Dizzee Rascal has urged British teenagers to stop wasting their lives by becoming involved in knife culture.

The grime star, who was born in East London, said he had first hand experience of the problem but was able to find a way out through his music.

"I knew it was good to get a name - it became my life, it became my bread and butter - it was my X Factor,” he told the Mirror newspaper.

"The world is a big place and the more bullshit you do, the more time you are wasting.

"Think about life a bit more and know there is more out there for you. It's all there if you want it."

21 teenagers have been killed in London alone in 2008 as a result of knife related violent attacks.

(by Jason Gregory)