The Mercury Music Prize (think UK version of the Shortlist, except without the sales shackles) award ceremony was held last night in London and the winner was a bit of a surprise. Going into the event, bookies had stopped taking bets on The Darkness after a large number of bets came in from an area of town where many music companies were located. Other acts tipped for the award included Coldplay, Martina Topley-Bird, The Thrills, and Radiohead, but it was teenaged London rapper Dizzee Rascal who took home the trophy at the end of the night, joining the ranks of past winners such as Suede, PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Portishead and Primal Scream. Dubbed the UK Eminem, Dizzee and his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, finished ahead of the pack, which also included Athlete, Lemon Jelly, Floetry, Eliza Carthy, Soweto Kinch and Terri Walker. The 19-year-old was the youngest winner in the history of the award, as well as being the first rap artist to take the spoils.

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