| Tinchy Stryder | |
|---|---|
Tinchy Stryder at the Glastonbury Festival 2009 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kwasi Danquah III |
| Born | September 14, 1986 Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana |
| Origin | Bow, East London, UK |
| Genres | Electro hop, Post-dubstep, Alternative hip hop, Alternative rock, Grime |
| Occupations | Musician, Business manager, Music video director, Creative director |
| Instruments | Multisyllabic rhymes, vocals, drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1997-present |
| Labels | Takeover Roc Nation Takeover Entertainment Ltd Universal Island Records |
| Associated acts | Current: Ruff Sqwad, Jay-Z, Calvin Harris, Burns, N-Dubz, Dappy, Dizzee Rascal Former: Roll Deep, Maniac (more) |
Kwasi Danquah III ( /ˈkweɪsi/ /dæŋˈkwɑː/ kway-see dang-kwah) (born September 14, 1986),[1] better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star in the Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman. He is also the co-founder and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of Takeover Roc Nation.[2]
Tinchy Stryder rose to popularity with the song "Take Me Back" which peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 2009. He then released the song "Number 1", (a collaboration with N-Dubz) which entered the UK chart at number 1 on 26 April 2009.[1] Stryder later released "Never Leave You" with Amelle Berrabah from girl-group Sugababes which became Stryder's second number 1 on 9 August 2009.[1]
Tinchy Stryder has opened other ventures since the beginning of his success. He founded and is the creator of the clothing line Star in the Hood (company). He is also the President and chief executive of Takeover/Cloud 9 (Music Publishing company through EMI Music Publishing), and he currently serves as the Chairman and A&R executive of Takeover Entertainment Ltd.[3]
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Stryder is a Ghanaian British musician who moved to the United Kingdom from Ghana in 1995, and grew up in Bow, East London and attended St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, Newham; he gained a B.A. (Hons) in Digital arts, Moving image and Animation at the University of East London.[4][5]
Stryder's recordings date back to 1997, he started at the age of 13 in 2000[6] on pirate radio sets in East London with other grime artists such as Dizzee Rascal and Wiley.[7] Stryder went on to help form the grime collective Ruff Sqwad in 2001 consisting of 5-UK Garage artists, before the group expanded to six artists in 2004, then finally settling at 7-grime artists in 2006. His pseudonym Tinchy Stryder derives from the arcade 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)[8] making him the shortest male artist ever to top the UK Top 40.[8][9][10]
In 2002, the well-known grime collective Roll Deep of 13-grime artists was formed, and included Tinchy Stryder and Dizzee Rascal as MCs (Master of Ceremonies). They were making music that was a derivative of UK Garage. For a while there was not even a name for it. The label "grime" was the one that stuck.[11] While Stryder was a member of Roll Deep, he performed some songs including, "U Were Always" in 2002, which was released years later on Roll Deep's compilations album, Street Anthems in 2009. He also performed on Roll Deep's 2004 mixtape, Creeper Vol. 2. Back then he had a high pitched voice.[11]
Stryder made a number of appearances on Sky's, Channel U (now Channel AKA) between 2004–2006 and also BBC Radio 1Xtra taking part in freestyle rap, sometimes joined by his rap crew, (Ruff Sqwad), with whom he released with the studio albums Guns and Roses Volume. 1 in March 2005 and Guns and Roses Volume. 2 in October 2006.[8]
The debut album by Stryder, Star in the Hood, was released on 13 August 2007 on Takeover Entertainment Ltd. The album spawned two main singles, "Breakaway", which was released on 9 April 2007 and "Something About Your Smile", released on 6 August 2007, with British singer-songwriter, Cylena Cymone. Bonus track "Mainstream Money" was also released as an underground single in November 2007.[10]
In 2008, Stryder released his debut extended play, Cloud 9 The EP, which was released on 31 March, also on Takeover Entertainment.[12] This was succeeded by Stryder and grime producer Maniac collaborating on the studio album, Tinchy Stryder Vs. Maniac, which was released on 24 November 2008.[13] Only one single was released from the album, "Rollin", which was released in October 2008.[14] This track was also included on Stryder's 2009 certified gold second solo studio album, Catch 22, as part of the, Deluxe 2-Disc Edition.
Stryder began a partnership with producer/songwriter Fraser T. Smith whom he originally contacted through MySpace and then met while supporting Kano on tour.[15] 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."[15]
His next single, "Stryderman", became his first single to chart in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 73. It was the first single taken from his second album, Catch 22. The second single, "Take Me Back", entered the official UK Singles Chart at 39 on downloads alone,[16] one day before its official release. The following week the single moved up 36 places to peak position 3.[17]
On 26 April 2009, Stryder's next single, a collaboration with N-Dubz titled "Number 1," topped the UK Singles Chart giving Stryder and N-Dubz their first number one single. Stryder's fourth single from Catch 22, "Never Leave You", was released on 3 August 2009 with the album following on 17 August. "Never Leave You" went 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 and final single from Catch 22 is "You're Not Alone," which was released in November 2009 and samples the Olive song of the same name.[18]
On Monday 20 July 2009, Stryder was part of a line-up at The O2 arena 3D ELEKTRO RAVE that included Caspa and Rusko, Frankmusik, High Contrast and Dancing Robot Music.[19]
He also took part in the charity single "I Got Soul", a cover of The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done", to raise money for War Child charity. 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. In February 2010 he toured with Example and JME.[20]
Stryder opened on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 27 June 2010. He also performed at the O2 Arena for the Transformation Trust's first birthday alongside The Saturdays and Stacey Solomon.[21][22]
Tinchy Stryder's third solo studio album, Third Strike was released on Monday 15 November 2010, but it failed to match the commercial success of Catch 22.[23]
Stryder began recording Third Strike shortly after he completed his previous album, he then released a promotional single, "Gangsta?", six month's prior to the release of the studio album. This was followed by Stryder releasing the first official single from it, a year from the day he released his second studio album. He began working with Fraser T. Smith who also worked on his second studio album. Taio Cruz produced the largely, along with Fraser T. Smith. The album title was picked as Stryder thought the album would be a smash hit, so he thought he would rip off the title of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike which was also a massive success. Third Strike features several artists, including Amelle, with whom he collaborated on Catch 22 on the single "Never Leave You" where the pair gained a number one in the UK. The album features Taio Cruz who also featured on the Stryder's last album. The album also features artists affiliated with Roc Nation: Melanie Fiona "Let It Rain", Alexis Jordan, and Bridget Kelly "Take The World". The song "Game Over" features six different artists. Eric Turner also features on the album.
The first single from this forthcoming solo studio album entitled; "Full Tank", is "Spaceship" and it features Dappy from N-Dubz. Stryder performed at the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final in support of the single, making him the first rapper, contemporary artist and singer in history to perform at a UEFA Champions League final.[24][25] Stryder teamed up with Scottish DJs/producers Calvin Harris and Matt Burns credited as 'BURNS', for the second single from this fourth solo studio album, "Off The Record".[26] On Thursday, November 3, 2011, Stryder announced in an interview that his new album will be entitled; "Full Tank".[27]
Since 2006, Kwasi Danquah III music career has been managed by Takeover Entertainment Ltd, comprising Archie Lamb IV and Jack Foster.[10] Archie Lamb's father is Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb, who has invested in Danquah's music career. Kwasi Danquah III became the company's Chairman and A&R executive in January 2010.[10]
Kwasi Danquah III founded the clothing brand Star in the Hood (company), named for his pseudonym "Star In The Hood", in September 2006, which he also named his first solo studio album.[10]
In December 2008, Kwasi Danquah III, Archie Lamb IV and Jack Foster the two-man management team behind Danquah’s success, signed a joint venture publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing to create a global publishing company, Takeover/Cloud 9, which will enable Takeover Entertainment to publish the work of Takeover Entertainment's musicians and record producers in partnership with EMI.[28]
In June 2010, Kwasi Danquah III signed a business deal with Shawn "Jay-Z" Cater to ally Danquah's company, Takeover Entertainment Ltd, with Roc Nation LLC.[10] The new leg of the company is called Takeover Roc Nation.[2]
On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Honda's motorbike division hired Kwasi Danquah III for their pan-European campaign. The campaign featuring Kwasi Danquah III is being supported by Facebook, Inc., and a tie-up with fashion brand GAS in order to push the Vision 50, Honda's 50cc entry level scooter. The Vision 50 was launched on (November 8, 2011) at the EICMA (Milan Motorcycle Show) in Milan, Italy along with six other bike models.[29][30]
On Thursday, November 4, 2010, Kwasi Danquah III performed at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, along with other musicians and special guests for Alicia Keys' charity, Keep a Child Alive, charity ball. All proceeds from the tickets sales for the event was donated to Alicia Keys’ charity, Keep a Child Alive (KCA).[31]
Kwasi Danquah III revealed in January 2010 that if his music career did not take off he would have become a professional football (soccer) player, by stating that: "I was quite athletic, I had to choose between football and music".[33][34][35] Danquah was originally scheduled to be a professional footballer, being left-footed he played in the striker and second striker positions and was enrolled at the academy of Wimbledon F.C. from 2000–2003 and the youth team of Leyton Orient F.C. from 2003-2006.[36]
| “ | "Kwasi Danquah combined immense speed and skill with a physical presence that belies his short height, often surprising players that were a lot bigger and taller than him, similar in style to the Brazilian Romário. Danquah was a small but very fast and strong boy, he had a low center of gravity with very quick feet, which often made him a victim of fouls. He would constantly irritate opposition defenders by making incisive runs from 'in behind defenses' and would play a direct style by running straight at defenders with his speed, he was almost difficult to stop without being fouled.
I think he definitely had the talent and attitude to be a professional footballer." |
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—Peter Cawley[37] |
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Kwasi Danquah III is known to be a big fan of Manchester United F.C.. He has an executive box at Manchester United's football stadium, Old Trafford and considers himself to be their lucky mascot, as he told to Manchester United F.C. soccer player and good friend Rio Ferdinand.[38]
Kwasi Danquah III also has a hobby of playing golf in his free time. He gives golf lessons to business partner Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and his wife Beyoncé Knowles.[39]
Kwasi Danquah III also loves returning to Ghana and visiting his relatives whenever he can, as he can be "normal" there and because everyone always seems to be happy in Ghana.[40]
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| Book: Tinchy Stryder | |
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