Patrick Junior C. Okogwu (born November 7th, 1988 in Plumstead, South Londo… Read Full Bio ↴Patrick Junior C. Okogwu (born November 7th, 1988 in Plumstead, South London), better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah or just TINIE, is a BRIT Award-winning rapper, MC and CEO of Disturbing London Records. Tinie gained national acclaim and chart success upon the release of his major label debut single Pass Out which debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart in March 2010.

According to the Pass Out Songfacts, Okogwu came up with his stage name at the age of 13. He looked up 'anger' in the thesaurus and found himself staring at 'temper.' Concerned it might be overly aggresive he added 'Tinie.'

Tinie Tempah first gained recognition in the underground music scene with the track Wifey, taken from his first official mixtape Hood Econ%mics Room 147: The 80 Minute Course. Upon it's release, the track became an instant smash, holding the Channel U urban chart top spot for 10 consecutive weeks. Established artists within the Grime scene including Bashy and Chipmunk featured on the mixtape. In 2009 Tinie Tempah released his second official mixtape Sexy Beast: Volume 1.

In October 2009 Tinie Tempah announced a record deal with EMI/Parlophone. He released his debut album on the label, disc-overy, on October 4th 2010. The album spawned six consecutive top 20 singles in the UK including number ones pass out and written in the stars, and swedish house mafia collaborative single miami 2 ibiza.

disc-overy is due for release in the US on May 17th 2011. The tracklist for the album features new collaborations with wiz khalifa, bei maejor and ester dean. It was preceded by written in the stars as it's lead single, which has thus far peaked at 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Don't Sell Out
Tinie Tempah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Intro: Tinie Tempah]
They sayin’ don’t sell out
Don’t sell out, uh uh, let’s go!

[Verse 1: Tinie Tempah]
I’m bad, you know it
Disturbing London Poet
Sparklers in my Moet

If you need the glass then I'll pour it
Fashion week, front row it
Chelsea and Soho it
When I valet park my *skrrt*
Then the council come and tow it
Rebel Vodka, JD and coke
Bitch turn up your radio
Heartless verses, Pay As You Go
Mixed with a little bit of KC' & Jo
Now my sex is crazy yo'
Three to one ratio
Tryin' to get fellatio
From girls as fresh as Daisy Lowe
Them girls say hi, them girls say hello
I tell them stick your number in an envelope
She take it off but leave on her stilettos
You know you can find me 'round white girls like Othello
We say to them

[Hook: Candice Pillay (x2)]
Oh you’re mad you ain’t us
Pull up and I’m famous, party like I'm from Vegas
Yeah that alcohol made us
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out

[Verse 2: Tinie Tempah]
Yeah!
Tiger Beer or Cobra
Lime in my Corona
Chased out my bilateral periorbital hematoma
Livin' la vida loca, Ibiza, Barcelona
Life threw me lemons, now Celebrity Juice on my sofa
Got a girl in Oklahoma, and a LA girl that do yoga
A girl in Amsterdam that's a stoner
And a sexy female chauffeur
And a girl that makes a racket
I call her Anna Kournikova
Rap put me in another tax bracket
So much for my diploma
They say "what’s up?" They say "what's happening?"
We’ll be in the club just racks on racks on racks in
Was using words but now we're using actions
Been around the world, and ladies love me and my London accent
We be saying to them

[Hook: Candice Pillay (x2)]
Oh you’re mad you ain’t us
Pull up and I’m famous, party like I'm from Vegas
Yeah that alcohol made us
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out

[Verse 3: Tinie Tempah]
Am I drunk? No; am I lean? Yes
I do her raw, no; am I clean? Yes
I do a tour, fo' sho'
Bring out to mean, guest
Roses Gabore, no
Ester Dean, yes
Am I mature? No
Should I be? Yes
And my jeans still saggy like the Queen
And I wear a lot of gold around my V
And I sell out all my shows just like they’re free
We keep on saying to them

[Hook: Candice Pillay]
Oh you’re mad you ain’t us
Pull up and I’m famous, party like I'm from Vegas
Yeah that alcohol made us
Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out

Now turn up and don’t sell out
Now turn up and don’t sell out

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Sell Out" by Tinie Tempah is a braggadocious and self-assured song about his success and fame. The song starts with Tinie Tempah telling listeners not to sell out and then goes into his verses where he talks about his fame, his luxurious lifestyle, and his success. He mentions his diamonds (sparklers in his Moet), his places of leisure (Chelsea and Soho), his success with females (three-to-one ratio, trying to get fellatio from Daisy Lowe-like girls), his exotic travels (Ibiza, Barcelona, Amsterdam), and his tax bracket. Throughout the song, Tinie shows no signs of humility or modesty, which fits in with the general message of the song: that he's made it big and he's not about to apologize for it.

The hook of the song, sung by Candice Pillay, is repetitive, catchy, and reminds the listeners to turn up and not sell out. It's a message to enjoy the moment and not let anyone talk them out of being successful, which echoes the larger theme of the song. The chorus has a party vibe, and Tinie wants his listeners to join in and feel like they are living their best life.

Overall, "Don't Sell Out" is a song that celebrates the success of the artist while also encouraging listeners to achieve their dreams and not let anyone stand in their way.

Line by Line Meaning

They sayin’ don’t sell out
People are warning me against compromising my integrity or principles.

I’m bad, you know it
I am confident and talented.

Disturbing London Poet
I am an artist from London who challenges the norm.

Sparklers in my Moet
I add flash and glamour to my drinks.

If you need the glass then I'll pour it
I am a generous host who attends to my guests' needs.

Fashion week, front row it
I am part of the fashion elite and attend high-profile events.

Chelsea and Soho it
I am familiar with and frequent the posh areas of London.

When I valet park my *skrrt* Then the council come and tow it
Even though I can afford valet parking, I still fall victim to pesky council towing.

Rebel Vodka, JD and coke
I prefer edgy and exciting drinks over classic cocktails.

Bitch turn up your radio
I want people to turn up the volume and listen to my music.

Heartless verses, Pay As You Go
My lyrics are cold and unfeeling, inspired by the UK garage MCs Pay As You Go.

Mixed with a little bit of KC' & Jo
I also incorporate the more soulful and melodic style of KC and Jojo into my music.

Now my sex is crazy yo'
I am highly desirable and skilled in the bedroom.

Three to one ratio
I have a lot more female partners than male ones.

Tryin' to get fellatio
I am seeking oral sex from my partners.

From girls as fresh as Daisy Lowe
I am attracted to young and beautiful women like Daisy Lowe.

Them girls say hi, them girls say hello
I am a popular and attractive figure who is constantly being approached.

I tell them stick your number in an envelope
I am selective and have a smooth way of getting women's phone numbers.

She take it off but leave on her stilettos
Women find me so irresistible that they undress for me but still keep their high heels on.

You know you can find me 'round white girls like Othello
I am often seen spending time with white women, much like the character Othello in Shakespeare's play.

Oh you’re mad you ain’t us
I am confident in my success and lifestyle, and others envy me.

Pull up and I’m famous, party like I'm from Vegas
I am famous and attract attention wherever I go, and my partying is wild and extravagant.

Yeah that alcohol made us
I acknowledge that alcohol is a factor in my wild behavior and antics.

Now turn up and don’t sell out
I encourage others to embrace their wild and rebellious sides without compromising their authenticity or values.

Am I drunk? No; am I lean? Yes
I am not intoxicated, but I do use drugs to enhance my experience.

I do her raw, no; am I clean? Yes
I engage in unprotected sex but practice good hygiene.

Livin' la vida loca, Ibiza, Barcelona
I am living a crazy and exciting life, traveling to exotic destinations like Ibiza and Barcelona.

Life threw me lemons, now Celebrity Juice on my sofa
I have turned my setbacks into successes, hosting the popular TV show Celebrity Juice.

Got a girl in Oklahoma, and a LA girl that do yoga
I have romantic interests in different parts of the US with different lifestyles.

A girl in Amsterdam that's a stoner
I am also attracted to women who engage in recreational drug use.

And a sexy female chauffeur
I have a female driver who oozes sex appeal.

And a girl that makes a racket
I am associated with and attracted to women in the sports world, particularly tennis player Anna Kournikova.

Rap put me in another tax bracket
My success in the music industry has led to significant financial gains.

So much for my diploma
Despite my education and degree, my career in rap has surpassed my expectations and qualifications.

They say 'what’s up?' They say 'what's happening?'
People recognize me and want to interact with me.

We’ll be in the club just racks on racks on racks in
I spend exorbitant amounts of money when going out to clubs and parties.

Was using words but now we're using actions
My actions and success speak for themselves, and I don't need to rely on words to prove myself.

Been around the world, and ladies love me and my London accent
I am a worldly and charming figure who attracts the attention of women from different cultures.

Now turn up and don’t sell out
I encourage others to embrace their wild and rebellious sides without compromising their authenticity or values.

Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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