Dizzee Rascal has taken to reading classical poetry in order to improve his lyric-writing skills, reports say.

Currently taking time off from the live scene to write his fifth album -- the follow up to 2009's 'Tongue N' Cheek' -- the rapper is said to be poring over the works of 18th century poets such as John Keats, William Blake, Lord Byron and William Wordsworth.

A source told The Sun just what the 25-year-old hopes to gain from this sudden interest in the original masters of rhyme, "Dizzee hopes reading poetry will broaden his horizons and make him an even better rapper. He knows he has to push himself to make a great fifth album and reading accomplished poets can only help."

So far it's been a relatively quiet year for the London rapper while he works on the as-yet-untitled album. There was speculation last month that he was set to star in a sitcom based on his life but so far there have been no further developments.



Watch Dizzee Perform at Glastonbury 2010

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