Album Review: Tinie Tempah – Demonstration
3 min read
It’s been three years since Tinie Tempah’s debut, Disc-Overy, and can’t we tell. To start with, focusing on the album titles, 2010’s Disc-Overy was almost a broad analogy for Tinie starting out his journey in the music business. He was finding his voice, style and experiencing the highs and lows that came with his exciting new journey.
Fast forward to 2013, and straight from the off, the ever growing bravado and arrogance Mr Tempah possesses is there for all to see. The opener, Someday, starts with the very melodic yet powerful voice of Ella Eyre, being the musical definition of the calm before the storm. Enter Tinie, who bursts onto the track in shotgun style, nostalgic yet gratified in tone, reminding us all of where he’s come from and of course, where he is now.
Demonstration is Patrick Okogwu in his most proven, letting the world know he’s feeling established and content within his musical domain. His collaborations tell us as much, tracks such as Shape with Big Sean, and Trampoline with 2 Chainz, two artists who are labeled ‘International’, show he’s mixing it with the big boys of popular rap culture.
However, the song titled Don’t Sell Out, for as bouncy and boisterous as it is, illustrates that Tinie still has his feet firmly on the ground, even if he doesn’t mind showing off whilst doing so. From a personal standpoint, I’ve seen Tinie Tempah progress from an anonymous underground South East London Rapper to global superstar, and I’ve always had a question mark over him as a credible and pure artist.
Demonstration I must admit however had me bobbing back and forth, actually surprising myself that I was very impressed with what I was hearing. Mosh Pit and It’s OK are two of my favourites from the album. Renowned for successful collaborations with Labrinth on both vocals and production, the pair yet again deliver on both levels, with a little help from old timer Dizzee Rascal and Ty Dolla Sign, an affiliate of American’s own Wiz Khalifa.
Scattered in between the club tracks and the numerous pop culture references are conscious, political and self-aware songs, such as A Heart Can Save The World, featuring Emeli Sande. On this Tempah discusses everything from the English government to his own upbringing, religion and his pre stardom. Heroes is another track with similar themes, but Tempah sounds more aggressive in his tone and depiction of what he deems unacceptable around him.
At the age of 24 with two albums, numerous world tours under his belt and the backing of the very established Parlophone record label, not to mention his own, Disturbing London, Tinie Tempah hasn’t got much to complain about. Demonstration is a well-rounded and refined second album to release. There is a song for everyone, as he doesn’t try to pigeonhole himself purely within the rap genre. What does emerge from this album is the sound of a more experienced voice from the rapper, and the subject matter he delves into isn’t of a narrow choice. His potential is endless, as he knows, ‘Yeah they call me Tinie but I’m about to be gigantic’.
The world, as they say, is yours Tinie.
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