Jump to content

Tinchy Stryder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Oliviaa2008 (talk | contribs) at 17:56, 30 May 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tinchy Stryder

Kwasi Danquah[1] (born 10 June 1986), better known by his stage name Tinchy Stryder, is a British pop rap vocalist.

He rose to popularity with the song "Take Me Back", (a collaboration with Taio Cruz that was played during an episode of the American television show Melrose Place) which peaked at Number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 2009. He then released the aptly named song "Number 1", (a collaboration with N-Dubz) which entered the UK chart at Number 1 on 26 April 2009.[1] Stryder late released "Never Leave You" with Amelle Berrabah from girl-group Sugababes which became Stryder's second number 1.

History

Early career

Stryder started at the age of 14 on pirate radio sets in East London with other well known grime MCs such as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. His stage name derives from the video game Strider which he played when he was young and from the nickname "Tinchy" given to him due to his short stature: his height at 5'1" (1.55m) making him the shortest male artist ever to top the UK Top 40.[2][3] Stryder made a number of appearances on Sky's Channel U and especially their 1Xtanra radio show taking part in freestyles, sometimes joined by his crew Ruff Sqwad. He was also part of a line up at The O2 arena 3D ELEKTRO race that included Caspa and Rusko, Frankmusik, High Contrast and Dancing Robot Music.[4] Stryder was part of well-known grime crew Roll Deep for a while, featuring on some songs including "U Were Always", which was released years later on Roll Deep's compilations album, Street Anthems.

Football

When he was younger, Stryder played football for the Wimbledon youth team.

2006-2008: Star in the Hood

The debut album by Stryder, Star in the Hood, was released on 13 August 2007 on Takeover Entertainment. The album spawned two main singles, "Breakaway" and "Something about your Smile". Bonus track "Mainstream Money" was also released as an underground single.[citation needed]

Since 2006, Stryder's career has been managed by Takeover Entertainment, comprising Archie Lamb and Jack Foster.[3] Archie Lamb's father is Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb, who has invested in Stryder's career.[3]

2008-2010: Catch 22

Stryder began a significant partnership with producer/songwriter Fraser T Smith whom he originally contacted through MySpace and then met while supporting Kano on tour.[5] According to Smith in an interview with HitQuarters,

"Tinchy had no shortage of beats and cool sounding production, but I think he wanted to try and break through into the mainstream, and I had some experience crossing urban over into pop having worked with artists like Kano and Craig David."[5]

On 11 September 2008, it was revealed that Stryder would be featured on Craig David's new single "Where's Your Love" which was produced by Smith and released on the 10 November 2008. He also appeared on the track "Princes" from the album Saint Dymphna by Gang Gang Dance.

His next single, called "Stryderman" was released and became his first single to chart in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 73. The song was the first single taken from his second, Fraser T Smith-produced studio album Catch 22. The second single, "Take Me Back", featuring Taio Cruz, (released on 19 January 2009) was a popular hit following numerous plays on Radio 1, Kiss FM and many other TV and radio stations. On 18 January, the song entered the official UK Singles Chart at 39 on downloads alone,[6] one day before its official release. The following week the single moved up 36 places to number 3.[7] he had then topped the charts for one week, then dropping a few places the next week.

On 26 April 2009, Stryder's next single, a collaboration with N-Dubz (whom he had toured with on their recent Uncle B tour), titled "Number 1" topped the UK Singles Chart giving Stryder and N-Dubz their first number one single. In an interview with Tim Westwood, Stryder stated that due to the success of "Number 1" not going away yet, he had to push the album and a few things back to August 2009. Stryder's fourth single from Catch 22, titled "Never Leave You", featuring Amelle Berrabah of the Sugababes, was released on 3 August 2009 with the album following on 17 August. "Never Leave You" went straight to Number 1 on the week of its release. Catch 22 debuted at Number 2 on the UK albums chart, only beaten by Calvin Harris. The fifth single from Catch 22 is "You're Not Alone" which was released in November 2009 and samples the Olive song of the same name.[citation needed] Stryder's 6th single from the album will be "Spotlight", which also features vocals from Tanya Lacey.

Prior to the release of Catch 22, Stryder released two free mixtapes - Star In The Hood EP Volume 1 and Star In The Hood EP Volume 2.

He took part in a cover track of The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done", which was named I Got Soul, along with many other acts including Chipmunk, N-Dubz and Pixie Lott, to raise money for War Child charity, which helps young people who have been forced to fight in wars. The single was released on 19 October 2009 and peaked at number 10 in the Official UK Charts and 19 in the Irish Singles Chart.[citation needed]

As part of Stryder's headline tour with Example and JME in February 2010, he paid respects to his Norfolk promoters Takeover Entertainment at a sell-out gig at Norwich's UEA.[8]

2010

Tinchy Stryder has said he will be releasing a new album in 2010. The first single is called "Gangsta? (Game Over)" and features Tinie Tempah[9]. The album name is rumoured to be called Flashing Lights.

He is to open on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 27th June 2010.[10]

Discography

Main article: Tinchy Stryder discography

Personal life

Stryder is from Bow, East London and attended St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, Newham; he later enrolled as a student at the local university, the University of East London,[11] where he completed his BA degree in moving image and animation[11][12] in 2009.

Stryder is a fan of Manchester United.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "UK number one for Tinchy Stryder". BBC News. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Rapper Tinchy Stryder sells out Liverpool O2 Academy". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Petridis, Alexis (25 July 2009). "Tinchy Stryder: Rapping with the LibDems". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  4. ^ Star in the Hood presents Tinchy Stryder!, Under the Radar Events
  5. ^ a b "Interview With Fraser T Smith". HitQuarters. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  6. ^ "Top 40 Singles Archive: Week 32, 18/01/2009". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Top 40 Singles Archive: Week 32, 25/01/2009". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  8. ^ In pictures: Tinchy Stryder plays the LCR at Norwich UEA BBC Norfolk
  9. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RBtB_vkI_o&feature=channel
  10. ^ "Pyramid Stage openers announced". Glastonbury Festival. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Tinchy Stryder's university days". The Guardian. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  12. ^ "Tinchy Stryder Graduated". University of East London.
  13. ^ McLeish, Ian, ed. (2010). "Red rapper". Inside United (213). Teddington: Haymarket Publishing: 92. ISSN 1749-6497. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tinchy_Stryder&oldid=365057321"