Dizzee Rascal Looking To Become Next "King Of Pop"

09/15/09 3:21pm

by Siobhan Ozege (CHARTattack)

In the weeks since the King Of Pop's death, there have been a few claims about who may ascend Michael Jackson's proverbial throne of popdom.

Earlier this summer, the work of an Onion-esque website announced Kanye West's bid for the title, a story picked up by numerous sources as what has been deemed "the most believable thing I've ever heard in my life."

But although 'Ye's quest for the crown may have been faked, someone else's is all too real.

In an interview released this past weekend, Dizzee Rascal made his own bid for achieving the title as the King Of Pop, stating, "I'm going to be big like Michael Jackson," thereby dropping his earlier claims he could be as big as Britney Spears.

There's no satire or underlying witticism in Rascal's claim. With three consecutive #1 hits and the 2003 Mercury Prize under his belt, Britain's first rap superstar sees a lot of himself in the King Of Pop. And he has come a long way.

In a recent attempt to ditch his grime roots for pop-based anthems, Dizzee Rascal has collaborated with the likes of Beck, Arctic Monkeys and Basement Jaxx.

Also, and not coincidentally, he's about to release his fourth studio album, Tongue N' Cheek, on Sept. 21.

Still, there are a few key components to becoming the King that Dizzee Rascal needs to piece into his look: while it may be too late to start a childhood supergroup with his siblings, he certainly has the ability to stir some controversy about his private life, or at least learn to coordinate dance moves during his live show.

With any luck, Rascal will soon be looking down on us from his throne in the land of pop, but until then, it's good to remember that a crown doesn't necessarily make you a prince.

You can see Rascal here:

Oct. 6 Newcastle Upon Tyne, England @ O2 Academy Newcastle
Oct. 7 Manchester, England @ Manchester Apollo
Oct. 9 Cambridge, England @ Cambridge Corn Exchange
Oct. 10 Exeter, England @ Great Hall at Exeter University
Oct. 11 Bristol, England @ O2 Academy Bristol
Oct. 13 Nottingham, England @ Rock City
Oct. 14 Bournemouth, England @ Opera House
Oct. 16 Norwich, England @ University Of East Anglia
Oct. 17 Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy Birmingham
Oct. 22 London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
Oct. 24 Liverpool, England @ Liverpool University
Oct. 25 Sheffield, England @ O2 Academy Sheffield
Oct. 26 Leeds, England @ O2 Academy Leeds
Oct. 27 Brighton, England @ Brighton Dome
Oct. 30 Swindon, England @ Oasis Leisure Centre
Oct. 31 Preston, England @ 53 Degrees
Nov. 1 Southend On Sea, England @ Cliffs Pavilion
Nov. 2 Lincoln, England @ Engine Shed
Nov. 11 Frankfurt, Germany @ Batschkapp
Nov. 12 Munster, Germany @ Skaters Palace
Nov. 13 Hamburg, Germany @ Ubel Und Gefahrlich
Nov. 14 Berlin, Germany @ Astra
Nov. 16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
Nov. 17 Cologne, Germany @ Stollwerk
Nov. 18 Munich, Germany @ Backstage
Nov. 19 Stuttgart, Germany @ Zapata
Nov. 21 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
Nov. 22 Paris, France @ Le Bataclan
Dec. 4 Skegness, England @ Butlin's Resort (The Big Reunion)