Dizzee Rascal in a spin over Mercury win

Teenager Dizzee Rascal has become the first rapper to win the prestigious Panasonic Mercury Music Prize.

The up and coming star, who at 19 is the youngest person to land the £20,000 (€28,390) award, took the title for his debut album, Boy In Da Corner.

He triumphed over hot favourites retro rockers The Darkness to pick up the accolade which goes to the outstanding album of the year, according to a panel of judges.

The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Mills, said last night as he picked up his prize: “Support British talent because it’s out there.”

Dizzee was stabbed during a stint performing in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa during the summer.

The incident was said to have arisen out of a squabble within the music scene on the island.

The star, from east London, had also been expelled from school on four occasions and writes about the hardships of his early life on his prize-winning album.

Speaking about his stage name recently, the rapper said: “My teachers all called me rascal. That’s who I always was. It’s my character. I’m a rascal.”

Other acts which were on the short list for this year’s Mercury included Coldplay, Radiohead, Lemon Jelly and The Thrills.

Dizzee collected his prize from last year’s winner Ms Dynamite.

Afterwards, he said that the accolade would not affect his approach to making music.

“I can only do what I do. I’ll be myself and carry on. At the end of the day, it’s my life and my career.

“I came from nothing, I came from the ground,” he added.

He would not comment on the reasons behind his stabbing earlier this year, but said: “I was doing my music, I’m another artist on the scene. I’m doing my music and I’m acknowledged now.”

Dizzee, who was third favourite to collect the prize, said of his music: “I’ll write anything that’s on my mind – whether it’s hardship, girls, money or the street, I just rap.

“I just love music, I love creating it, creating beats, messing about with flows. The album sums up everything I’ve been through.”

As well as the cash prize and publicity which the award generates, the winner tends to see sales for their album at least double in the ensuing weeks.

Past winners have included Primal Scream, Pulp and Badly Drawn Boy.