"Dizzee Rascal is a musician who has made a 180 degree turn in his life. From a life of street crime and violence, Dizzee, born Dylan Mills, has risen to become a positive figure in popular British culture. His innate ability toward introspective thinking, which comes out in his lyrics, gives him status as one of the more unique artists of his genre today. His past life of crime and danger has led him to be an artist that many people can relate to on a deep level, which also gives him incredible influence both with his contemporaries and younger generations.Dizzee Rascal grew up in London, and with only his mother became increasingly wild in his youth. Despite his rebellious behavior, his mother was constantly supportive and bought him the first turntable that he ever owned. Her support turned out for Dizzee's best, giving him a chance to get out of the life that he had become accustom to. His life began to turn around after he recorded the underground white-label single ""I Luv U"" and began to make a name for himself in music. The single provided the opportunities necessary for Dizzee to create his first solo album, which was released in July 2003.Around the same time that Dizzee was the proud receiver of the Mercury Prize, he was brutally stabbed while visiting a resort in the popular British vacation spot, Cypress. Dizzee recovered from his stab wounds, but has sworn never to return to the resort or the area where the stabbing took place. The stabbing and other events in his life around that time prompted him to clean up his act. He is now becoming a well-respected artist with his own label, which he set up to help out younger artists."