It seems Mitch Benn (musical comedy genius & guitarist for G.o.D.) was onto something with his song 'MacBeth (My name is)' (which is sung in the style of Eminem), considering this story in London Eye.

Two years ago Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney lavished praise on Eminem, saying the hip-hop star had "sent a voltage around a generation".

But he is not alone in his admiration for the noble art of rap: veteran actor Corin Redgrave even compares it to Shakespeare. "I raised an idea with my son that, since Shakespeare's plays use a vocabulary of 20,000 words - three times that of any other playwright - perhaps not all of his accredited plays are by him," he says.

"My son was outraged, suggesting it was more likely that Shakespeare had searched for language and acquired a means to express himself. I think he's right.

"Look at rap stars: when they take to the mike and compete with each other, they are like medieval poets."

NB: Listening to Mitch Benn while driving is a dangerous endeavor. I was recently in a car with Wolfie and he almost wacked a headgerow because of intense laughter. Wolfie is a rather good driver and this was the only time I was at all worried about becoming part of the scenery. Mitch's latest CD, called 'Too Late to Cancel' is rather good as well.