Quotes from Dizzee Rascal

I like that the sight of me can make people happy. That's nice innit? I like that people like my music. I like that you get perks sometimes. Sometimes people treat you better, but through that there's the opposite as well.

I think it don't matter what colour you are, it matters what colour your heart is and your intentions.

Yeah, I love festivals, man.

I'm going to be big like Michael Jackson.

To an extent, everyone is jealous of everyone.

People who criticise me are just jealous.

As a kid, I felt I had it bad - and people where I came from did - but if I'd been in a similar position in America, it could've been 10 times worse. We have the NHS. We don't have slums like I've seen in the Deep south, or shocking intolerance.

I see all that celebrity stuff now as whatever, man. 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.

I'm the first British artist to have two successive number ones on his own independent label.

Kids need to be taught that your dreams aren't just dreams. Whatever they are, it's OK to push for them.

I sometimes think I should write a book. I've seen some things, you know, but it's all there in the songs.

When I go Miami, I go deep-sea fishing. I love doing that.

I think there's loads of undiagnosed depression where I came from. Post-traumatic stress disorder as well. Some of the things you see as a kid are like the things you'd expect to see in a war zone, but there's no one to talk to about it because running to a psychiatrist ain't the thing.

I made hardcore music and that came kind of easy - it was what I knew. But it was a challenge for me to make a big pop tune.

When I was growing up, it was 'All Eyes On Me' by Tupac and 'Doggy Style' by Snoop Dogg. I've met Snoop and he's the best. They say you shouldn't meet your idol - that definitely doesn't apply to him.

I just go to the gym once every few weeks and go training once or twice a week. But it's all pretty random.

When you hear 'I Luv U,' that's me doing Three 6 Mafia. That actual track is a mix of 'What's Your Fantasy?' by Ludacris and 'Is That Yo Chick?' by Jay Z. That's my version of that track.

All that really moves me is music.

I come from the underground, from the ground.

I dominated the underground and then I dominated the overground, and I did that on my own.

No U.K. rapper has been in my position; there are loads of big rappers like Tinie Tempah or Skepta, but no one has done what I have: had mainstream success with underground music and pop music.

That's the difference between me and a lot of rappers. So many are unfit, just puffing all the time.

Where I'm from, there ain't a lot of other options, you know what I'm saying? Entertainment or football or crime. I don't want to spread the message that all you can do is music or sport. You can be anything. Anything. That's the message I like to spread.

When I was young I used to watch MTV, Nirvana, or Guns N' Roses.