![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_280792795-4102.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe British rapper shot to fame in 2010 with his single Pass Out (Picture: David Fisher\/Shutterstock for Gl)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe British rapper shot to fame in 2010 with his single Pass Out (Picture: David Fisher\/Shutterstock for Gl)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret that British music icon Tinie Tempah<\/a> wants to be remembered as being \u2018more than just a rapper\u2019.<\/p>\n The 37-year-old said it himself in 2023 that he is looking for more out of life than\u00a0\u2018number one hits\u00a0and packed out arenas<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n But, speaking to Metro ahead of his appearance as a guest on the newest series of Dragons\u2019 Den<\/a>, Tinie recognised how people still like to put him in a box.<\/p>\n \u2018Everyone tends to have the habit of categorising people\u2019, he tells me. <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s very difficult once you see someone in one light to see them as something else.\u2019<\/p>\n The chart-topper initially rose to fame in 2010 with the release of his debut single Pass Out. Since then, he has collaborated with global superstars and witnessed his music soar to breath-taking heights.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t But despite his astronomical success, the rapper, whose real name is Patrick Okogwu, boasts an equally successful career in investing in startup companies as an angel investor.<\/p>\n In 2007, he\u00a0co-founded record label Disturbing London and later launched publishing company and creative agency Imhotep, which he recently released his latest singles Closer and Eat It Up with.<\/p>\n Today, Tinie revealed how important business is to him, explaining: \u2018If it wasn\u2019t for business in my life and obviously my art and my talent, then I wouldn\u2019t have been able to create the social mobility that I have for my family and for myself. <\/p>\n \u2018If you don\u2019t build your own dream, you\u2019ll just end up helping someone else build theirs. Business for me seems to be the remedy to that.<\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t go to Harvard or Oxford<\/a> or anything like that. But when you start to make headway, it\u2019s a liberating feeling, and you not only change your life, but you get to change the lives of others.<\/p>\n \u2018Being able to not just be an artist but as an artist with a label or publishing company\u2026 it feels like I\u2019m bringing more, putting more value into the world than just standing on stage and just performing my hit songs.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Despite his success in the music industry, Tinie is not naive to the dangers associated with the music industry.<\/p>\n The multi-platinum-selling artist said we hear \u2018time and time again\u2019 stories of artists getting caught out in their contracts, even with superstars such as Taylor Swift<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018If you don\u2019t do your due diligence or you don\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on, you can easily get burned whether by a major corporation or by an individual. It\u2019s treacherous,\u2019 he tells me.<\/p>\n The new Dragon also explained how despite the music industry being more accessible to artists today, there\u2019s \u2018more saturation\u2019, which makes it hard to stand out.<\/p>\n \u2018The destiny is still in your hands, and with social media it could be anyone\u2019s moment at any time, even without them trying,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018So in many ways it\u2019s better, but I guess I\u2019m speaking as a privileged artist who already has a profile. Maybe if you ask someone who was just starting out, they would have something else to say.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Of central importance to Tinie, however, is how he approaches his business ventures.<\/p>\n In comparison to the other seasoned Dragons he will be sitting across, including Peter Jones<\/a>,\u00a0Deborah Meaden<\/a>,\u00a0Touker Suleyman<\/a>, and\u00a0Steven Bartlett<\/a>, Tinie says he thinks of his \u2018own life and not necessarily getting through the door and being welcomed with open arms\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018A lot of the Dragons are so seasoned in what they do, some have done 100s, if not 1000s of investments, putting myself in their shoes, I would just be looking for the profits,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018I would like to call myself a creative entrepreneur. I\u2019m used to going into a studio and someone painting an idea that hasn\u2019t even come into fruition yet and understanding what they\u2019re saying. <\/p>\n \u2018People say I haven\u2019t made this song yet, but here\u2019s a skeleton, and I\u2019m going to do this and this, and then I\u2019m going to mix it, then I\u2019m going to release it, and then it might become a hit\u2026 I think using that creative approach, I was just a little bit more open-minded.\u2019<\/p>\n Dragons\u2019 Den airs on BBC<\/a> One on Thursday at 8pm.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285812011-9f16.jpg\")
\n\t\tTinie Tempah is a guest Dragon on this season of Dragons\u2019 Den (Picture: BBC Studios)<\/p>\n![\"MANCHESTER,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285812158-1c80.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe musician is a multi-platinum-selling artist (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285812133-5aff.jpg\")
\n\t\tTinie said he is bringing a different approach to the Den (Picture: BBC Studios\/Simon Pantling)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_259380592-47c5.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe star spoke out about the state of the music industry today (Picture: Ken McKay\/ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: All six episodes of \u2018otherworldly\u2019 hidden gem BBC series now streaming<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Katie Price\u2019s family concerned over baby announcement: \u2018This feels extreme even for her\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: BBC announces major plans for David Attenborough\u2019s 100th birthday including \u20183 new shows\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n