London grime sensation Dizzee Rascal is set to release a track for the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably.
The track is called ‘Dean’ and was written by Dizzee after a close friend of his committed suicide. The track was initially recorded to appear on the album ‘Maths and English’, but didn’t make the final cut. After representatives for C.A.L.M. heard the track they decided it would be a powerful tool in helping young people talk about their problems before things get too serious. Spokesperson Jane Powell said –
‘The key for us is putting out the message that strong isn’t silent and having someone like Dizzee get this message out is just fantastic. Young men listen, for the most part, to other young men rather than charities or government spokespeople.’
The track now has a video and is available to download from iTunes, with all the profits going towards the running of the C.A.L.M help centre. The charity runs a hotline and website aimed at talking young men with worries, something Dizzee wishes his old school friend Dean had done before he took his own life.
“He was one of the first people I’d ever known to have died and the fact he committed suicide was a shock. I didn’t quite know how to feel. Everyone’s talking about gun crime and knife crime and a lot of people are suffering because of it. With things like Calm, you can talk to them beacuase that is the main thing – talking.”
