Tinie Tempah wants to direct a Little Mix music video so they can have more "swag".
The ‘Pass Out’ hitmaker – who set up his own record and fashion label Disturbing London Records in 2007 – says he is very much a "creative" person and wants to expand his horizons and working with the ‘Touch’ girl group – comprised of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock – is something he’s interested in doing as it will challenge him.
He said: "I want to give them more edge and swag."
Speaking about his identity as an artist, he told the latest issue of NME magazine: "I’ve identified myself as a creative; I want to challenge myself to anything creative."
The 28-year-old rapper grew up on the Aylesbury Estate in south east London with his Nigerian immigrant parents, and, despite always having ambition to create art, be that music or fashion, Tinie – whose real name is Patrick Okogwu – said his mother told him he should get a proper job, which stunned his confidence to be a creative person.
He explained: "I’ve always known, but it’s just about having the confidence to be able to say it.
"When you’re from an immigrant family and you live in a council estate, and you’re like, ‘Mum, I’m a creative!’ She’s like, ‘No, you’re not, you’re f***ing not, go and get a job!’"
Tinie is gearing up to release his third album ‘Youth’ and says after his second studio LP, ‘Demonstration’, under performed in the charts in 2013, industry people started ignoring his calls, which made him realise the harsh reality of the music business.
He said: "There’s me still thinking, ‘Boy from the hood done good, selling 200,000 copies, but you could see people change.
"All these people that patted you on the shoulder, like, ‘Oh you’re amazing, you’re terrific’, now don’t wanna answer the phone. That’s when I realised it was a business."
Tinie Tempah wants to give Little Mix more ‘swag’
