Dizzee Rascal - Mills was born in Bow, East London. His father died when he was young, and he was raised for most of his life in a single-parent family by his Ghanaian-born mother, who worked two jobs and attended church on Sunday.
He attended a series of schools in East London, excluded from four secondary schools in four years - it was a teacher who first called him Rascal. Cagey about exactly what his youthful "madnesses" entailed, in early interviews he mentioned fighting with teachers, stealing cars and robbing pizza delivery men. In the fifth school, Langdon Park in Poplar, he was excluded from most classes except music.
Encouraged by music teacher, Mr Smith, he began making music on the school's computer. His mother recognised his love for music, and agreed to buy him his first pair of decks.
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