The 5-minute Interview: Lethal Bizzle, Hip-hop artist

'I almost drowned when I was nine'

Lethal Bizzle, 24, made his debut three years ago with "Pow". He has recorded two albums, a TV show and is planning a university tour with Westwood in 2008. He recently acquired his own mini phone network on Blyk

If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be...

Driving. I'm always on the road, and at the moment I'm doing my Christmas shopping so I'm on my way to the West End.

A phrase I use far too often is...

"Urm". I always need a couple of seconds after someone asks me something to make sure I don't say anything stupid.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Poverty. My family is from Ghana and when I first went there in 1983 I was like, "oh my God this is terrible". It's got better but there are a lot of other places that need help.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

The majority of my tour selling out. I couldn't believe it.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm aggressive all of the time. People hear songs like "Pow" and think I'm always like that, but I'm a down-to-earth guy.

I am not a politician but...

David Cameron is a doughnut.

I'm good at...

Turning something small into an empire.

I'm very bad at...

Swimming. I almost drowned when I was nine.

The ideal night out is...

Food, a few drinks, a club, and meeting a few girls.

In moments of weakness I...

Can always look to family to help me.

You know me as a musician but in another life I'd have been...

In education, maybe doing some dodgy dealings on the side. I was taking a diploma in electronic engineering before my career took off.

The best age to be is...

Eighteen. It's when you become a man and you can do anything you want. You can drink, go clubbing, have sex, even get a loan the world is yours.

Samuel Crome