Tinie Tempah Quotes

This is the kind of fashion I grew up on - a good pair of trainers, great denim - and I will always love high-end streetwear.

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.

I can wear a suit, sweatpants, a long tee shirt, and a denim jacket all at the same time.

I enjoyed my upbringing, my siblings did, we're polite, we're respectful, but at the end of the day we're young, we like to have fun. But now, more so than ever, the youth has been vilified to the point where it feels like you can't enjoy being young any more, you just have to sit it out and wait until you get old.

Hopefully, young people will see that you can be young and make the sacrifices to follow your dreams.

Grime is a particular style of music. You've got electro, funk and garage; grime is its darker side. It's constantly evolving.

I'm just a young person trying to fulfil his potential and be the best he can be at what he wants to do... I guess that's why people connect with the music.

I'm so down to earth, I'm bringing gravity back.

Music has no race. It appeals to everybody.

I feel like I'm indirectly showing people, not that there's another way, but just that if you really have a dream, you should try and give it a go.

I was 18, and I either wanted to go to university in the States, and experience it like how it is in the movies - you know, date a cheerleader, be the coolest guy on campus - or I wanted to take a year and focus on what I wanted to do. I got into all the universities I applied to, but I took a year off anyway and said, let's see what happens.

I've definitely done something that's made my mum and dad forever proud.

I pray as much as possible.

I watched my parents go from having very basic jobs to educating themselves, to buying a house. They set a really good bar for what they wanted their kids to achieve.

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.

My goal, my aim is to be a superstar, but not in a cheesy way. I want to go to America and do what they do. But better!

I'm really big on family. I'll love catching up with my cousins. Everyone's in their twenties, so they're all on their grind at the moment, but when we get the time, I'll fly everybody to Amsterdam or Ibiza, and we can just hang for a week, chill, do nothing.

Being able to travel the world is pretty cool. There are places that I've always wanted to go to but being able to go there as somebody who's a musician and is recognised as one is cool.

You have to do a show, an interview, you've got to go straight back on the road to another location, make a track and edit things like footage etc. It's non stop. I really respect the hustle and work rate of Chipmunk, as well as N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder.

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 definitely believe in God.

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

Nigeria is like everywhere, really: there are some beautiful places that have been invested in and others that haven’t been.

I don't think I've had to change anything, really, apart from being more serious and focussed on my drive. One thing I've realised is that you get out what you put in and because of that my work rate has increased ten fold.

When I was about 14 I remember thinking when it came to proposing to my future girlfriend, I'd make a CD with all her favourite songs and a message that said, "Will you marry me?" Shows you what a romantic I was. No one listens to CDs any more. It's all about iTunes.

My glasses are from Cutler & Gross. They're not prescription: I just love wearing them. I used to wear Ray-Ban a lot and then I realised that a lot of the things I've started going for are a little bit more refined. I liked the fact that I was supporting a British brand, somebody I could have a relationship with and people that I could talk to.

I'm quite a fan of British designers.

Coming from an African background, obviously the foundation of the family home is education, probably because my parents had to work a lot harder for everything that they've got in this country.

Dizzee's just my childhood hero. He's definitely the inspiration. He's got himself to a very good place. He's defied the expectations of what British black urban music was like. He was the first person who made the rest of Britain realise it wasn't just a one-album-type situation. You've got to take your hat off to somebody like that.

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.

As a young guy from south London, I wanted to be able to make myself stand out.

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."

When I got a little older I was obsessed Lil Wayne. But then it was just as many British rappers - Dizzee Rascal I would always listen to.

I didn't take it seriously myself at the time, but now all of my old teachers are supportive. Even my principal - I sold out the O2 Arena in London, and he came out to see me, which was really cool. I actually put a picture with him on my Instagram, and I think and he's wearing one of my snapbacks.

I'm starting to think about my life, thinking about where I'm going to be in three years time: who I'm going to be with, where I'm going to be situated myself.

I lived in Peckham for the first 12 years of my life and then my mum and dad decided they really didn't want to bring up their children there. So they saved up money and bought a house in Plumstead, semi-detached, three bedrooms.

I'm a big fan of Paco Rabanne's 1 Million.

Gone are the days when you'd have to tune in to a mad illegal radio station late at night to be able to hear the rapper of your choice. That's all changed now. That's all gone out of the window. And I feel like I represent that change. I represent the era of iPods and Shuffle and things like that.

I think when you come to Australia you immediately get the sense of fitness and taking care of yourself and being healthy, and it really shows.

I think it's imperative to have faith or religion, because it's good to have morals, to be kind to others.

If people are not listening to you as individuals, it's always good to get together and make a stand for something.

I like to think I don't make music for ignorant people.

I grew up in an eclectic house where people were listening to all types of different music. I also think being educated, eloquent and knowing how to talk for yourself in the industry makes you go a long way.

I met Ellie Goulding at the BRITs. She's lovely. I've got a lot of time for her. I gave her congratulations and whatnot and she let me hold her BRIT. That was amazing - once I'd touched one for the first time, I said 'This cannot be the last time I touch a BRIT.

I really want to work with Adele, I think she's amazing. Lykke Li as well. I love them both. I'd also like to work with The Script. I met them in Australia and we just got on like a house on fire.

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

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.

I actually remember celebrating National Poetry Day at school; I remember having to write and read a load.

Playing someone drum 'n' bass for the first time in 'Pass Out' - they're like, 'Oh my God, what is this?' I'm having a lot of fun and a good time showcasing the music.

When I feel like I'm renowned enough, I'd love to do a heritage-type line, but that takes time.