News

Can Tinie Tempah Crack America?

• 1st Feb 2011

Last year Tinie Tempah exploded onto the UK Urban scene with the smash
hit single 'Pass Out'. Many thought he was going to be a one hit
wonder and others claimed it was the talents of the producer Labrinth
which made the song so catchy. The funny thing is 'Pass Out' was never supposed to be a single. Believe it or not the song was released on BBC 1Xtra to gain hype, in the same manner a mixtape would do. The problem was people loved it. Tinie's management begged radio bosses not to play the track but following the first few plays, the station was bombarded with requests to play the song.

Fast forward to the end of 2010, Tinie has had a number 1 album with
the terrific 'Disc-Overy', four Top 40 hits (two of which reachedg number
1), two MOBO awards and he even performed on the Pyramid Stage at
Glastonbury with Snoop Dogg.

2011 hasn't started too shabby either; Tinie has got four Brit Award nominations, a new single with Ellie Goulding, a collaboration with JLS and now he is launching an attack on the Americans.

So the question is, can Tinie crack the USA? The Americans are notoriously ignorant towards Bristish rappers and have never really given our artists the chance to shine, this despite one of the first superstar rappers in America, Slick Rick, actually being born in London. With that being said attitudes seem to be changing, Dizzee Rascal is seen as a respected artist and even Queen of Hip-Hop Nicki Minaj regulary speaks with a Mockney accent.

Tinie is due to release 'Disc-Overy' in the US this year, so in preparation he has to do lots of promotional work. This starts with an appearance on the
Jimmy Kimmell show this week where he will perform 'Pass Out'. Mr Tempah has also been sceduled to perform at the Miami Ultra Music Festival in March and the world famous Coachella Festival in April. So the signs are good that Tinie can do it, or are they?

Downloads have literally crippled Hip-Hop, but a selected few continue to flourish like Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. To even mention Tinie in the same breath as these artists is very premature and it won't be anytime soon that he reaches the same status, if ever; but it can't be denied Tinie carries an undeniable swagger and his tunes are so catchy in borders on the annoying.

I have regulary sat in work talkin about my Nike SB's, FHM and even
QVC (well we all make our own words up, if not give it a go it's boss)a la 'Miami To Ibiza'.

Taking this into account, won't Americans who like Tinie just download
his album now rather than wait for an offical US release? Continuing
my Schizophrenia about this subject, maybe he can be successful, I mean Snoop has jumped on 'Pass Out', Diddy has let him steal the song on 'Hello, Good Morning' UK remix and even Jay-Z has recruited him to the official
remix of Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' sparking rumours Jigga has
signed him to Roc Nation; Jay-Z doesn't deal in failure now does he? Recent press reports have also stated that Usher wwould like to work with him.

Ok enough facts and figures, I think I have showed the pros and cons whether Tinie can do it, I think he can, now it's up to the man himself to crack the toughest nut in Music. I wish Tinie well and if he pulls this off it will open the door to other UK acts. Mind you saying that haven't N-Dubz been signed to Def Jam?!