Mercury

Firstly- how did Dizzee's weakest album (Tongue N Cheek) get a nomination? I've supported the rapper since day one (either on my bedroom stereo or with actual interviews, articles etc). But really the T-N-C is so poor.

Also why aren't M.I.A and Hot Chip latest discs on the list?

Anyway on a more positive note I hope Corinne bailey Rae's incredible album The Sea wins. Or failing that the favourites The XX.

Just finally I stand by my love for Speech Debelle's album which won last year. Just a shame she turned out to be a bit of a knob, dropping her label and talking sh** in interviews.

Dizzee is an absolute legend

Watch it all the way through:

Jus' A Rascal?

Didn't get to post this before my holiday. But I think Jude Rogers' excellent article about Dizzee Rascal (from the Guardian) is spot on. As the most talented UK rapper of the last decade he should have been a household name long ago. But thank god it's happened now.

EXTRACT: "Dizzee is human to a fault. He raps about pulling his socks up, sirens, and - pardon me - "pussyoles". Next to (Michael) Jackson's ghostly chalk, he is very much a cheese of the kind stocked in your corner shop.

But that isn't a handicap for Dizzee at all. On the contrary, his ability to make ordinary things sound fabulous has made him, finally, Britain's first black male superstar."

I've loved all three of his albums- his next one Tongue N Cheek is due in September. I hope Diz' keeps some of those faults and it's not all Calvin Harris style dance pop. He's hinted that The Prodigy will produce a track for the record and if he gets a beat out of Liam Howlett (succeeding where many others including Madonna have failed) it should be special.

His name is Dizzee Diz

Awesome to see Dizzee on Jonathan Ross- he was very eloquent and well funny. Who was the last young credible British artist on that chat show? The only similar I can think of is Girls Aloud or Lily Allen- but they're tabloid darlings. I literally spat my beer out when he joked about his mum stabbing him- but then I was a bit pissed.

Also Bonkers is obviously brilliant. WATCH IT HERE

A few tunes

To download:
M.I.A/ Diplo- Pop (Et Musique Pour Tous)
This is old but I hadn't heard it till now- should have bought Piracy Funds Terrorism back in 2004 I guess. Big. Well fucking huge actually.

Dizzee Rascal- Bonkers (First Up)
A radio rip of Dizzee's new single which (mark my words) will be top 5 by June. Saw him play the Armand Van Helden produced track back in early November at a gig in Liverpool. The crowd loved the commercial beats and Dizzee's strong hook.

Busta Rhymes ft Pharrell- Show Ya G-Stro (Nah Right)

Neither artists are at their best here but it's still a highly listenable tune. Apparently it's from the soundtrack to Fast & Furious.

Jay Z/ P Diddy- Maybe (Nah Right)

A half finished chilled out track which has just leaked but was recorded during the American Gangster sessions- and apparently meant for a Diddy album. Twitter king Diddy has been hanging out with Arctic Monkey Matt Helders and James Ford/Simian Mobile Disco this weekend. And they've been recording.