British singer Dizzee Rascal performs at Glastonbury in Somerset, June 27, 2009. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press)British singer Dizzee Rascal performs at Glastonbury in Somerset, June 27, 2009. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press)

Dizzee Rascal has again been nominated for Britain's Mercury Prize, seven years after he won the award for the best album of the year for his debut album, Boy in da Corner.

Rascal is one of 12 British and Irish acts named for the prize, which goes to an album based on musical quality, with no consideration for album sales. Its Canadian equivalent is the Polaris Music Prize.

Rascal, the rapper and songwriter whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, has his third nomination for the album Tongue N'Cheek.

The list also includes soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, who returned to music two years after the death of her husband with the album The Sea, which is dedicated to him.

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The Mercury music prize: A force of good in the record industry

While most of the nominees were expected, there were surprises such as acoustic jazz outfit, the Kit Downes Trio and the Irish group Villagers. One of the favourites to win is The XX, which had an acclaimed debut album in 2009.

The full list:

  • Biffy Clyro, Only Revolutions.
  • Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea.
  • Dizzee Rascal, Tongue N' Cheek.
  • Kit Downes Trio, Golden.
  • Foals, Total Life Forever.
  • I Am Kloot, Sky At Night.
  • Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can.
  • Mumford And Sons, Sigh No More.
  • Paul Weller, Wake Up The Nation.
  • Villagers, Becoming A Jackal.
  • Wild Beasts, Two Dancers
  • The XX, XX.

Last year's winner was Speech Debelle, with Speech Therapy.