In February 2008 Patrick Chukwuem Okogwu’s agent picked up the phone, laughed at the woman on the other end and hung up. It was a call from the New York Times, they wanted a photo to go with a review they were running on his client’s mixtape Hood Economics Room 147: The 80 Minute Course.
“They phoned us on the Wednesday and a proper American lady with an accent said, 'We're going to press on Sunday. We need a picture of Tinie ASAP.' I was flabbergasted,” he explains. But it wasn’t a joke, it was the start of the London rappers journey to become one of Britain’s most exciting talents.
Two and a half years later his debut album, Disc-Overy, is one of 2010’s most anticipated albums. It boasts two number one singles, as well as collaborations with Kelly Rowland, Ellie Goulding and Swedish House Mafia. It’s a far cry from when he took a tele-sales job to save up £800 to shoot the video for Wifey in 2006.
His struggle is documented in latest single Written In The Stars, (“But have you ever been so hungry that it keeps you awake/ Mate, now my hunger would leave them amazed”). “It really means a lot to me. There’s been a few gigs when manager has sung back every single word. He knows the struggle, 12 months ago we were in a totally different situation,” Tinie says.
The success hasn’t come without hard work, the 21-year-old has spent most of the last 18 months on the road. Including appearances at Glastonbury with Snoop Dogg, Wembley Stadium and as a support act to a host of acts. “I’ve done supports for really different artists, each amazing in their own way. Rihanna, Chase & Status, Mr. Hudson and Chipmunk, I’ve seen all these artists take to the stage in the headline slot and I’ve thought I wanted to achieve that for myself. To be able to do that a couple of months down the line is a dream come true,” he added.
This means he’s no stranger to music fans on the south coast having warmed-up crowds for Lethal Bizzle in Poole and Chase & Status at O2 Academy Bournemouth this spring. But Tinie believes crowds won’t be bored of him just yet, “The album is out a week or so before the Bournemouth date, so it’s a good opportunity to perform everything in full and let people get a taste of what the album’s like. Bring the music to life a little bit.”
And there may be a few surprises along the way, with a contacts book that includes some of today’s most high profile acts and a polished take on Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. “I’m going to keep that as a surprise. There’s a few covers I’ve been brainstorming to make sure we go out with a bang in Bournemouth. Some of them are going to shock you, some of them are going to surprise you. I’m keeping it under wraps but we are going to have a lot of fun. We’ve been talking about what we’re going to do when it comes to live performances and we’re trying to make it happen but I don’t want to give away too much,” he adds.
There will be something for the long-standing fans too, when asked if he would include Wifey in his sets he said: “Of course I will! You can’t do the Tinie Tempah experience without Wifey. One thing I have noticed is realised is that it has always got a good reaction and some people will be coming especially to see that. It’s definitely important to do that for the people that supported me before Pass Out and Frisky.”
Having spent most of the summer playing open-air gigs to huge crowds the rappers is looking forward to playing in clubs again. “I love an intimate gig, I know Bournemouth is roughly about a thousand so it’s going to be amazing to interact with people, I’m looking forward to that.”
It’s time for Tinie Tempah to finally take centre stage and Bournemouth will be there to see it when he does.
Published in the Daily Echo, Saturday 16th October 2010.
