop music, for a while at least.

Showtime (XL, 2004)

With the spotlight well and truly pointed in his direction, Dizzee's riposte was a self-referential take on his new-found status, epitomised by the bass-heavy Graftin'. Bizarrely, the album featured a sample and chorus of Captain Sensible's Happy Talk, perhaps a sign of the mass-appeal approach which was to follow.

Maths + English (XL, 2007)

Dizzee's transition from doyen of the underground to crossover megastar was nearing completion, and Maths + English was the pop/party album to prove it (special guest star: Lily Allen, Q.E.D.). The lyrical dexterity was still there, evidenced in particular in the witty takedown of the British class system, Sirens, but the album as a whole is an ode to a young man enjoying the good times. And why not?

Tongue N' Cheek (Dirtee Stank, 2009)

Now firmly a certified national treasure (he rolls with Prince Harry, don’t cha know?), every single released off this went to number one. The references to violence and a troubled state of mind remain but are now transformed into something approaching wilful pantomime (I like cash! I like cash!). Still, so-called 'mainstream' has never sounded so frenzied, or so fun.