Latest news with #Dizzee
Metro
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
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 entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ 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'
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dizzee Rascal ditches fame and makes huge career change as plasterer
Dizzee Rascal has revealed that he decided to re-train as a plasterer while during lockdown and was not recognised by his fellow students until at the end of the course He has five No.1 singles under his belt but it seems Dizzee Rascal felt the need to explore a new career path, while during the pandemic. Dizzee has now that he signed up to train as a plasterer during lockdown. The 40 year old rapper, who fast became a well respected grime artist among his peers during the height of his fame, explained why he splashed out £1,495 during lockdown to learn a new skill. Having completed the course, Dizzee, who is known to his family as Dylan Mills, received a certificate which states that he is now a qualified plasterer. The music artist trained at the Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent. During a recent interview he admitted to Fix Radio: "I did a plastering course for however long. I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything." He added: "In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. Big up able skills It was wicked." Considering his high profile status as a rapper, you'd think that he would be easily recognised. But it seems some of the course students didn't know who he was until the end. He continued to explain: "Towards the end there was a couple dudes I've been with them for weeks. They were like 'Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. Right at the end is when they clocked it." It looks as though his course in plastering was clearly a hobby rather than a career change as he returned to the stage amid a UK tour last year. This celebrated 15 years since the release of his album Tongue n Cheek. Dizzee launched his career in the UK music industry in 2003 following his debut album Boy in da Corner. Speaking to the Mirror last year, Dizzee opened up about why having a hefty bank balance isn't important to him. He explained: "If I'm honest, you learn to appreciate it as you go along. It's harder in the music industry, it's easier in some ways and harder in some ways. "I appreciate all the hard work that I put in when I was younger. My first album came out when I was 18, I kept ploughing through from then, and at this point I'm grateful. I've got fans that have stuck by me for so long. It sounds like an anti-climax but I just get on with it, keep going." "You can argue 20 years since my first album and two years on the underground before that," he said reflecting on the changes in the music industry. Dizzee went on to add that "every few years, the game changes anyway." He continued: "At this point, I'm not even focused on how much money I make from the music. "That's the big thing for today, I'm just really pleased that I've got the fan engagement, that's why I love the live shows, especially around the UK – I get to see parts of the country, the parts that you would never get to go to other than from a show. I'd accept certain festivals, not for the money, just to see that part of the country." "The one thing with the live shows, you bring the music to life," he said, adding that his live performances allow fans to get to know the real "Dylan" and "inspire them to be rappers or performers". He added: "After the pandemic, I was one of the first live shows some kids saw." But Dizzee, who often steers away from the media commented: "At the beginning, I never wanted to be out there, I remember not wanting to go to my first video shoot, I didn't want to be in it. I understood it didn't make sense to not be in it but I've always wanted to let the music do the talking. "I've not done too much antics outside of it so it didn't take away from that." However, he understands that some musicians "play the game."
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Noughties British rapper with five No.1 singles reveals he has retrained as a plasterer and nobody realised who he was until the end of the course
One of the most successful British rapper's with five No.1 singles has revealed he retrained as a plasterer and nobody knew who he was. Dizzee Rascal, 40, whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, told how he paid £1,495 during the pandemic to enrol in the course and learn the new skill. The performer explained that he completed the course and received a certificate, which confirms he is qualified in City and Guilds Certificate in Plastering. Dizzee enrolled onto the course at the Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent, during the Covid 19 pandemic after becoming keen to learn a new skill. The course gives trainees the option to do Monday to Friday over four weeks or six weekends with a nine day block. The star admitted that he has already forgotten the skills he learned on the course and explained his reasons for doing it. He said: 'I did a plastering course for however long. I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything. 'In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. Big up able skills It was wicked.' - But Dizzee claims other people on the course were 'miffed' about him enrolling he also told Fix Radio: 'People were miffed, when I get in the queue people were like 'What's he doing here'. However, others that he had spent weeks with didn't recognise him and only clocked towards the end of the course that he was a famous rapper. He said: 'Towards the end there was a couple dudes I've been with them for weeks. They were like "Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man". 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' Despite his foray into blue collar-work, Dizzee returned with a UK tour last year to celebrate 15 years since the release of his groundbreaking album Tongue n' Cheek. The rapper burst onto the UK hip-hop scene with his Mercury Prize-winning debut album Boy in da Corner in 2003. Dizzee, who got his start as a DJ at the tender age of 14, parlayed that early success into a career that has spanned 25 years and prompted many to dub him a pioneer of UK hip-hop and grime music. Dizzee has released eight albums, with his 2009 record Tongue n' Cheek peaking at number three on the UK album charts. He has also scored four number one UK singles – Dance Wiv Me, Bonkers, Holiday and Dirtee Disco, and collaborated with the likes of Robbie Williams, Calvin Harris, and Ty Dolla Sign. His long career has not been without controversy though, with the rapper convicted of assaulting his former partner Cassandra Jones in 2022. An appeal against his conviction was dismissed in January 2023 and he received a community order that included a 24-week curfew and a retraining order preventing him from contacting Cassandra for 12 months. The rapper lost an appeal against the conviction in 2023. In a statement released after Dizzee lost the appeal, Cassandra, who shares two children with the star, said the appeal had been 'hugely upsetting' for her, adding the experience has helped her understand why 'so many women drop out of the criminal justice system'. 'This verdict today once again shows wealth and status cannot be used to silence women,' she said in the statement. 'Domestic abuse is a crime impacting one in four women in their lifetime. 'I would like to thank my family and friends and the specialist organisations who have supported me throughout and also say to other women experiencing abuse that regardless of money or influence, support is out there, and you are not alone.'
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rapper with four UK number ones reveals he's retrained as a plasterer after being found guilty of assault
RAPPER Dizzee Rascal has got a secret side from his typical stage persona after secretly becoming a qualified plasterer. The 40-year-old rapper, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills MBE, has become famed for storming the charts and earning five UK number ones including Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me and Dirtee Disco. However, his career was derailed when he was convicted of assaulting his ex-fiancée, Cassandra Jones, in 2022 during a 'domestic dispute' about child contact. But Dizzee has now revealed that, prior to this, he took part in a new qualification during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forking out £1,495 for the course at Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent, Dizzee is now fully-certified plasterer. Speaking to Fix Radio (via NeedToKnow), the singer said: 'I did a plastering course for however long. 'I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything. '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, he added that he wasn't initially welcomed by the others taking part on the part-time course, explaining: 'People were miffed, when I got in the queue people were like 'What's he doing here?' 'Towards the end there was a couple dudes, I've been with them for weeks. 'They were like 'Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. Dizzee Rascal, 37, avoids jail after attacking ex-girlfriend and shoving her to the ground 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' The star got the certificate before his conviction, which he tried unsuccessfully to overturn in 2023. He was able to swerve a jail sentence at the time, instead having to wear an electronic tag for 24 weeks after being handed a community order. As part of the rules of the tag, he had a curfew between 8pm and 6am. He was also slapped with a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay £2,190 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Prior to his arrest, he won Best British Solo Artist at the Brits, and in 2012 he performed during the opening ceremony at the London Olympics. 5 5 5
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Rapper with four UK number ones reveals he's retrained as a plasterer after being found guilty of assault
RAPPER Dizzee Rascal has got a secret side from his typical stage persona after secretly becoming a qualified plasterer. The Advertisement 5 Dizzee Rascal trained up as a plasterer during the Covid pandemic Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 The star said that other trainees were 'miffed' that he was there Credit: Getty However, his career was derailed when he was But Dizzee has now revealed that, prior to this, he took part in a new qualification during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forking out £1,495 for the course at Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent, Dizzee is now fully-certified plasterer. Speaking to Fix Radio (via NeedToKnow), the singer said: 'I did a plastering course for however long. Advertisement READ MORE DIZZEE RASCAL 'I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything. '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, he added that he wasn't initially welcomed by the others taking part on the part-time course, explaining: 'People were miffed, when I got in the queue people were like 'What's he doing here?' Advertisement Most read in Showbiz Warning 'Towards the end there was a couple dudes, I've been with them for weeks. 'They were like 'Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. Dizzee Rascal, 37, avoids jail after attacking ex-girlfriend and shoving her to the ground 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' The star got the certificate before his conviction, which he tried unsuccessfully to overturn in 2023. Advertisement He was able to swerve a jail sentence at the time, instead having to wear an electronic tag for 24 weeks after being handed a community order. As part of the rules of the tag, he had a curfew between 8pm and 6am. He was also slapped with a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay £2,190 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Prior to his arrest, he Advertisement 5 The star's chart-topping career stalled after he was convicted of assault in 2022 Credit: Redferns 5 The singer said he has already forgotten how to do the skill despite forking out over £1.4k on the course Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 Dizzee tried to appeal his conviction in 2023 but was unsuccessful Credit: Handout - Getty
