Rapper with five number one singles and Mercury Prize retrained as a plasterer
Legendary 00s rapper Dizzee Rascal has revealed he has retrained as a plasterer, adding another accomplishment to his already lengthy list.
The Bonkers hitmaker, 40, is considered a pioneer in British hip hop and grime music, and has garnered five number one records in the UK.
But Dizzee, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, could one day be skimming your walls after spending £1,495 to become a plasterer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Baseline Junkie rapper shared that he became qualified with a City and Guilds Certificate in Plastering after attending Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford.
Despite saying that he had forgotten the skills that he learned on the course, Dizzee felt he 'needed to learn to do stuff.'
'I did a plastering course for however long. I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything,' he told Fix Radio.
'In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. Big up Able Skills it was wicked.'
However, the musician said that some of his fellow coursemates were 'miffed' he had enrolled, asking 'what's he doing here?'
Some didn't recognise him, not realising they were sharing a classroom with an Ivor Novello and Brit Award winner.
'Towards the end, there was a couple dudes I've been with them for weeks. They were like 'Hey, oh my Go,d it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'.
'Right at the end is when they clocked it.'
The London artist has several well-known singles under his belt, including Dance Wiv Me, Holiday, Fix Up Look Sharp, and You've Got The Dirtee Love.
He is credited as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as the artist to bring UK rap into the mainstream.
He has worked with many huge artists, including Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Robbie Williams, and Shakira. More Trending
Dizzee has put out eight albums, with the latest, Don't Take It Personal, released last year.
In 2020, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours for services to music.
In 2022, he was given a community order with a 24-week curfew and a 12-month restraining order and must wear an electronic tag after appearing in court to face sentencing for assaulting his ex-fiancée Cassandra Jones in 2021.
The grime star was found guilty of attacking Jones, with whom he shares two children, with a judge concluding he had been 'abusive and aggressive'.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Liam and Noel Gallagher in high spirits back at work together for the first time since reunion
MORE: Freddie Mercury's sister 'spent £3,000,000 to get back singer's memorabilia' sold by his ex
MORE: The Who re-hire drummer Zak Starkey after issuing statement on 'personal issues'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
27 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Tennis fans slam BBC live coverage of Queen's after Emma Raducanu snub ahead of Wimbledon
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TENNIS fans slammed the BBC for snubbing live coverage of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter's doubles debut. The all-star British duo teamed up for the first time at Queen's in the opening grass-court event ahead of Wimbledon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter played their first competitive doubles match together Credit: Getty 3 The British pairing beat Fang-Hsien Wu and Xinyu Jiang 6-4 6-2 Credit: PA But despite the BBC holding the rights to the tournament and the euphoria around tennis after yesterday's epic French Open final, they opted against spotlighting two of GB's biggest names and instead only showed the singles action on the main show court - now called the Andy Murray Arena. While Sonay Kartal, Jodie Burrage and two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova were live on TV, that meant that Raducanu and Boulter - second up on Court 1 - were overlooked on BBC Two. And their match against Fang-Hsien Wu and Xinyu Jiang was not available for British tennis fans to watch on either the red button or iPlayer. BBC presenter Isa Guha said: "Unfortunately, we won't be able to show you this match because we're focused on Andy Murray Arena, but we will be bringing you updates throughout the course of the afternoon." READ MORE ON TENNIS MIC MY DAY Wimbledon finals to be shown on new TV channel after 88 years of BBC coverage But wannabe viewers were not happy. One moaned: "Errrrr you've got two Brits linking up in the doubles - don't you think that might have been of an interest to the British viewers?" Another blasted: "You have the British women 1 and 2 playing together in doubles and you're not showing it? Make it make sense!! So frustrating!!" A third added: "You just showed a clip of Court 1 where Emma and Katie are starting their match; so why not show the match as a second option or one court on iPlayer and one on BBC Two? Very frustrating!" CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS A fourth complained: "Literally just showed us a clip of it why can't we watch it?!!!!" A fifth fumed: "Absolutely ridiculous you're not showing Boulter/Raducanu in doubles." Katie Boulter destroys tennis star fiance Alex de Minaur in four words after newly-engaged couple lose in doubles And a final user typed: "Why isn't Court 1 on BBC iPlayer though? Can't watch Boultercanu?" Boulter and Raducanu - nicknamed Boulteranu by some on social media - ran out 6-4 6-2 winners in 71 minutes, laughing and high-fiving their way to victory in joyful scenes in front of the 1,000-seater stand. The match was Raducanu's second WTA doubles match of her career - and a first win. Quizzed if they would team up again at Wimbledon, the former US Open champion downplayed their ambitions. Raducanu - delighted to have overcome any injury concerns as she ended the match with a volley - insisted: 'It's a spontaneous thing, we're just trying to do the best we can this week. "We thought about it in Madrid, Miami and Paris. 'Moving to the grass, which is a very different surface, it helps us get a feel of serving, returning and playing some points." Tennis stars' new careers PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring. But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best… I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist But partner Boulter interjected: 'Scrap what she said - we're going for the Wimbledon title! "No, just kidding… we haven't thought about that. "We both return very well and have great volleys, so if one of us hits a good ball we can capitalise on that. "I'm very confident that Emma is going to put the ball away if I hit a good shot." World No37 Raducanu - who admitted she is still "wary" in public after he stalker hell - faces Cristina Bucsa in her opening singles match on Tuesday. Boulter, three places higher than her partner in the WTA rankings, takes on Ajla Tomljanovic. SunSport has contacted the BBC for comment on the snub, which comes after news that the BBC will have to share broadcast rights to the singles finals at Wimbledon with TNT Sports for the next five years. 3 Raducanu had only played one WTA doubles match before Credit: Getty
Daily Record
36 minutes ago
- Daily Record
BBC period drama hailed 'perfect watching' as fans say it's 'better than Call The Midwife'
The beloved show boasts a star studded cast and is now available to stream on Amazon. A popular period drama named Lark Rise to Candleford has received rave reviews from fans of the show, which has been compared to the hit BBC medical drama Call the Midwife. The programme is set in 19th-century Oxfordshire and follows the story of a young girl who moves to a local market town in the county and starts an apprenticeship as a postmistress. It is an on screen adaptation of Flora Thompson's memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood, set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town Candleford. Lark Rise to Candleford boasts various well-known British actors in its cast. The stars include Linda Bassett, who played Nurse Phyllis Crane in Call the Midwife and Victoria Hamilton, who has starred in multiple period dramas including The Crown and Victoria and Albert. Lark Rise to Candleford was broadcasted on the BBC between 2008 and 2011 and all four seasons are now available to stream on Amazon Prime video and Apple TV. The series, which has a total of 40 episodes, has an impressive 8.2 rating on IMDb across its four seasons with fans hailing it as "perfect" viewing, the Express reports. One particularly impressed viewer penned on the platform:"After Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and this winter's Cranford, I thought that the BBC couldn't do any better: that it had reached its peak. Boy, was I wrong. "I was apprehensive about watching Lark Rise because of this, but those doubts were removed immediately as I fell in love with all the characters, especially Julia Sawalha, who surpasses herself, obviously moving away from her most famous role as Lydia Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, and she does so delightfully." Another chimed in: "I discovered this delightful little show during one of my many inpatient vacations in the hospital when I was struggling with End Stage Kidney Disease. "It truly was one of the things that helped me through the worst times..." A third enthusiastic viewer added: "This is one of the best series I've ever seen on BBC. I was gorged on watching all 40 episodes on BritBox, which I just adore. "The series is very well filmed, with fantastic actors and actresses." Another fan, who gave the show top marks, remarked: "This is the best of the best costume dramas, and perhaps the best BBC production!!!! "The acting, the set, the costumes, the story line, and lessons learned about dealing with life/people issues in a fun yet serious fashion." However, it is not the only popular period drama which is currently available to stream on Amazon. Viewers are also raving about an 'incredible' six-part period drama series, which was written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. The programme, Belgravia, is set in the 19th century and takes its initial bow at an event that is engraved in history - the Duchess of Richmond's ball of June 1815, a notable affair just days before the Battle of Waterloo. Centring on the intrigues of the Trenchard and Bellasis families, the series dives headfirst into familiar territory for devotees of period drama, complete with clandestine scandals, high-society relationships, and the intricate dance of class politics.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Glastonbury ticket sales cut for 2025 to ease overcrowding, says Emily Eavis
Glastonbury Festival has sold 'a few thousand less tickets' this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding, organiser Emily Eavis has said. The music festival, which usually has capacity for 210,000 people, is returning later this month, with British pop band The 1975, folk star Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop singer Olivia Rodrigo topping the bill. In an appearance on the Sidetracked podcast Eavis, 45, outlined the changes that have been made to this year's festival and said music area Shangri-La is 'going full trees and green space' which is 'completely the opposite to anything they've done in the past'. She also revealed that the festival has managed to buy some land that sits 'just on the outside of the site', which will be used for crew members. She added: 'We've also sold a few thousand less tickets, so it will be interesting just to see how that affects the dynamics on site.' The first group of tickets for the event sold out in 30 minutes last November, with the second lot selling out in fewer than 40. Eavis said times have changed, adding: 'There were years where you just couldn't sell out, you just couldn't give them (the tickets) away.' Glastonbury is running from June 25 to June 29 this year with performances from the likes of US rapper Doechii, UK singer Raye and veteran rocker Sir Rod Stewart, who will be playing during the coveted legends slot. Also performing is Irish rap trio Kneecap, US star Gracie Abrams and alternative pop singer Charli XCX. The line-up features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, who will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. Careful not to draw speculation as to who the act could be, Eavis said: 'I've been working on Patchwork for a long time.' She also said that planning for their appearance had taken about a year for 'logistical' reasons. Also at the festival, presenters Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw will take to the BBC Introducing stage on June 26 for a live episode of Sidetracked.
