by Rachel Ogbu//

Nigerian-British rapper and entrepreneur Tinie Tempah has been inspiring students at his former school- St Francis Xavier (SFX) 6th form College in Balham. This month, he told students how the college was a “stepping stone” for him in his career and encouraged them to go to university just as he wished he had gone. “It’s ok to not know what you want to do but you should be seriously thinking about it now,” he said.

Born Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, Tinie Tempah who is also a producer and started working selling double glazing to fund his music advised the youngsters that confidence happens in stages. “It comes from experience in the real world. Life helps you to build confidence. Everyone is nervous. I used to walk in a room and think why are people looking at me like that – it took me a while to realise that they were nervous too.”

Tinie who performed earlier this month at the Goodwood’s 2017 Three Friday Nights series races is the most decorated rap artist in the United Kingdom who has seven UK number one singles and a Platinum-selling album, ‘Disc-Overy.’  He has won two Brit Awards for Best British Breakthrough Act and Best British Single. His second album, Demonstration was certified gold by the BPI and he is currently promoting his third album Youth. Speaking to The BBC, he said “It was such a strange thing to be a British rapper when I started. People were like, ‘Oh, you’re rapping with an English accent? Naaaah.’ Now that’s changed. Look at the likes of Stormzy and Dave – there’s a plethora of British rappers. It’s an accepted genre now. It means something to British culture on a mainstream level.”

In 2007 he launched an independent record label and fashion empire, Disturbing London with his manager and best friend, Dumi Oburota (recently nominated Entrepreneur of the Year by The Evening Standards). The record label has managed stars like Jessie J, Yungen and Wizkid. He has won three MOBO awards, three Urban Music Awards, two Brits Awards, three BET Awards, one Nigeria Entertainment Award and countless nominations.

Fast sealing his status as a fashion royalty, Tinie Tempah was named ambassador for London Menswear Collections at London Fashion Week Men’s. He was also named one of GQ’s 50 best dressed British men and just launched his fashion label-What We Wear.

Rachel Ogbu

UK Based Strategic, multidisciplinary Writer with an eye for innovation and pixel perfection. MA in New Media and Internet Technologies. “Although my skill set is vast, my greatest expertise revolve in the worlds of social media, content creation and print collateral. My wish is to combine my knowledge and experience in these areas, to deliver the best creative to my employer’s clients and their audiences.”