Tinie Tempah blew the roof off of KOKO Camden with a night of raw energy and nostalgia
The musician returned after 8 years away.
Photo: Billie Wheeler
Millennials’ favourite rap artist Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, better known as Tinie Tempah, tore the roof off KOKO in Camden last Tuesday with the kind of electrifying comeback only he could deliver.
Returning with new music after an eight-year hiatus spent focusing on family, Tinie proved that his charisma, precision, and unmistakable presence haven’t faded in the slightest. From the moment he stepped onstage, his confidence radiated through the venue as he moved with ease, firing off early-2010’s classics that defined the youth of anyone currently pushing 30.
The night kicked off with an impressive warm-up set by London-based DJ AG, whose sole mission was to transform the venue’s anticipation into pure, explosive energy. By the time Tinie made his entrance, KOKO was already vibrating. He launched straight into Disc-Overy, the title track of his multi-award-winning debut album, immediately hooking the crowd.
The energy surged even higher as he followed with two major throwbacks, Simply Unstoppable and Frisky. The latter, one of the pivotal songs that catapulted him into mainstream success, sent fans into a frenzy, and it was clear that nostalgia was going to be the driving force of the night.
Tinie greeted the audience with the warmth and familiarity of an old friend, acknowledging the years that had built both his career and the bond with his fanbase. He then shifted into one of his new releases, Closer, marking his return to music after nearly a decade away. If there was any doubt as to whether fans would embrace his updated sound, it disappeared instantly. The track carries the essence of his earlier work; it was rhythmic, confident, and distinctly Tinie, transporting listeners back to a simpler, more carefree time.
Without missing a beat, he burst into Hitz, originally a collaboration with Chase & Status, showcasing not only his polished performance skills but his relentless stamina. Tinie has always excelled at commanding a stage, but this performance felt especially sharp, as if the hiatus had only refined his delivery.
The nostalgia then deepened as he returned to Disc-Overy tracks Til’ I’m Gone and Wonderman. By this point, the crowd was entirely under his spell, filling the venue with the iconic Wonderman hand symbol, which was a signature moment of Tinie’s early-2010s era.
He kept the throwbacks coming with Wifey, a track from the very start of his career, and surprised fans with a guest appearance from rapper Unknown T. Tinie cheekily introduced the track as one “not for his day ones, but his day zero-point-fives,” and the crowd roared in appreciation. Unknown T then stunned everyone with an impromptu performance of Homerton B, a moment quickly dubbed as a “KOKO Special”.
The night’s turning point arrived with Written in the Stars, Tinie’s global smash with more than 140 million Spotify streams. The crowd’s eruption was instant and overwhelming, the kind of collective release that concertgoers remember for years.
Riding that wave, he seamlessly blended Not Letting Go and Mamacita, fusing two of his biggest tracks into a single burst of energy and nostalgia. He repeated the trick with R.I.P (originally with Rita Ora) and Earthquake, before snapping into the unmistakable intro of Pass Out, a track that defined a generation of UK club-goers.
The momentum continued as he cycled through more hits from his catalogue, including Eat It Up, Miami 2 Ibiza, and Drinking from the Bottle, the latter originally with Calvin Harris. Each song reminded the audience of just how deeply Tinie’s work threaded itself into mainstream pop and club culture during the early 2010s.
He then introduced his brand-new single Energy, performing it alongside pop singer Alex Mills, whose vocals elevated the track into one of the night’s standout moments.
As if the crowd needed any more surprises, Tinie brought out Katy B for Turn the Music Louder, igniting yet another eruption from the audience. The night closed with the massive hit Girls Like, his collaboration with Zara Larsson and one of his most-streamed songs with over 400 million plays. Calling it “too good to play just once,” Tinie performed it twice to end the show on an undeniable high.
Tinie Tempah was a defining artist for UK millennials. His music didn’t just dominate charts; it soundtracked an entire era of nightlife, festivals, friendships, and coming-of-age moments. This performance at KOKO served as a powerful reminder of that impact. Tinie shows that sometimes one song, one moment, or one spark of creative energy is enough to launch a career that resonates worldwide.
All photos by Billie Wheeler.