STAR In The Hood Tinchy Stryder is a little rapper making big steps on the UK music scene right now.
The prince of grime—real name Kwasi Danquah—came rollin' onto the stage at Onyx Rooms in Rotherham last Thursday to prove that he is a Number 1 artist.
The 22-year-old rapper, who is also a member of grime group Ruff Sqwad, treated his fans to an intimate nightclub gig—which included a performance of Stryderman, Take Me Back and the chart-topper Number 1.
Reporter CHERRY WILSON got up close and personal with the East London star to find out more about his rise to fame and his plans for the future.
Q: Welcome to Rotherham. Did you enjoy performing for the Rotherham crowd?
A: It was cool man. The crowd showed a lot of respect and they were loving it. It was a really good night.
Q: You're doing really well as a solo artist right now. Does this mean you've left your group Ruff Sqwad behind?
A: No I haven't left them behind. I've just been doing a lot as a solo artist with my album coming out. With Ruff Sqwad, that's my family, and I could never leave them behind.
Q: What is your favourite song to perform?
A: Oh that's a difficult one. I like performing Rollin' because I like the beats and the grime that comes off of it. You get to really feel it.
Q: Your dedicated fans will know you as a grime artiste. Do you feel you've had to become more commercial to appeal to a more mainstream audience?
A: I just feel like I make better music these days. I go into the studio and I make good music.
Q: You've recently reached the top of the UK charts with your smash hit Number 1. How did that feel?
A: I felt like I was living on cloud nine. I knew that I had recorded a good single when I came out of the studio with Dappy and Fazer (from N-Dubz). But I never expected to have a number one single so early in my career. I think it has only just sunk in.
Q: What is the key to your success?
A: Hard work and focus. It's been really hard. When you're outside looking in you think that it is a good life—with the video shoots and all of that. But there is a lot of hard work that comes with it as well.
Q: What is your advice to people who want to make it in the music industry?
A: You have to understand that there is only one of you. Don't try to be someone else because you can't be. No-one can be like you so just be yourself.
Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I've got my album coming out in August and my UK tour starts in September which I'm really looking forward to.
Tinchy Stryder's UK tour will be stopping off at the O2 Academy in Sheffield on October 8.