Pass Out

Story of Song

Tinie Tempah said: “This song is about getting so out of it that you pass out. It was literally just supposed to be a track on the album influenced by all the wild and exciting times I’ve had. But people warmed to it.”

In interview with MTV News, Tempah talked about the collaboration with producer Labrinth, as well as the track’s drum and bass ending: “We tried out so many different things by going in the studio and having fun. It wasn’t like we just put a drum & bass ending on it and then thought, done! We tried out so many things, guitars, reggae bass; we were having so much fun. That track at least took 24 full hours to put together. Me and Labrinth both tired, with Red Bulls in hand, were like, this track is sick. Labrinth had two of his stylists in the studio and by the time the track was done they were singing the bass rhythm and the chorus. The drum & bass mix up was a trialed and tested method. Once we put it in there everyone went crazy in the studio and that’s why we thought we would keep it there.”

Release date

Released November 17, 2009

Songwriter/s

Labrinth – Tinie Tempah

Label

Parlophone

Chart Rankings

UK – 1

SCOTLAND  – 1

GERMANY – 6

In the UK, ‘Pass Out’ topped the Official Charts Company and the R&B Charts. It sold over 929.400 copies; the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it Platinum. The song topped the charts in Scotland, peaked at number 6 in Ireland and Germany. In Australia it reached number 70, and in New Zealand it peaked at number 33. The song did not chart in the US.

Artist’s age on release date

Patrick Chukwuem Okogwu Jr. aka Tinie Tempah was 21 years old and Timothy Lee McKenzie aka Labrinth was 20 years old when this song was released.

Cover Versions

Plan B featuring FaithFX – Leah Petruska – Other amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.