Review by Garrett Webster; photo by Ben Rose.
In the midst of filling out college applications, Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu makes a decision to forget everything else and pursue his music career. Thousands of hours and millions of YouTube hits later – along with some chance encounters with Snoop Dogg and Diddy, who turned out to be some of his earliest industry supporters – the British born Nigerian makes his way from across the pond to bring the London sound to Atlanta.
Last night, concertgoers took a lyrical journey through South London while witnessing a display of eclectic and experimental rap by the artist known to the world now as Tinie Tempah. His raw energy and genuine passion for performing is something that you have to experience in order to understand, which makes sense since his early influences – Eminem, DMX, Dizzie Rascal and the So Solid Crew – are known for the excitement that they bring to the stage.
During the Gilt City Atlanta launch party at The Loft at Center Stage, Tempah and the audience sang along to some of his original records as if this wasn’t only his second time in the city. Among the crowd favorites were “Frisky,” “Pass Out,” “Miami 2 Ibiza” (an international club banger with Swedish House Mafia) and “Till I’m Gone” (featuring Wiz Khalifa), which can be found on his second album, Disc-Overy.
Tempah is pleased that he’s received nothing but love from U.S. artists that have embraced him and aims to build a global brand comparable to that of Jay-Z, Kanye and the Black Eyed Peas. More than a rhymer, Tempah is a storyteller and you felt like you got to know him during the non-stop party as he recited freestyles to some popular rap songs including Ace Hood’s “Hustle Hard” and “Otis,” the newest release from Hov and Yeezy.
What you might not know about Tempah simply by looking at him, is that he’s into what he calls “the weird stuff,” along with comedy shows and magic. And the concert was just that, magic. For the better part of an hour, Tempah hypnotized the audience with his charisma, command of the stage and left his new fans wanting for more of the hip-hop/electro/garage/grime fusion. Armed with a slew of hit records and an unforgettable live performance, he’s guaranteed to be one the most sought after acts for years to come.
