Dizzee Rascal's Unique Journey: From Music to Mastering Plastering

During the pandemic, Dizzee Rascal retrained as a plasterer, showcasing his resilience and creativity.

A New Skill in Lockdown

Dizzee Rascal has been all over the headlines, but this time, it’s not just about his chart-topping hits. The renowned rapper decided to take a break from the music scene during the lockdown to learn a new trade - plastering! With time on his hands, he turned to the Able Skills Construction Training course in Dartford, where he achieved a City and Guilds Certificate in plastering.

“I needed to learn to do stuff,” Dizzee told Fix Radio, emphasizing how the pandemic pushed him to explore new avenues. He even joked about forgetting some of the skills he acquired during the course, saying, “I did a plastering course for however long. I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything.” It’s always inspiring to see how artists can adapt and grow, isn’t it?

Classmates’ Surprise

Imagine being in a plastering class, grinding through the basics, and then realizing your classmate is a famous rapper! As Dizzee continued his training, it took a while for his coursemates to recognize him. “Towards the end, there were a couple of 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,” he shared with a laugh. It’s moments like these that remind us that celebrities are just people too.

Check out His Journey on YouTube

Dizzee opened up about his experiences in a recent interview. If you want to see him discussing his transition from music to plastering, check it out here:

Back to Music

After exploring the world of plastering, Dizzee returned to his first love in 2024, releasing the surprise EP ‘I Invented Grime’. This came shortly after his eighth studio album ‘Don’t Take It Personal’. The album featured collaborations with artists like P Money, BackRoad Gee, Not3s, and D Double E, and included the hit single ‘What You Know About That’ featuring JME.

A Glimpse into His Career

Dizzee Rascal’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. He even revealed earlier this year that he was once given the beat for Beyoncé’s 2013 hit ‘Partition,’ but he had to pass it on because he “couldn’t come up with” anything for it. It’s fascinating to think about what could’ve been!

He’s also made headlines as one of the first names announced for the 2025 Neighbourhood Weekender, alongside music greats like James and Stereophonics.

Celebrating Milestones

Last year, Dizzee celebrated the 15th anniversary of his iconic album ‘Tongue N’ Cheek’ and is fondly remembered for his debut album ‘Boy In Da Corner,’ which introduced grime to the mainstream music scene in the early 2000s. He even performed a special gig at London’s O2 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that groundbreaking record.

FAQs

• What motivated Dizzee Rascal to retrain as a plasterer during the pandemic? His desire to learn new skills and keep productive during the lockdown was his main motivation.
• What certificate did Dizzee earn through his plastering course? He earned a City and Guilds Certificate in plastering.
• Did his classmates recognize him during the plastering course? It took some time for his classmates to realize he was a famous rapper.
• What recent music projects has Dizzee Rascal released? He released the surprise EP ‘I Invented Grime’ and the album ‘Don’t Take It Personal.’
• Where can I find the YouTube interview of Dizzee Rascal about his experiences? The interview is available on YouTube, discussing his transition from music to plastering.

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