116 Quotes by Tinie Tempah

I’m into everything. My iPod is very eclectic – if you kept it on shuffle, you’d be amazed. For example, I was forced to grow up on Dolly Parton. My mum was obsessed by her. She bought all this memorabilia for the front room. It’s ridiculous.

People used to say poems were different to songs but I don’t think they are.

Artists take on an alias that’s suitable for their style of music. Everyone had a nickname when they were younger.

I find my dress sense tends to be a bit of a mixture between high fashion and unique vintage pieces with a little bit of street trends. For example, I might find a really nice, suede dinner jacket that I’d wear with a basic plain white shirt and some chinos and a pair of Nike trainers.

Sometimes I would bring some of my music to the school and perform on the playground, and they’d think, “There goes Patrick, trying to entertain everyone as usual.”

At the end of the day, I’m a human being and I just think that’s what it is. Challenging stereotypes by just being who I am.

I was well brought up, my parents are still together. I lived in a council estate, but I don’t anymore; I saw my parents buy a nice house and move me to a nice area.

I first became interested in style when I was 16 and I had my first couple of gigs. I realised I couldn’t look like the people I was performing to. Not in a condescending way, but just that it would be weird if I was wearing exactly what someone in the crowd was wearing.

I don’t want to achieve less than my mum and dad.