By Danielle Kate Wroe
It’s probably every celebrity’s dream to be able to go out for some food and not get papped, spoken to, and constantly asked for a photograph. But when rapper Tinchy Stryder was in Nando’s enjoying a meal and a chat with some fans, he decided to have a laugh at their expense when they didn’t recognise him, despite the fact they wanted to meet him. The 38-year-old, whose real name is Kwasi Danquah III, overheard a group of men who made it clear that they would love to meet him. The diners were sitting behind him, so he decided to lean over and ask them who they had apparently spotted. He wanted to see whether they would recognise him and get excited. However, the stunt backfired when the lads were completely oblivious to the fact they were speaking to the 2000s chart topper himself. In the clip, Tinchy Stryder, who enjoyed fame thanks to hits like Number 1 and Take Me Back, asked: “Who did you say you just saw?” The diner simply responded with: “Tinchy Stryder,” rather than clocking that’s exactly who he was speaking to. Tinchy Stryder then decided to have a laugh and say: “Tinchy Stryder? Where’s he gone? I want to meet him”. The unusual interaction ended with the rapper making a shocked face at the camera, knowing full well that he was joking around with the fans. Tinchy Stryder recently performed in Carlisle on June 7, alongside Dizzee Rascal, who was also extremely popular in the 2000s. People on social media were shocked that the men wanted to meet him, but then didn’t have a clue when they spoke to him. Someone referenced his album, saying: “Tinch, don’t worry, you’re still our star in the hood”. Another added: “I would never not recognise Tinch”. “Bro where you at, I loved your music back in the day,” somebody penned. Others asked him how he still looks like he’s in his 20s, rather than nearing 40. Tinchy Stryder first emerged in the early 2000s as a key figure in the UK grime scene, collaborating with other influential artists such as Dizzee Rascal and Wiley. Stryder initially gained recognition as a member of the grime collective Roll Deep, which helped him build a foundation in the underground music scene. His solo career began to take off with the release of his debut album ‘Star in the Hood’ in 2007, which showcased his distinctive style and lyrical ability. However, it was his second album, ‘Catch 22,’ released in 2009, that brought him mainstream success, and saw him have his first number one hit – the song Number 1 with N Dubz. Tinchy Stryder continued to release music and collaborate with other artists, including Taio Cruz and Labrinth. His third album, ‘Third Strike,’ came out in 2010, further cementing his place in the British music industry.