Tinchy Stryder

One of the more promising grime artists to arise from the Bow area of East London, Tinchy Stryder made his full-length album debut in 2007 and also performed as a member of the group Ruff Sqwad. Stryder initially established himself with a 2003 appearance on Wiley's ICE RINK EP, followed in 2004 by appearances on "Next Level," a song from Wiley's album TREDDIN' ON THIN ICE, and the "MC Version" of the Streets' "Fit But You Know It." Having established his credentials as an up-and-coming grime star, in 2006 Stryder released a pair of mixtapes (I'M BACK U KNOW, LOST & FOUND) and signed a recording contract with the independent label Takeover Entertainment, releasing his debut solo album STAR IN THE HOOD the next year. Stryder's collaboration with N-Dubz, the prophetically titled "Number One", hit the top of the UK singles chart in April '09.