Off the Record (Tinchy Stryder song)
Encyclopedia
"Off the Record" is a 2011 single
by Ghanaian British recording artist, Tinchy Stryder
. The single features Scottish
disc jockey
s and record producers, Calvin Harris
and Matt Burns (credited as BURNS). It is the second single from his fourth studio album
entitled, Full Tank. It was released on 4 November 2011 as a digital download and was released on 7 November 2011 as a CD single in the United Kingdom
. The single was co-written by Stryder and the production trio TMS
, and was co-produced by Calvin Harris
and BURNS, in August 2011. The single had its première by BBC Radio 1Xtra
's presenter
and British
DJ, Trevor Nelson
on 15 September 2011.
. TMS are the producers of Stryder's 2011 hit single "Spaceship
" featuring Dappy
, which reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart
, and Dappy's 2011 debut single "No Regrets
", which charted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was produced by the Three Six Zero Group
duo of Calvin Harris
and Matt Burns (credited as BURNS), in August 2011.
When speaking about working with Calvin Harris and how they both came to work together on the song, Stryder stated in an interview with music journalist Kim Dawson of Daily Star newspaper: "I've just recorded a new single with Calvin and it was a lot of fun. "Calvin produced it for me, I've always liked his producing style and even in my sets, my DJ puts his tracks on.
"We've always had a lot of banter together. His album kept me off the top spot and my singles have kept him off the top in the past."
Tinchy Stryder added: "He sent me the tracks over and I picked the one I liked. I brought what I brought and we met halfway over it. We spent more time talking through email
s than we actually spoke. Calvin is a very internet
and computer
guy."
According to an interview with music journalist, Lina Bastidas of PopDash website
on 3 November 2011, Stryder stated that the track's lyrics were inspired by his life currently feeling like he is on a rollercoaster
, at the time of the song production.
was based on the notorious phrase or saying
of "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". The music video was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
, by Tinchy Stryder's music video production partners Luke Monaghan & James Barber, to accompany the release of "Off The Record". Monaghan and Barber were also two of the three directors of Stryder's 2011 Mobo Award winning music video for his previous 2011 hit single in the UK, "Spaceship
".
driving, followed by him being on rollercoasters
at the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park
, with a group of females, whilst at the same time he proceeds with athemic choruses over electro house
beats.
The second scene finds Stryder at the luxurious MGM Grand Las Vegas
hotel, where he is first seen in the hotel casino
gambling, then dawn
has approached and he proceeds to his suite
at the hotel, where there is a hotel party
, and is accompanied by a group of females and cameo appearances from a few Ruff Sqwad
members and the production trio TMS
are made.
Once in the hotel suite he continues with the song choruses, whilst being on the bed in the hotel suite with a few females wearing Star In The Hood
halterneck
s and monokini
's, accompanying him on the bed, the females begin to have a pillow fight whilst fumbling Tinchy Stryder at the same time, then Stryder throws, US$
1, 000 banknotes, at the females accompanying him on the bed, before Stryder later begins to proceed with rhymes that comes thick and fast over futuristic post-dubstep beats, which is then proceeded by an X-rated
footage of a naked female in a bathtub
being covered with a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream
.
The remaining final scenes in the music video are split with footages of a few members of the grime music
collective Ruff Sqwad
, production team TMS
, and of Stryder celebrating his 25th birthday, dancing with a group of females on the balcony of an MGM Grand Las Vegas
hotel suite
, then finally closing the music video with him blowing out the candles on his Star In The Hood
decorated Birthday cake
.
The music video was premièred on Tinchy Stryder's Vevo
via YouTube
channel on 29 September 2011.
(Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre) in Glasgow
, Scotland
. On Sunday, 30 October 2011, Tinchy Stryder performed the song on the UK
television show, The Xtra Factor.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Ghanaian British recording artist, Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
. The single features Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s and record producers, Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
and Matt Burns (credited as BURNS). It is the second single from his fourth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
entitled, Full Tank. It was released on 4 November 2011 as a digital download and was released on 7 November 2011 as a CD single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The single was co-written by Stryder and the production trio TMS
TMS (production team)
TMS are an English songwriting and record production team composed of Tom 'Froe' Barnes, Ben Kohn and Peter 'Merf' Kelleher, originating from West London...
, and was co-produced by Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
and BURNS, in August 2011. The single had its première by BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
's presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and British
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
DJ, Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson MBE is an English DJ and presenter.Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, he attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School in Cowper St, Islington, London EC2 and Westminster Kingsway College...
on 15 September 2011.
Writing and production
"Off The Record" was written by Tinchy Stryder and the production trio TMSTMS (production team)
TMS are an English songwriting and record production team composed of Tom 'Froe' Barnes, Ben Kohn and Peter 'Merf' Kelleher, originating from West London...
. TMS are the producers of Stryder's 2011 hit single "Spaceship
Spaceship (Tinchy Stryder song)
-Critical reception:Lewis Corner of Digital Spy Blog gave the song a positive review stating:It's been a rocky few months for Tinchy Stryder. After catapulting to the upper echelons of the charts with his debut LP and its subsequent spinoff singles, the pint-sized rapper suffered a textbook case of...
" featuring Dappy
Dappy
Costadinos Contostavlos better known by his stage name Dappy, is a British singer-songwriter, rapper, actor of Greek descent. He is best known for being the lead singer of the Camden-based Grime/hip hop/R&B trio N-Dubz, with his cousin Tulisa and their friend Fazer...
, which reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and Dappy's 2011 debut single "No Regrets
No Regrets (Dappy song)
"No Regrets" is the debut solo single by British hip hop artist Dappy. The song was produced by TMS and was written by Dappy, TMS, and Ayak Thiik . It was released in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2011. This was Dappy's first solo number 1 single in the UK...
", which charted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was produced by the Three Six Zero Group
Three Six Zero Group
Three Six Zero is a London-based music management company founded in 2007 by Mark Gillespie, Dean Wilson, and Andy Rutherford.Three Six Zero Group's first client was MySpace star Calvin Harris...
duo of Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
and Matt Burns (credited as BURNS), in August 2011.
When speaking about working with Calvin Harris and how they both came to work together on the song, Stryder stated in an interview with music journalist Kim Dawson of Daily Star newspaper: "I've just recorded a new single with Calvin and it was a lot of fun. "Calvin produced it for me, I've always liked his producing style and even in my sets, my DJ puts his tracks on.
"We've always had a lot of banter together. His album kept me off the top spot and my singles have kept him off the top in the past."
Tinchy Stryder added: "He sent me the tracks over and I picked the one I liked. I brought what I brought and we met halfway over it. We spent more time talking through email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
s than we actually spoke. Calvin is a very internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
guy."
According to an interview with music journalist, Lina Bastidas of PopDash website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
on 3 November 2011, Stryder stated that the track's lyrics were inspired by his life currently feeling like he is on a rollercoaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, at the time of the song production.
Music video
The concept for the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was based on the notorious phrase or saying
Phrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
of "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". The music video was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, by Tinchy Stryder's music video production partners Luke Monaghan & James Barber, to accompany the release of "Off The Record". Monaghan and Barber were also two of the three directors of Stryder's 2011 Mobo Award winning music video for his previous 2011 hit single in the UK, "Spaceship
Spaceship (Tinchy Stryder song)
-Critical reception:Lewis Corner of Digital Spy Blog gave the song a positive review stating:It's been a rocky few months for Tinchy Stryder. After catapulting to the upper echelons of the charts with his debut LP and its subsequent spinoff singles, the pint-sized rapper suffered a textbook case of...
".
Synopsis
The music video finds Stryder in a Red colored MustangFord Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
driving, followed by him being on rollercoasters
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park
MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park
MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park was a theme park adjacent to the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada, United States. Opened in 1993, it closed to the public on September 4, 2000 after it showed a bad performance....
, with a group of females, whilst at the same time he proceeds with athemic choruses over electro house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
beats.
The second scene finds Stryder at the luxurious MGM Grand Las Vegas
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
hotel, where he is first seen in the hotel casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
gambling, then dawn
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
has approached and he proceeds to his suite
Suite (hotel)
A suite in a hotel or other public accommodation, denotes a class of luxury accommodations, the key feature of which is multiple rooms. Many properties have one or more "honeymoon suites", and sometimes the best accommodation is called the "presidential suite".Suites offer multiple rooms, with more...
at the hotel, where there is a hotel party
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
, and is accompanied by a group of females and cameo appearances from a few Ruff Sqwad
Ruff Sqwad
Ruff Sqwad is a Ghanaian British grime music, post-dubstep and alternative hip hop group originating from Republic of Ghana formed by Tinchy Stryder in 2001...
members and the production trio TMS
TMS (production team)
TMS are an English songwriting and record production team composed of Tom 'Froe' Barnes, Ben Kohn and Peter 'Merf' Kelleher, originating from West London...
are made.
Once in the hotel suite he continues with the song choruses, whilst being on the bed in the hotel suite with a few females wearing Star In The Hood
Star in the Hood (company)
Star In The Hood Unltd. is a international mid-range to luxury clothing company founded by Kwasi Danquah III, better known as Tinchy Stryder in September 2006...
halterneck
Halterneck
Halterneck is a style of strap which holds up women's clothing which features a single strap or material which runs from the front of the garment around the back of the wearer's neck, and which enables most of the wearer's back to be uncovered...
s and monokini
Monokini
A monokini, sometimes referred to as a unikini, is a woman's one-piece garment comprising only the lower half of a bikini, leaving the breasts uncovered...
's, accompanying him on the bed, the females begin to have a pillow fight whilst fumbling Tinchy Stryder at the same time, then Stryder throws, US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1, 000 banknotes, at the females accompanying him on the bed, before Stryder later begins to proceed with rhymes that comes thick and fast over futuristic post-dubstep beats, which is then proceeded by an X-rated
X-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
footage of a naked female in a bathtub
Bathtub
A bath , bathtub , or tub is a large container for holding water in which a person may bathe . Most modern bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but alternatives are available in enamel over steel or cast iron, and occasionally waterproof finished wood...
being covered with a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume...
.
The remaining final scenes in the music video are split with footages of a few members of the grime music
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
collective Ruff Sqwad
Ruff Sqwad
Ruff Sqwad is a Ghanaian British grime music, post-dubstep and alternative hip hop group originating from Republic of Ghana formed by Tinchy Stryder in 2001...
, production team TMS
TMS (production team)
TMS are an English songwriting and record production team composed of Tom 'Froe' Barnes, Ben Kohn and Peter 'Merf' Kelleher, originating from West London...
, and of Stryder celebrating his 25th birthday, dancing with a group of females on the balcony of an MGM Grand Las Vegas
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
hotel suite
Suite (hotel)
A suite in a hotel or other public accommodation, denotes a class of luxury accommodations, the key feature of which is multiple rooms. Many properties have one or more "honeymoon suites", and sometimes the best accommodation is called the "presidential suite".Suites offer multiple rooms, with more...
, then finally closing the music video with him blowing out the candles on his Star In The Hood
Star in the Hood (company)
Star In The Hood Unltd. is a international mid-range to luxury clothing company founded by Kwasi Danquah III, better known as Tinchy Stryder in September 2006...
decorated Birthday cake
Birthday cake
The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday celebrations in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. Certain rituals and traditions, such as singing of birthday songs, associated with birthday cakes are common to many Western cultures. The Western tradition of adding...
.
The music video was premièred on Tinchy Stryder's Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
via YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel on 29 September 2011.
Live performances
On Wednesday, 5 October 2011, Tinchy Stryder performed the song live at the 2011 MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin), which was held at the SECCScottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
(Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre) in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. On Sunday, 30 October 2011, Tinchy Stryder performed the song on the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television show, The Xtra Factor.
Track listing
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 4 November 2011 | Digital Download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Takeover Entertainment Ltd Takeover Entertainment Takeover Entertainment is an independent record label, talent agency, musician management company, producer, and publisher of music, currently based in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2006 and is run by Kwasi Danquah III , Archie Lamb IV and Jack Foster... & Universal Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| United Kingdom | 6 November 2011 | ||
| 7 November 2011 | CD single |