Quotes from Dizzee Rascal

NME is normally associated with indie rock. It ain't something I read as a kid.

I was a drum 'n' bass DJ at first but not any one of note.

I don't think I was ever really a normal kid. I always wanted to do it big, and so I was always on the lookout for strong people I could learn from.

In the end, music was the only option open to me. It was a blessing I pursued it. I put all my energies into it. I didn't care about no other subjects.

If you believe, you can achieve, innit.

I was making grime before anyone else.

People can't look down on grime anymore, it's an established British genre.

I grew up and learnt to hold my own. My mum was doing two people's jobs. It makes you grow up early. There's less people to talk to, less close people, innit? You're going to end up being lonely because you think a bit more.

Sometimes you might get inspired by something, write about it, then later that lyrics sounds better on another beat. That's happened a few times. Like 'Dance Wiv Me' - those lyrics didn't start on that beat.

Yeah, I like Three Six Mafia and stuff like that.