Tinie Tempah's debut album has been nothing short of a smash hit in the U.K.. The London-born rapper's Disc-Overy debuted at number one in the U.K. with four Top Five singles, including two number ones. The disc, now retooled with three new tracks, including "Till I'm Gone" (featuring Wiz Khalifa), "Love Suicide" (featuring Esther Dean) and "So Addicted," with Bei Maejor, gets its U.S. release this month and is sure to quickly put Tinie Tempah on the top of the U.S. charts.
Disc-Overy follows along the path of artists like B.O.B. and David Guetta where the focus is as much on collaboration with other artists as the artist's original work. It features a number of notable U.K. artists, including Ellie Goulding, the aforemtnioned Wiz Khalifa and Labyrinth on seven of the 13 tracks on the album. These collaborations make the album a richly textured sound which plays more like a great mix tape than a single artist's release.
The standout track from Disc-Overy is a collaboration with U.K. pop starlet Ellie Goulding, entitled "Wonderman". The intro to the track reminds me a bit of Kanye West but as the song starts, it transitions quickly into the distinctly British Tinie Tempah. The combination between Tinie Tempah's rap and Ellie Goulding's songbird style is fantastic.
Another strong collaboration is the new track for the U.S. release, "Love Suicide," where Tinie Tempha mixes his rap style with Ester Dean's ballad. It's the kind of uncommon collaboration that is very remincient of Eminem and Rhianna in "Love The Way You Lie".
Although the more melodic songs on Disc-Overy stand out, it's the fun, danceable core that runs through this album which makes it so likable: "Pass Out" and "Miami 2 Ibiza" are beat-thumping romps that are sure to find heavy rotation in homes and dance clubs. "Written In The Stars" is a perfect rap-pop fusion that is bound to find heavy radio play.
Tinie Tempah is currently on tour in the U.S. and will be appearing at this year's Lollapalooza. Disc-Overy is out now and is worth picking up.
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