Short Biography
2009 is proving to be a big year for 22 year old, Ghanaian born and East London based Tinchy Stryder. After being tipped as a rising star by the likes of Radio One, Wiley, and (bizarrely) MP Norman Lamb, this Star In The Hood has scored two consecutive top 3 hits, (including the no. 1 single for three weeks ‘Number 1'), supported Akon and N-Dubz on sell out arena tours, launched a flourishing merchandise line with the kind of kudos and turnover that would impress Phillip Green, and completed a degree in Digital Arts and Moving Imagery at University of East London.
Following these successes Tinchy Stryder is now set to unleash yet another bonafide hit. Out on 3rd August ‘Neve...
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Short Biography
2009 is proving to be a big year for 22 year old, Ghanaian born and East London based Tinchy Stryder. After being tipped as a rising star by the likes of Radio One, Wiley, and (bizarrely) MP Norman Lamb, this Star In The Hood has scored two consecutive top 3 hits, (including the no. 1 single for three weeks ‘Number 1'), supported Akon and N-Dubz on sell out arena tours, launched a flourishing merchandise line with the kind of kudos and turnover that would impress Phillip Green, and completed a degree in Digital Arts and Moving Imagery at University of East London.
Following these successes Tinchy Stryder is now set to unleash yet another bonafide hit. Out on 3rd August ‘Never Leave You' featuring Sugababe Amelle is the fourth cut to be taken from his forthcoming album Catch 22.
Tinchy Stryder may only be 22, but he's no newcomer to the music industry. He started MCing with his group ‘Ruff Sqwad', aged just 13 and by the time he was 20, Tinchy had recorded his debut solo album, a huge hit on the grime scene Star in The Hood. From his early days as a young teenager with an unbroken voice on pirate radio right through to the present, one thing has remained constant - Tinchy's charisma, confidence and style when delivering his lyrics. With fans such as Mike Skinner (who featured Tinchy on two remixes), and Wiley (who christened him the ‘Prince of Grime'), championing his unique presence on the microphone, Tinchy Styder has been consistently praised for his captivating flow and quick-fire, yet clear, delivery.
‘Catch 22' is yet another milestone in Tinchy Stryder's ascending career. A move on from the sound of Star in the Hood, ‘Catch 22', sees Tinchy working with a diverse range of producers (from. Fraser T Smith to Frank Musik) and guest vocalists (from Taio Cruz to Amelle) to create a signature sound that is not only fresh and current, but is also uniquely his. Lyrically the album focuses on Tinchy's day-to-day tales from his hood in Bow, and his ever changing life as a rising star in the music industry. Spanning the shiny and radio friendly ‘Number 1' and ‘Never Leave You' through to the gritty and bassline heavy, ‘Stryderman' and ‘Spotlight', ‘Catch 22' seamlessly balances universal appeal with street credibility. An album for the boys and the girls, for today's young clubbers and yesterday's seasoned ravers, and for pop lovers and grime fans, Catch 22 is set to provide the soundtrack to the summer this year.
In-depth Biography
One of the more promising grime artists to arise from the Bow area of East London, Tinchy Stryder made his full-length album debut in 2007 and also performed as a member of the group Ruff Sqwad. Stryder initially established himself with a 2003 appearance on Wiley's Ice Rink EP, followed in 2004 by appearances on "Next Level," a song from Wiley's album Treddin' on Thin Ice, and the "MC Version" of the Streets' "Fit But You Know It," the latter of which was a U.K. hit. In 2005, he appeared on the Brucker & Sinden remix of Lady Sovereign's "Hoodie," which also became a U.K. hit.
Having established his credentials as an up-and-coming grime star, in 2006 Stryder released a pair of mixtapes (I'm Back U Know, Lost and Found) and signed a recording contract with the independent label Takeover Entertainment. That same year, the song "Underground" (from the Lost and Found mixtape) become Stryder's first solo hit, and he was featured prominently on the Ruff Sqwad album Guns & Roses, Vol. 2, released on Ruff Sqwad Recordings. Stryder then released his debut solo album, 2007's Star in the Hood, via the Takeover Entertainment label, along with two accompanying singles, "Breakaway" and "Something to Smile About." The nine-track EP Cloud 9 followed in 2008, and Stryder rose to the upper reaches of the U.K. charts with his inaugural 2009 single, "Take Me Back." The aptly titled chart-topper "Number 1" followed soon after, and then in August, "Never Leave You" debuted at the top spot. The album Catch 22 was released by Island Records that same month, debuting at the number two slot on the U.K. albums chart. A second Island set, Third Strike, was issued in 2010. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi
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