Danny TPG

Q: WHAT DOES “NEVER CONFORM, ALWAYS EVOLVE” MEAN FOR YOU?

For me its not been about "not fitting in" which is what a lot of people bring straight away to a discussion about non conformity - it's actually been about being in, and taking up space in places where people like me aren't always welcome or accepted, going out of my way to experience things, and just live well. going out of my way to be felt seen and heard in places that don't want the working classes, the immigrants, the rule breakers and the real ones in their presence. They are gonna have to get used to us being there cos we're here now creating great work, being brilliant and breaking family curses. If I take up space in those places it makes it easier for the next set of upstarts to be accepted and expected in those spaces.

Q: WHY ARE YOU A VOICE OF DEFIANCE?

I think resisting by existing is something that is underrated. We are all political by nature of the cities and towns we live in, the clothes we wear, the languages we speak, our accents, what we do in for work, or even what we don't do for work! are all defiant in their own way. I think I'm quietly defiant in that way.

Q: WHAT’S ONE WAY YOU HAVE DEFIED THE ODDS?

Ending up in advertising after a music career has kept me close to music which I love and before that having a wild time in night clubs as a doorman I guess I wasn't really supposed to make it into the music business. Strange that all of those things are so close but also so far away from each other. I feel lucky to have had so long close to music in so many different ways.

Q: WHAT’S THE HARDEST CHOICE YOU’VE HAD TO MAKE?

Making the move north more than 20 years ago, hardest but best move of my life!

Q: WHAT LESSON DO YOU LIVE BY?

You make your own luck by just being decent to people. Stay lucky!

Q: WHO OR WHAT SHAPED YOUR APPROACH?

Being on the margins has always meant that you had to go further and look harder for the opportunities to come. Also in the margins though is where all the good stuff happens cos you need to problem solve a bit to get it done with or without cash., Street culture has and will always be my muse, Rap and Hip Hop, UKG, nightlife, casual terrace culture, technical garms, Graff, travelling to gnarly cities and just getting under the skin of them is what makes and has made me.  

DANNY TPG

Danny TPG is a creative & cultural strategist who has been in the fabric of British sub-culture for more than two decades who has delivered work with the likes of Nike, Man City F .C, Audemars Piguet, C.P Company, Rockstar Energy, and many of the most recognisable brands and companies currently operating in culture. Creating game changing partnerships between brands & musical and sports talent such as Lancey Foux, Aitch, IAMDDB, The Mason Collective, Bru-C, Mist, and more.

The professional timeline for Danny isn't linear, and starts in London’s underground during the UK Garage explosion and UK Raps golden era alongside producer MJ Cole, and later as a solo artist with signings to ubiquitous rap label of the time Rawkus Records, and Virgin Records, making his moniker a familiar name in the genesis of UK MC culture, paving the way for much of todays commercial success within the scene.

His life experience of culture, street life, music, fashion and sport have led him to be the Culture and Partnerships director of “TPG Agency” formerly “Thirty Pound Gentleman” a creative consultancy now based in the North West of England that connect brands and companies to audiences and communities that might be considered hard to reach - and focuses on empowering people through music, fashion, art, tech, & sport, and discussion about where and how all of those things intersect and become super powers for sub-culture communities.

His uncompromising and unapologetic work with emergent talent has produced some very successful and original talents in the UK, most notably prolific musician and producer Chunky of Swamp 81, & activist, musician and political editor for Dazed and Confused magazine, Gaika, fine artist and muralist Dreph, and many other people in cultural spaces who have gained benefit from Danny's guidance and hard knock style of tutoring.

Having worked in some of the most challenging environments in the world exploring the power of art and culture and how it inspires social change, Danny has also worked in Medellin Colombia, Harare Zimbabwe, Beirut Lebanon, and across Europe and the UK -using music, fashion, art, sport, technology, street knowledge, and risk, as the vehicle for his success.