Third Strike (album)
Encyclopedia
Third Strike is the third solo studio album
from Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder
, and his second studio album with Universal Island Records
. It was released in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2010. Prior to the release of Third Strike, Stryder featured on the grime
collective Roll Deep
's first compilation album
, Street Anthems
, which was released on October 19, 2009. Third Strike was preceded by a free downloadable extended play
(EP), III EP
.
. Tinchy began recording his third studio album
shortly after he completed his previous album, and would release a single from the album a whole year straight from the day he released his second studio album. He began working with Fraser T. Smith
who also worked on his second studio album. Taio Cruz
produced the largely, along with Fraser T. Smith. The album title was picked as Stryder thought the album would be a smash hit, so he thought he would rip off the title of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike which was also a massive success.
, who he collaborated with on his second studio album
Catch 22
on the single "Never Leave You
" where the pair gained a number one in the UK. The album features Taio Cruz
who also featured on the Stryder's last album. The album also features artists affiliated with Roc Nation
. Artists such as Melanie Fiona
"Let It Rain
", Alexis Jordan
, and Bridget Kelly
"Take The World
". The song "Game Over" features six different artists, Example
, Professor Green
, Giggs, Devlin, Tinie Tempah
and Chipmunk
. Stryder also collaborated with Bluey Robinson on the song "Tomorrow". Eric Turner
also featured on the album, who gained a number one single after featuring on Tinie Tempah
's "Written in the Stars
".
said that "opener Take the World proves that Tinchy Stryder is a good rapper, but the song is ruined by a sugary-sweet female chorus." However, they gave praise to the songs "In My System" and "Gangsta?". "In My System" features Tinchy rapping the grime equivalent of a Hallmark card over woozy keyboards and futuristic synths. "Gangsta?", finds him boasting, over turgid beats and cyber-synths, about his Twitter
feed "f***ing with some anthems" and "having meetings with the president", a line which he bellows at every opportunity. They gave the album 5 out of 10. David Jefrries from Allmusic gave it a 3.5/5 and stated that "the album throws so much polish at the listener that the sheen is blinding, but when it comes to short bursts of well-dressed swagger, Third Strike provides Flo Rida
-sized results".
" was released as a promotional single in the UK, with a peak of 67. The promo single gained no promotion at all, and failed to chart in the UK Top 40. The song "Game Over", which featured six different rap artists, charted on the UK Singles Chart
, reaching #22. The song was also performed at the MOBO Awards 2010, along with "Second Chance". "Game Over" was released on the 15 November as a digital download along with Third Strike 2010.
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...
from 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...
, and his second studio album with 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...
. It was released in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2010. Prior to the release of Third Strike, Stryder featured on the grime
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 Roll Deep
Roll Deep
Roll Deep are an Urban Music Awards-winning London-based grime music collective. They were founded in 2002, by a group of MCs including Wiley. Roll Deep were also closely associated with Boy Better Know with members in both. Their debut album, In at the Deep End, was released in June 2005...
's first compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Street Anthems
Street Anthems
Street Anthems is an album by Roll Deep, released on October 19, 2009. It features all their smash hits from 2002–2009 and some previously unreleased tracks, so it shows you the early days of grime and Roll Deep, as well as giving you a chance to hear tracks from the early members of Roll Deep such...
, which was released on October 19, 2009. Third Strike was preceded by a free downloadable extended play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(EP), III EP
III EP (extended play)
III EP is the fourth and final of 4 extended plays by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder. It was released on 27 September 2010 by Takeover Entertainment as a free downloadable EP prior to the release of Stryder's third solo studio album, Third Strike, which was released on November...
.
Background
The album is the follow-up to Styder's album Catch 22Catch 22 (Tinchy Stryder album)
Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder, and his major label debut, since allying with Universal Island Records. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album, was released on August 17, 2009. The album is produced...
. Tinchy began recording his third 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...
shortly after he completed his previous album, and would release a single from the album a whole year straight from the day he released his second studio album. He began working with Fraser T. Smith
Fraser T. Smith
Fraser T. Smith is an English record producer, songwriter, mix engineer and guitarist....
who also worked on his second studio album. Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...
produced the largely, along with Fraser T. Smith. The album title was picked as Stryder thought the album would be a smash hit, so he thought he would rip off the title of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike which was also a massive success.
Collaborations
Third Strike features several artists, including, AmelleAmelle Berrabah
Amelle Berrabah is a British singer, songwriter and member of pop girl group the Sugababes. Since replacing founding member Mutya Buena in the group in December 2005, Berrabah has attained two UK number one singles, "About You Now" and "Walk This Way", as well as a number one album, Change...
, who he collaborated with on his second 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...
Catch 22
Catch 22 (Tinchy Stryder album)
Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder, and his major label debut, since allying with Universal Island Records. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album, was released on August 17, 2009. The album is produced...
on the single "Never Leave You
Never Leave You
-Charts:The song immediately rushed to the top of the charts, charting at #1 in the UK and #2 in Ireland, the song knocked The Black Eyed Peas's song "I Gotta Feeling" of the top spot on 2 August 2010, but failed to knock I Gotta Feeling of the Irish top spot, and charted behind it.-End-of-year...
" where the pair gained a number one in the UK. The album features Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...
who also featured on the Stryder's last album. The album also features artists affiliated with Roc Nation
Roc Nation
Roc Nation is an American management, music publishing and entertainment company founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.-History:In April 2008, Live Nation partnered with Jay-Z to create Roc Nation...
. Artists such as Melanie Fiona
Melanie Fiona
Melanie Fiona Hallim is a Canadian R&B and Grammy-nominated recording artist from Toronto, Ontario. She was born to Guyanese immigrant parents of African, Indian, and Portuguese descent and grew up in the inner city of Toronto. Living in a music filled household, Fiona says she always knew music...
"Let It Rain
Let It Rain (Tinchy Stryder song)
-Chart performance:"Let It Rain" first debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 103 on 9 January 2011. The following week, the single rocketed up the chart, jumping 65 places to number 38; marking Stryder's ninth Top 40 hit and fourth consecutive Top 40 single to have been released from Third...
", Alexis Jordan
Alexis Jordan
Alexis Jordan is a National-Record-holding swimmer from Barbados. She swam for Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2005 World Championships, and CARIFTA and CCCAN Championships.-References:...
, and Bridget Kelly
Bridget Kelly
-Early life and career beginnings:She is a graduate from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan. She is signed to Roc Nation....
"Take The World
Take the World (song)
"Take the World" is a song by Tinchy Stryder, which appears as the 1st track on his 3rd album Third Strike. The song is Co-written by Takeover Entertainment singer-songwriter Ayak Thiik, and produced by TMS who also produced the promotional single Gangsta? for the album. It features vocals from Roc...
". The song "Game Over" features six different artists, Example
Example (rapper)
Elliot John Gleave , better known by his stage name Example, is an English singer and rapper signed to Data Records. His name arose due to his initials being E.G., which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "exempli gratia", which means, "for example".Example's third album Playing In The Shadows...
, Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
, Giggs, Devlin, Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
and Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
. Stryder also collaborated with Bluey Robinson on the song "Tomorrow". Eric Turner
Eric Turner (singer)
Eric Turner is an American singer-songwriter who currently resides in Sweden. He is the lead singer in the band Street Fighting Man and is also a teacher.-Background:...
also featured on the album, who gained a number one single after featuring on Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
's "Written in the Stars
Written in the Stars (Tinie Tempah song)
"Written in the Stars" is the third single by English rapper Tinie Tempah, featuring American singer Eric Turner. Unlike his two prior breakthrough singles which were produced by Labrinth, the track instead features production by iSHi. It was released in September 2010 through Parlophone records,...
".
Critical reception
The Metro.co.uk stated that the album was "stick to an uninspiring but winning formula of cheesy dance beats and soaring female vocals." while following on to say that the album "The dubsteppy breakdown on epic pop song Tomorrow signals the mainstream’s embrace of certain initially fringe urban sounds." and later awarding the album three out of five stars. NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
said that "opener Take the World proves that Tinchy Stryder is a good rapper, but the song is ruined by a sugary-sweet female chorus." However, they gave praise to the songs "In My System" and "Gangsta?". "In My System" features Tinchy rapping the grime equivalent of a Hallmark card over woozy keyboards and futuristic synths. "Gangsta?", finds him boasting, over turgid beats and cyber-synths, about his Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
feed "f***ing with some anthems" and "having meetings with the president", a line which he bellows at every opportunity. They gave the album 5 out of 10. David Jefrries from Allmusic gave it a 3.5/5 and stated that "the album throws so much polish at the listener that the sheen is blinding, but when it comes to short bursts of well-dressed swagger, Third Strike provides Flo Rida
Flo Rida
Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
-sized results".
Commercial Performance
Third Strike charted poorly when released, only peaking at 48 in the UK Album Charts despite his previous album Catch 22 peaking at 2. However, Third Strike peaked at 2 in the UK Dance Chart.Promotion and singles
"Gangsta?Gangsta? (Tinchy Stryder song)
"Gangsta?" is a song by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder. It was produced by TMS and Co-written by Stryder and TMS, for Stryder's 2010 album, Third Strike...
" was released as a promotional single in the UK, with a peak of 67. The promo single gained no promotion at all, and failed to chart in the UK Top 40. The song "Game Over", which featured six different rap artists, charted 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 ...
, reaching #22. The song was also performed at the MOBO Awards 2010, along with "Second Chance". "Game Over" was released on the 15 November as a digital download along with Third Strike 2010.
- Stryder began to promote his first official single from the album, "In My SystemIn My System"In My System" is a single by Ghanaian British electro hop vocalist, Tinchy Stryder. It was the first single from his third studio album Third Strike. It was released on August 8, 2010 as a digital download and on August 9, 2010 as a CD single. The single features uncredited vocals from co-writer...
". He performed the song live on GMTVGMTVGMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, he later appeared on BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Live LoungeLive LoungeThe Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
to promote the single. "In My System" was released officially on 8 August 2010, where it charted at number 10 on the UK singles charts.
- The British rapper's second official single from the album was "Second ChanceSecond Chance (Tinchy Stryder song)"Second Chance" is a single by Ghanaian British electro hop vocalist Tinchy Stryder. It is the second single from his third studio album Third Strike. It was released on 31 October 2010 as a digital download and on 1 November 2010 as a physical single. The song also features vocals from singer Taio...
", which featured R&B artist, Taio CruzTaio CruzTaio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...
, who he has also recorded a duet with Stryder on his previous albumCatch 22 (Tinchy Stryder album)Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder, and his major label debut, since allying with Universal Island Records. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album, was released on August 17, 2009. The album is produced...
. The single was promoted by performing the single live at the MOBO Awards 2010. The single was released on 2 November 2010. Where it peaked at number 22 in the UKUnited KingdomThe 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 third and final single was "Let It RainLet It Rain (Tinchy Stryder song)-Chart performance:"Let It Rain" first debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 103 on 9 January 2011. The following week, the single rocketed up the chart, jumping 65 places to number 38; marking Stryder's ninth Top 40 hit and fourth consecutive Top 40 single to have been released from Third...
" featuring Melanie FionaMelanie FionaMelanie Fiona Hallim is a Canadian R&B and Grammy-nominated recording artist from Toronto, Ontario. She was born to Guyanese immigrant parents of African, Indian, and Portuguese descent and grew up in the inner city of Toronto. Living in a music filled household, Fiona says she always knew music...
and was released on 24 January 2011.
Track listing
- All lyrics by Kwasi Danquah IIITinchy StryderKwasi 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...
, Fraser T. SmithFraser T. SmithFraser T. Smith is an English record producer, songwriter, mix engineer and guitarist....
, 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...
, Taio CruzTaio CruzTaio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...
, Ayak ThiikTakeover EntertainmentTakeover 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...
& Israel Cruz.
Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
48 |
| UK Download Chart | 16 |
| UK Dance Chart UK Dance Chart The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital... |
2 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 15 November 2010 | CD, Digital Download | 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... |