Dizzee eyes biggest chart single

By Damian Jones
Newsbeat music reporter

Dizzee Rascal said it would mean a lot to score his biggest ever chart single

Dizzee Rascal has told Newsbeat he is confident of scoring his biggest ever chart hit.

The rapper is in a head to head battle with dance artist Basshunter for the top spot in the UK singles chart.

His new single Dance Wiv Me is ahead of Basshunter's All I Ever Wanted in midweek sales.

He told Newsbeat: "It feels good because it's the first release on my own label and it's looking like it's going to the top which means a lot."

He went on: "It's Number One in the midweek chart. I hear Basshunter is on my tail but it doesn't matter. I've not heard his tune anyway."

Exchange numbers

The track, which features Calvin Harris and Chrome, came together after Dizzee and the Acceptable In The 80s star bumped into each other at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

"Me and Calvin met and we exchanged numbers. We never actually met once to actually make the tune, we did it back and forth over the phone," Dizzee explained.

"It was good, we were just like over the phone, 'What about changing that hook a bit?' Chrome was the only one that came in the studio but it was good working with him because we've done a few things in the past."

Dizzee said he would like to collaborate with The Ting Tings

The rapper also said he is hoping to collaborate with The Tings Tings after he recently reworked a cover of their chart topper That's Not My Name in Radio 1's Live Lounge.

"It was fun doing that Ting Tings cover and it was nice to flip the lyrics," he said. "I was on the motorway stuck in traffic thinking of the lyrics I was going to switch up and change and I started learning them."

Work together

The rapper also said he was keen to collaborate with Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys on his forthcoming fourth album.

He added: "I'd love to collaborate with The Ting Tings on a song. I met them at Glastonbury and I told them I was going to do this cover and I said, 'We should work together as well and Franz Ferdinand'.

"I'm working on my album now so we'll see what happens. I wouldn't mind doing some work with the Arctic Monkeys again too but I haven't had a chance to speak to them yet. "