British music icon Tinie Tempah has openly expressed his desire to be remembered as far more than just a rapper. The 37-year-old artist, whose real name is Patrick Okogwu, revealed in a recent interview with Metro that he seeks greater fulfillment beyond number one hits and sold-out arenas. As he prepares to appear as a guest on the newest series of Dragons' Den, Tinie acknowledged the persistent human tendency to categorize individuals.
A Multifaceted Career Beyond Music
Tinie Tempah first skyrocketed to fame in 2010 with his debut single Pass Out, which quickly became a chart-topping sensation. Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous global superstars and achieved breathtaking success in the music industry. However, his accomplishments extend far beyond the recording studio.
Since 2007, Tinie has co-founded the record label Disturbing London and later launched the publishing company and creative agency Imhotep. Through these ventures, he has established himself as a formidable angel investor in startup companies, building an equally impressive business portfolio alongside his musical achievements.
Business as a Path to Social Mobility
Tinie emphasized the crucial role business plays in his life, stating: "If it wasn't for business in my life and obviously my art and my talent, then I wouldn't have been able to create the social mobility that I have for my family and for myself."
He elaborated on this philosophy, explaining: "If you don't build your own dream, you'll just end up helping someone else build theirs. Business for me seems to be the remedy to that. I didn't go to Harvard or Oxford or anything like that. But when you start to make headway, it's a liberating feeling, and you not only change your life, but you get to change the lives of others."
The artist described how his dual roles have enriched his contribution: "Being able to not just be an artist but as an artist with a label or publishing company... it feels like I'm bringing more, putting more value into the world than just standing on stage and just performing my hit songs."
Navigating the Modern Music Industry
Despite his tremendous success, Tinie remains acutely aware of the pitfalls within the music industry. The multi-platinum-selling artist noted that stories of artists facing contractual issues emerge "time and time again," citing even global superstars like Taylor Swift as examples.
"If you don't do your due diligence or you don't understand what's going on, you can easily get burned whether by a major corporation or by an individual. It's treacherous," he cautioned.
Tinie also addressed the changing landscape of the music business, observing that while the industry has become more accessible to artists today, there's "more saturation," making it increasingly difficult to stand out. He offered a nuanced perspective: "The destiny is still in your hands, and with social media it could be anyone's moment at any time, even without them trying. So in many ways it's better, but I guess I'm speaking as a privileged artist who already has a profile. Maybe if you ask someone who was just starting out, they would have something else to say."
A Creative Approach to Entrepreneurship
As Tinie prepares to join the Dragons' Den panel alongside seasoned investors including Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett, he brings a distinctive perspective to the table. He described his approach as fundamentally different from the more traditional investors.
"A lot of the Dragons are so seasoned in what they do, some have done 100s, if not 1000s of investments, putting myself in their shoes, I would just be looking for the profits," Tinie explained. "I would like to call myself a creative entrepreneur. I'm used to going into a studio and someone painting an idea that hasn't even come into fruition yet and understanding what they're saying."
He elaborated on how his creative background informs his business decisions: "People say I haven't made this song yet, but here's a skeleton, and I'm going to do this and this, and then I'm going to mix it, then I'm going to release it, and then it might become a hit... I think using that creative approach, I was just a little bit more open-minded."
Tinie's appearance on Dragons' Den represents another milestone in his evolving career, showcasing how he continues to redefine himself beyond the musical persona that first brought him fame. His journey from chart-topping artist to creative entrepreneur demonstrates a deliberate expansion of his influence and impact across multiple industries.
