Musician

I don't think I was ever really a normal kid. I always wanted to do it big, and so I was always on the lookout for strong people I could learn from.

That's the difference between me and a lot of rappers. So many are unfit, just puffing all the time.

I sometimes think I should write a book. I've seen some things, you know, but it's all there in the songs.

In each genre, I've been around the biggest. In pop I toured with Justin Timberlake, with reggae it was Sean Paul; I toured with Jay-Z and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It's all an education for me, to see how they do it.

The world's a jungle in my eyes, innit? Everything's tribal. If you see someone who don't look like you - especially the colour of your skin - you're going to be suspicious, or not as welcoming or warming, innit? I've learned not to take it too personal.

I like staying in. I'm that kind of guy.

When you're actually boxing, unless it's a proper grudge match, it's less about beating the person up and more about being better within yourself. Being patient, timing things, like chess, so really, it's as much down to you as what the other person does - and that's life.

I found it funny I was on 'Newsnight.'

Politicians... say what they say - you might get every now and again a genuine one, innit? But I think people, like, as a whole make the difference.

To an extent, everyone is jealous of everyone.

London's where I grew up and had most of my experiences.

Life is hard enough. Life is always going to be hard, so you need to push for what you want.

I'm not really going to defend anyone's lyrics.

Yeah, I like Three Six Mafia and stuff like that.

I'm the first British artist to have two successive number ones on his own independent label.

There's a real gun culture in the U.K., for those who don't know. It's very real.

No one can establish what selling out is.

The name Dirtee Stank came from a lyric I had when I was 17 or 16. Lyrical tank, like my name was Frank, going on dirty, going on stank. It sounded like a good name!

As a kid, I felt I had it bad - and people where I came from did - but if I'd been in a similar position in America, it could've been 10 times worse. We have the NHS. We don't have slums like I've seen in the Deep south, or shocking intolerance.

I like that the sight of me can make people happy. That's nice innit? I like that people like my music. I like that you get perks sometimes. Sometimes people treat you better, but through that there's the opposite as well.