Tinie Tempah, tour review: Tinie needs to Tempah indulgent tendencies

Musical highs were punctuated by lengthy monologues about Tinie's very, very, very wild lifestyle and some gloopy stuff about “being true to yourself”, says Rick Pearson
Established credentials: Tinie Tempah delivers his songs and sermons to the Brixton crowd
Angela Lubrano/Livepix
Rick Pearson18 April 2016

“Tonight you guys are going to see the real me,” promised Tinie Tempah at the beginning of his Saturday night show at Brixton Academy.

What followed was closer to a TED Talk than a traditional pop concert.

Before a note was played, the audience was reminded of the former Patrick Okogwu’s many achievements — releasing two unit-shifting albums (2010’s Disc-Overy and 2013’s Demonstration); hoovering up awards like an anteater; scoring more UK number one singles than any other artist this decade.

Credentials established, Okogwu took the stage to Pass Out. Complete with rib-rattling bass, vaulting synths and pop music’s first and presumably last mention of the town of Scunthorpe, it was the London rapper at his quirky, irreverent best. Mosh Pit’s bludgeoning beats cued suitable levels of pandemonium, while Been the Man’s skeletal backing and intense lyrics were a reminder of the grime scene from which he emerged.

Unfortunately, such musical highs were punctuated by lengthy monologues about his very, very, very wild lifestyle and some gloopy stuff about “being true to yourself”.

Moreover, if you are intent on repeatedly reminding your audience of your inordinate wealth, it’s a good idea if your live show feels suitably high-end. As it was, Okogwu was backed only by DJ Charlesy, who had to double as a hype man, dancing partner and raconteur. It felt like the budget option.

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In the absence of a backing band, Okogwu was greeted by a conveyor belt of up-and-coming rappers, many of whom appeared on his 2015 mixtape Junk Food. Londoner G FrSH seized his opportunity on downbeat break-up number Sometimes, while Big Narstie was full of machine-gun rapping on Autogas.

Without a new album to promote, however, the show lacked focus — a feeling underlined by the inclusion of a 15-minute DJ set halfway through.

When Okogwu re-emerged, the songs and sermonising continued. Turn the Music Louder (featuring Katy B) was radio-ready R’n’B; new single Girls Like was full of bling and bravado; Written in the Stars was cheesier than fondue.

Okogwu clearly has some lessons he’d like to share with his audience. But on this evidence, he’s more compelling when he makes it his mission to entertain rather than to educate.

O2 Academy Brixton

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