D Double E
{{Short description|British rapper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = D Double E
| image = D double E.jpg
| caption = D Double E in 2010
| birth_place =
| birth_name = Darren Jason Dixon{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/883567106 |title=BAD TO THE BONE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=May 1, 2023}}
| alias = DJ Dan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|01|18}}
| origin = Forest Gate, London, England
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- MC
- DJ
- record producer
}}
| years_active = 1990s–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- Bluku Music
- Dirtee Stank
}}
| current_member_of = Newham Generals
| past_member_of = {{flat list|
- Bass Inject
- Reckless Crew
- M.A.D.
- 187 Crew
- Nasty Crew
}}
| website =
}}
Darren Jason Dixon (born 19 January 1980), known professionally as D Double E, is a British grime MC, DJ and record producer from Forest Gate, East London.{{Cite news|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=2018-09-05|title=Grime pioneer D Double E finally gets his moment|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45406427|access-date=2020-09-17}} He performs both as a solo artist and as a member of the grime duo Newham Generals.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-double-e-mn0002004591/credits|title=D Double E - Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075028/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-double-e-mn0002004591/credits|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}
Career
D Double E has been active for over 20 years, beginning his career in jungle and UK garage music.{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Hattie|date=2014-11-18|title=the records that changed d double e's life|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/wj5dgy/the-records-that-changed-d-double-es-life|access-date=2020-09-17|website=i-D|language=en|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926060116/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/wj5dgy/the-records-that-changed-d-double-es-life|url-status=live}} In the mid-1990s, he was a DJ and went by the name DJ Dan. D Double was at the time in a crew called Bass Inject, alongside Terror Danjah and DJ Tempo.{{Cite book|last=Collins|first=Hattie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CA3JCwAAQBAJ|title=This Is Grime|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|year=2016|isbn=9781473639270|pages=9|access-date=19 September 2020|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926060117/https://books.google.com/books?id=CA3JCwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}} In 1998, Terror and D Double E went on to form the drum and bass collective the Reckless Crew which played sets on Rinse FM.D Double E: History - From 1996 Onwards On Pirate Radio [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhw4ecwq36U&list=PLtbdIz1FFskNnnvsArc9YkGYxxomGrsQP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926060133/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhw4ecwq36U&list=PLtbdIz1FFskNnnvsArc9YkGYxxomGrsQP|date=26 September 2020}} RWD,{{cite web|url=http://rwdmag.com/tag/d-double-e/|title=D Double E - RWD|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080849/http://rwdmag.com/tag/d-double-e/|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://uk.complex.com/tag/d-double-e|title=D Double E - Complex UK|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155419/http://uk.complex.com/tag/d-double-e|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/09/15/this-is-grime-book-review/|title=This is Grime – book review: A behind-the-scenes look at the musical revolution that defines a generation|first=Tara|last=Joshi|date=15 September 2016|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118063117/https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/09/15/this-is-grime-book-review/|archive-date=18 January 2017|url-status=live}} He later formed M.A.D., short for Monkey, Alley and D Double E, and joined 187 Crew, alongside Hitman Hyper, Jammer, Leon B and Ebony J.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xPSj8MnIlZm0zER8r0vgK|title=KeepinItGrimy Podcast 009 - Sharky Major|work=Spotify|date=2019-05-20|accessdate=2024-12-29}} After the disbandment of 187, he joined early grime collective N.A.S.T.Y Crew, until leaving after a dispute in December 2003.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2014/11/21/d-double-e-there%E2%80%99s-only-way-for-grime-to-go-and-that%E2%80%99s-up-2/|title=D Double E: There's only way for grime to go, and that's UP|work=The Independent|author=Barnes, Marcus|date=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205035229/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2014/11/21/d-double-e-there%e2%80%99s-only-way-for-grime-to-go-and-that%e2%80%99s-up-2/|archivedate=2014-12-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/features/tales-from-the-grime-generation-d-double-e-interviewed|title=Tales From The Grime Generation: D Double E Interviewed|date=26 November 2014 |access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082331/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/tales-from-the-grime-generation-d-double-e-interviewed|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}} He then founded the group Newham Generals together with Monkstar and Footsie.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-03|title=D Double E announces new project, 'D.O.N.', shares single with Kano|url=https://djmag.com/news/d-double-e-announces-new-project-don-shares-single-kano|access-date=2020-09-17|website=DJ Mag}}{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2020}} The group remains active as a duo consisting of D Double E and Footsie.{{cite web|date=2016-09-01|title=Then And Now: Newham Generals' Footsie Interviewed|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/features/then-and-now-newham-generals-footsie-interviewed|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160748/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/then-and-now-newham-generals-footsie-interviewed|archive-date=11 February 2017|access-date=9 February 2017|website=Clash}} He and the Newham Generals signed to Dizzee Rascal's Dirtee Stank label.
As a solo artist, D Double E's releases include "Street Fighter Riddim", "Bluku, Bluku", "Bad 2 tha Bone", "Lovely Jubbly", and "Wolly".{{cite web|last=MacPherson|first=Frederick|date=2014-11-20|title=Your Favourite MC's Favourite MC: D Double E|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/6azwgb/d-double-e-interview-2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081929/https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/d-double-e-interview-2014|archive-date=11 February 2017|access-date=9 February 2017|website=Noisey}} He is known for using vocalisations such as "bud-a-bup-bup" and "it's mree, mree".{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Felicity|date=2019-01-18|title=D Double E cemented his legacy as your favourite MC's favourite MC at XOYO last night|url=https://www.dummymag.com/features/d-double-e-cemented-legacy-favourite-mcs-favourite-mc-xoyo/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Dummy Magazine}} Fellow MC Skepta once named him as the "greatest of all time", and Dizzee Rascal said he was one of the artists who inspired him to start MCing.{{Cite web|last=Hancox|first=Dan|date=2018-09-10|title=D Double E, grime's nearly man: 'I haven't been able to prove myself'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/10/d-double-e-grimes-nearly-man-i-havent-been-able-to-prove-myself|access-date=2020-09-17|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
IKEA invited D Double E to create a special soundtrack for a Christmas 2019 campaign,{{Cite web|last=Somos|first=Christy|date=2019-11-08|title=Here's why Ikea and a grime music star are trending in the U.K.|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/here-s-why-ikea-and-a-grime-music-star-are-trending-in-the-u-k-1.4676086|access-date=2020-09-17|website=CTV News|language=en}} marking the first time the grime music genre was used in seasonal advertising.{{cite web|last=Bruce-Jones|first=Henry|date=2019-11-08|title=D Double E is the unlikely star of the IKEA Christmas advert|url=https://www.factmag.com/2019/11/08/d-double-e-ikea-christmas-advert/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108224436/https://www.factmag.com/2019/11/08/d-double-e-ikea-christmas-advert/|archive-date=8 November 2019|access-date=8 November 2019|website=Fact}}
Personal life
Discography
=Studio albums=
= Charted singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK |
| 2004
| "Pow! (Forward)" | 11 |
| 2010
| "Street Fighter Riddim" |
| 2016
| "Ladies Hit Squad" | 89 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Black British male rappers
Category:English record producers
Category:People from Forest Gate
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Newham
Category:English people of Jamaican descent