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.
Rehab
Tinie Tempah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still turn up on a Wednesday
Hell yeah, I get my friends' advice
But I don't hear what my friends say
Yeah, young man lookin' for the Jumpman
Tryna say good and livin' in Plumstead
Feelin' like young J, tryna make Blueprint
When I was still producing
Used to get at Kings Cross, get off at Euston
Tryna make a little movement
T, Jazz, Henry okay
Niggas in my whip lookin' so bait
Rap carpool karaoke
Missed calls like, "Honey are you okay?"
You had just turned 21
I was 19, naive, very young
Gettin' high, eatin' Chinese, gettin' drunk
You lead on but you never used to let me come, but let me come
Love is my rehab
Still turn up on a Wednesday
Hell yeah, I get my friends' advice
But I don't hear what my friends say
Yeah, yeah, virgin, uh
Virgin, I was still a virgin
Tryna do theory, then we dropped Rehab
I was still learnin'
Runnin' from the bailiffs, tryna get playlist
Say I'm too urban then I made a banger
Then I lost Grandma, couldn't make it to the service
Kells didn't think it was right
I didn't think at the time
Just gettin' into this life
Heard he was prayin' and prayin'
And prayin' and prayin' 'til I was big time
Then prayers started turnin' to fruition
It's was either this, get a job or go prison
Suck a little bit when nobody saw the vision
You know what it is, your the only one who listened, yeah
Love is my rehab
Still turn up on a Wednesday
Hell yeah, I get my friends' advice
But I don't hear what my friends say
Daddy, daddy doing work
Mama, mama doing church
Couple bredrins doing birds
Couple exes doing worse
I don't need your jealousy, yeah
I don't need your therapy, yeah
'Cause love is my rehab
Still turn up on a Wednesday (I still turn up, yeah)
Hell yeah, yeah I hear my friends' advice
But I don't hear what my friends say (No way, no way)
In the song "Rehab" by Tinie Tempah, the lyrics express the idea that love is the singer's rehab. Despite receiving advice from friends, the singer chooses not to listen and continues to indulge in love. The lyrics depict a story of a young man trying to navigate his way through life and love, facing various challenges along the way.
The first verse describes the singer's experiences and influences while growing up. He mentions looking for success similar to the basketball player Jumpman and references the area of Plumstead, where he is living. The lyrics convey a sense of ambition and determination as he compares himself to Jay-Z and tries to make his own mark in the world of music. The verses also touch upon moments of vulnerability and young love, with the singer reminiscing about being naive and infatuated with someone who didn't reciprocate his feelings fully.
The second verse dives into the singer's journey in the music industry. He describes the obstacles he faced, such as financial troubles and being labeled as too "urban." Despite these challenges, the singer finds success with a hit song, yet also experiences personal loss with the passing of his grandmother. He reflects on the support he received from a friend named Kells, who believed in him and prayed for his success. The lyrics highlight the struggle of pursuing a career in music and the sacrifices that come with it.
Ultimately, the chorus emphasizes that love serves as the singer's form of rehabilitation. He acknowledges receiving advice from friends but disregards it, choosing to embrace love as a means of escape and healing. The song suggests that love plays a significant role in the singer's life, acting as a source of comfort and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is my rehab
Your love is like a source of healing and recovery for me
Still turn up on a Wednesday
I still go out and have fun, even on a regular weekday
Hell yeah, I get my friends' advice
Yes, I do seek advice from my friends
But I don't hear what my friends say
But ultimately, I don't really listen or follow their advice
Yeah, young man lookin' for the Jumpman
I, as a young person, am searching for success and greatness
Tryna say good and livin' in Plumstead
Trying to do well and thrive in the neighborhood of Plumstead
Feelin' like young J, tryna make Blueprint
Feeling inspired by Jay-Z's album 'Blueprint', and trying to create something similar
Used to have Reason, on my old laptop
I used to have the software 'Reason' on my previous laptop
When I was still producing
During the time when I was still making music
Used to get at Kings Cross, get off at Euston
I used to travel from Kings Cross to Euston stations
Tryna make a little movement
Attempting to make progress or create a small impact
T, Jazz, Henry okay
Referring to his friends T, Jazz, and Henry, who are doing fine
Niggas in my whip lookin' so bait
The people in my car are looking suspicious or obvious
Rap carpool karaoke
Having fun and rapping along while driving with friends
Missed calls like, 'Honey are you okay?'
Receiving concerned calls from someone asking if I'm alright
You had just turned 21
Referring to someone who recently celebrated their 21st birthday
I was 19, naive, very young
I was only 19 years old, inexperienced, and still very young
Gettin' high, eatin' Chinese, gettin' drunk
Engaging in activities like drug use, eating Chinese food, and getting intoxicated
You lead on but you never used to let me come, but let me come
You used to tease or flirt with me but never let me be intimate with you, except on certain occasions
Virgin, I was still a virgin
Referring to his sexual experience, stating that he was still a virgin
Tryna do theory, then we dropped Rehab
Trying to pursue theoretical knowledge, but then we released the song 'Rehab'
I was still learnin'
I was still in the process of learning and growing
Runnin' from the bailiffs, tryna get playlist
Avoiding debt collectors while attempting to get my songs included in playlists
Say I'm too urban then I made a banger
People used to criticize me for being 'too urban', but then I created a hit song
Then I lost Grandma, couldn't make it to the service
After my grandmother passed away, I was unable to attend her funeral
Kells didn't think it was right
Referring to someone named Kells who held a different opinion on the matter
I didn't think at the time
I didn't have much thought or consideration about it at that moment
Just gettin' into this life
Just beginning to experience and be a part of this lifestyle
Heard he was prayin' and prayin'
Heard that he was constantly praying and seeking guidance
And prayin' and prayin' 'til I was big time
Continuously praying until I achieved significant success
Then prayers started turnin' to fruition
Eventually, those prayers began to come true and yield positive results
It's was either this, get a job or go prison
The choices were limited to pursuing music, finding employment, or ending up in prison
Suck a little bit when nobody saw the vision
It was challenging and disheartening when no one could see the potential or vision I had
You know what it is, your the only one who listened
You understand and comprehend the situation, and you're the only one who truly listened to me
Daddy, daddy doing work
Referring to his father who is working diligently
Mama, mama doing church
Referring to his mother who is actively involved in religious activities
Couple bredrins doing birds
Some of his friends are incarcerated or in jail
Couple exes doing worse
Some of his former partners are not doing well in life
I don't need your jealousy, yeah
I don't need your envy or feelings of resentment towards me
I don't need your therapy, yeah
I don't need your attempts to provide me with emotional healing or support
'Cause love is my rehab
Because love serves as a form of rehabilitation for me
Still turn up on a Wednesday (I still turn up, yeah)
I still go out and enjoy myself, even on a Wednesday
Hell yeah, yeah I hear my friends' advice
Yes, I do acknowledge and hear the advice from my friends
But I don't hear what my friends say (No way, no way)
But I ultimately don't pay much attention to or follow their advice
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM MUHABWA, ALASTAIR O'DONNELL, NANA BEDIAKO ROGUES, PATRICK OKOGWU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind