HE is one of Britain’s biggest rap stars, a chart-topping giant of urban music whose hard-hitting lyrics have won him fans around the world.

Now Tinchy Stryder is preparing to knock his fans for six, by headlining a fundraising festival for a village cricket club.

The artist, dubbed The Prince of Grime, is top of the batting order for Aston Rowant Cricket Club’s event, where his punchy rhymes and demon delivery will help raise cash for a new pavilion.

Organisers insist the rapper’s innings at the event, dubbed ‘Astonbury’, will bowl over music fans.

His slot at the festival – held in the neighbouring picture postcard village of Crowell, near Chinnor – is set to delight about 1,000 punters.

Club chairman Paul Humphreys, from Wolvercote, said: “I shall try to have a gin and tonic with Mr Stryder on the evening. I am fairly familiar with his work, but that’s more to do with having a 16-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter.

“At least I know who he is, unlike some of the other members who said ‘Tinchy who?’ and had visions of the Chilterns tweed brigade descending on the village and wondering what was going on.”

Club member Jack Kozera will be performing with his band Chemical Pulse.

He said: “I’m a big Tinchy Stryder fan and getting him to play here is a real coup.”

Wicketkeeper Thad Cooper, from Postcombe, near Lewknor, is organising the event with festival manager Gemma Walker.

Mr Cooper said: “To see someone here who has played the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury and V Festival is amazing.”

Mr Cooper said they had only managed to get Tinchy to star by “being persistent”.

He said: “I must have made 500 phone calls. I’m not surprised we have got him after the amount of work we’ve put in.”

And has the garage artist requested anything elaborate for his backstage demands?

Mr Cooper said: “He’ll just receive the usual cricket club tea – a few sandwiches, a couple of crates of beer and perhaps some nice cake.”

s Astonbury takes place on July 12. Tickets are £20 from astonbury.net. Camping is available for £5.

  • Born Kwasi Danquah III in Accra, West Africa, and raised in Bow, East London, Tinchy Stryder began making music in the late 90s, finding recognition on the capital’s ‘grime’ scene in 2000 as a pirate radio DJ alongside fellow rappers Dizzee Rascal and Wiley.

He takes his name from his diminutive stature.

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