Dizzee Rascal Signs Major Record Deal

Ghanaian British rapper Dizzee Rascal has signed a major record deal with Universal Music.

The deal comes fresh after Universal bought EMI Records for 1.2 billion pounds, which includes artists such as The Beatles, Coldplay, and Tinie Tempah.

The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, signed to an unprecedented "multi-layered deal." The deal will also money-back artists on Rascal's own label, Dirtee Stank, which includes acts such as Klass A, Newham Generals, Smurfie Syco, and Pepper.

His fifth yet-untitled studio album is due in 2012, and will come out on imprint Island Records, home to U2 and Amy Winehouse. He has mentioned he'd love to team up with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Kanye West and Outkast's Andre 3000 on the new album.

"I'd love to have [Grohl] in the studio just to see how he views things. I've done rock with the Arctic Monkeys and it was just second nature."

His previous albums, Boy in da Corner, Showtime, and Maths + English, had been released on XL until he branched out with Dirtee Stank, through which Rascal released his latest album, Tongue n' Cheek. The album was Rascal's best-selling of his career, certified platinum by BPI.

Rascal's debut, Boy in da Corner, won him the 2003 Mercury Prize. All his follow-up albums have been critically acclaimed and certified gold.