Tinie Tempah

English MC Tinie Tempah (Patrick Chukwuem Okogwu, Jr.) hails from South London.

He was in his teens when he issued his first single, “Wifey,” which packed sweetened swagger and became a hit in the underground.

Tinie subsequently established the Disturbing London (aka DL) label and released 2007’s Hood Economics: Room 147: The 80 Minute Course, a mixtape featuring drop-ins from Chipmunk and DVA.

The Parlophone label took note and signed the rapper, whose 2010 singles “Pass Out” and “Frisky” topped various singles charts in the U.K.

The tracks led to The Disc-Overy, Tinie’s proper debut album, issued later in the year.

~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Tinie Tempah, JLS, N-Dubz, Professor Green and Eminem scooped two trophies each at the MOBO awards last night (20.10.10).

(BANG) -

Tinie Tempah and JLS scooped two trophies each at the MOBO awards last night (20.10.10).

'Pass Out' hitmaker Tinie - a virtual unknown a year ago - was named Best Newcomer and took home Best Video for his song 'Frisky' featuring producer Labrinth at the awards which celebrate Music Of Black Origin.

JLS - who were named Best Newcomer last year - took home Best Album for their self-titled debut and Best UK Act at the event in Liverpool, Northern England.

Other groups attending the ceremony included N-Dubz, Professor Green, Mark Ronson, and US rapper Nelly.

N-Dubz singers Tulisa and Dappy - who, along with bandmate Fazer, picked up Best Song for their track 'Playing with Fire' - said they were glad to see Tinie finally getting the recognition he deserves.

Dappy exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "When he hooked up with Labrinth, Boom! it went off. Before that he was working and struggling for years. I thought at one point he was to disappear, but then he made 'Pass Out' and woooop!"

Tulisa added: "I've known Tinie for about six years now. His sound has changed up, he's had to package himself and find himself, find something unique - but as a person he's the same as I've always known. He seems a lot happier in himself though."

Nelly said he enjoyed checking out the new UK talent at the ceremony and performed his new single 'Just A Dream'.

Full list of MOBO award winners

Best Newcomer - Tinie Tempah

Best UK R&B / Soul Act - Plan B

Best UK Hip Hop / Grime Act - Professor Green

Best International Act - Eminem

Best Reggae Act - Gyptian

Best Album - JLS, 'JLS'

Best Video - Tinie Tempah ft Labrinth - 'Frisky'

Best UK Act - JLS

Best Song - NDubz FEAT. Mr Hudson - 'Playing with Fire'

Best African Act - K'Naan

Best Jazz Act - Empirical

Best Gospel Act - Guvna B

Lifetime achievement award - Billy Ocean

BeMOBO - Merseyside Dance Initiative

Tinie Tempan can write a song anywhere - so long as he has his BlackBerry communications divice with him.

(BANG) -

Tinie Tempah can't write songs without his BlackBerry.

The 'Pass Out' hitmaker relies on his mobile communication device to make notes and record the lyrics which he is inspired to write while he's on tour.

He said: "I never really set a time aside for writing, I just write whenever wherever, I carry my Blackberry and if I think of something then I make a bit of a voice note and maybe by the end of the week, I'll have about 40 different voice notes, and I'll complete the lyrics or merge a few together, unless I'm working on a project I never just sit down and say I'm going to write now."

The 'Written In The Stars' rapper also credits a great deal of his success to the way the internet and modern technology has changed the way people buy music.

He told BANG Showbiz: "I'm a fan of the change to how we buy music now. I'm one of those people who embraces it, rather than a person that s***s it off every so often.

"If it wasn't for the evolution of digital music and the new ways of getting through to people that artists like myself and a lot of artists in the top 40 or top 100 wouldn't be here without it. Things have changed, but for the better.

"I think the internet is a fantastic tool and I'm a very avid twitter fan, I love doing video blogs and if it wasn't for modern technology I wouldn't even be here."

British rapper Tinie Tempah had to give up the ''perfect'' girl to concentrate on his music career.

(BANG) -

Tinie Tempah gave up the "perfect" girl to concentrate on his music career.

The British rapper - who scored his second number one single with 'Written In The Stars' last night (03.10.10) - revealed a track on his new album, 'Just a Little', is about the girl he gave up to realise his ambitions after breakthrough single 'Pass Out' earlier this year.

He explained: "I was sort of seeing somebody which was getting quite serious about three months before my 'Pass Out' was released.

"It started to get intense - you know, when you're in that really lovey-dovey phase and ring that person at 4am in the morning just to chat? 'Just a Little' is about a girl who was the perfect girl.

"There's nothing wrong with her and even now, when I look back on it, I'm like, 'Why am I not with her?' "She was flawless and never, ever did anything wrong. I just thought that before it got too emotional I should end it."

However, the 21-year-old rapper admitted he didn't think it would be fair to put another person through the upheaval he has had to go through to establish his career.

He added to the Daily Star newspaper: "In an ideal world I'd love to find that perfect person who understands my situation. However, right now life is very, very crazy.

"Sometimes I wake up not knowing where I am, then realise I'm in a different country. My phone always has a different dialling tone. I don't think it would be fair to put someone through that emotionally."