Tinchy Stryder, real name Kwasi Danquah, is a Ghanaian-English grime vocalist and entrepreneur who is known as ‘The Star in the Hood.’ Despite his difficult background, he has a decidedly positive attitude on life and is committed to be a great role model for children across the country. He was born in Ghana and raised in London from an early age. In his adolescent years, he was spotted on pirate radio sets with other well-known grime MCs such as Dizzee Rascal, having began learning music at the age of 13. His debut album, ‘Star in the Hood,’ was published in 2007 after he appeared in many songs by other bands. His third album, ‘Catch 22,’ was his most successful, with smash songs including ‘Number 1’ and ‘Never Leave You,’ both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving him his first career #1 single. Since then, he’s set himself apart from other vocalists by releasing a number of additional distinctive tracks. He is not only a singer, but also an entrepreneur who is the CEO of multiple businesses. He is the creator and chairman of ‘Star in the Hood,’ a clothing brand. He is also the creator of Goji Electronics and the CEO of Takeover Roc Nation, a global independent musical label firm. He has established himself as a successful businessman and unquestionably one of the most fascinating performers in the United Kingdom.
Childhood and Adolescence
Kwasi Danquah was born in Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, on September 14, 1986, and migrated to East London at an early age. From 1995 to 2008, he resided in Bow, London, and was raised in Tower Hamlets, one of the capital’s most violent districts. He attended St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, Newham, for his early schooling.
He began his musical career at the age of 14 on East London’s pirate radio stations with prominent grime MCs such as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. He was also a member of the well-known grime trio ‘Roll Deep,’ appearing in songs such as ‘U Were Always.’ Later, he graduated from the University of East London with a B.A. (Hons) in Digital Arts, Moving Image, and Animation.
Career of Tinchy Stryder
Archie Lamb and Jack Foster, two forward-thinking adolescents, engaged him to play at one of their club nights in 2006. The three of them hit it off right away, and he later inked a management deal with their firm, Takeover, for live performances, recording, merchandising, and publishing.
‘Star in the Hood,’ his debut solo studio album, was released in August 2007 on the indie record company ‘Takeover Entertainment Ltd.’ ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Something About Your Smile,’ both featuring British singer-songwriter Cylena Cymone, were released as singles from this album. In November 2007, the additional track ‘Mainstream Money’ was released as an underground single.
‘Catch 22’, his second solo studio album, was released in 2009, and it was influenced by the electro hop and alternative hip hop genres. In January 2009, the album’s song, ‘Take Me Back,’ reached #3 on the UK Singles list.
Then he teamed up with N-Dubz to release the track “Number 1,” which debuted at #1 in the United Kingdom, true to its title. Later, he collaborated with Amelle Berrabah on another record, ‘Never Leave You,’ which became his second #1 hit.
His third solo studio album, ‘Third Strike,’ was released in 2010, although it failed to equal the economic success of his previous releases. When it was first published, the album did badly on the charts, peaking at number 48 on the UK Albums list.
In 2011, he intended to release ‘Full Tank,’ his second solo studio album. Despite the fact that the album was eventually shelved, the album’s lead song, ‘Spaceship,’ was published and reached #5 on the UK Singles chart. N-Dubz rapper and vocalist Dappy contributed guest vocals to the song.
He is also a successful businessman who launched ‘Star in the Hood,’ an international fashion firm with mid-range to high-end apparel lines, in 2006. He has been the organization’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 2009.
In 2010, he formed ‘Takeover Roc Nation’ by combining Takeover Entertainment Limited with entertainment powerhouses such as ‘Roc Nation LLC’ and ‘Live Nation’.
He is the Chairman of Takeover Entertainment and the Chief Executive Officer of Takeover Roc Nation. In 2012, he produced a brand of consumer electronics and formed a joint venture with ‘Dixons Retail Group’ to create a line of headphones and audio equipment with his company, Goji Electronics. Goji Electronics’ C.E.O. and Creative Director is presently him.
Major Works Catch 22′ was his most successful album, with smash songs including ‘Number 1’ and ‘Never Leave You,’ both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving him his first #1 single. He is also a businessman with interests in a variety of fields, including fashion, entertainment, and technology. He is the CEO of three companies: ‘Star in the Hood’ (fashion), ‘Takeover Roc Nation’ (entertainment), and ‘Goji Electronics’ (electronics).
Achievements & Awards
He earned the ‘Urban Music Award for Best Video’ in 2008 for “Stryderman,” one of the lead songs off his sophomore studio album, ‘Catch 22.’ He received nominations for the Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO), Brit Awards, Mp3 Music Awards, and MTV Europe Music Awards for the album, which included smash singles including “Never Leave You” and “Number 1.” (EMA). In 2010, he was nominated for two more MOBO awards. He earned the ‘MOBO Award for Best Song’ in 2011 for ‘Spaceship,’ a non-album single he co-wrote with Dappy of N-Dubz.
Personal History and Legacy
He aspired to be a football player when he was little. He was a left-footed striker who used to play in the center of the field. He is currently a Manchester United fan. He is also a philanthropist who works for the nonprofit ‘Keep a Child Alive,’ which provides dignified treatment, care, and support to HIV-positive children and their families.
Estimated Net Worth
Tinchy Stryder is a British singer and businessman who was born in Ghana and has a net worth of $4 million dollars. He is the co-founder and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of Takeover Roc Nation, a global independent record label and entertainment organization. He was born Kwasi Danquah III on September 14, 1986 in Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana.