The man is of Norwegian descent and is making a true mark in the hip hop world. Especially in Europe. He’s been nominated for Best Swedish Act at the European MTV Awards, his album “It’s A Tensta Thing” was awarded the Swedish equivalent to the Grammy’s for best Hip Hop and Soul album, and his single “My Cool” has been a chart topping single around the hip hop scene.

The most noticeable and important quality to Tensta’s music is the way he’s able to collaborate electronic house tracks with hip hop. Other artists in the U.S. have only recently been doing this with Timbaland’s unique production style. But even Timbaland’s beats aren’t really house. So it’s hard for me to say anybody has really done this mix of hip hop and house music well. But with Tensta, it’s not done just well. It’s obnoxiously good and I can for the first time feel like I can dance to house music without feeling like I have to know how to rave or have glow sticks.

Now you might think this is a little “poppy” for Nirav’s taste. That I’ve gotten soft and am exploring unconscious hip hop from the initial sound of the music. But if you take an opportunity to listen to the lyrical content, you’ll start to appreciate Adam Tensta like I do and feel very differently. His lyrics are not revolutionary conscious like Dead Prez, not politically conscious like Talib Kweli in Quality, and definitely not as metaphorical as my favorite Mos Def - but that doesn’t mean it’s not smart and conscious. It’s just different. Let me explain:

• “It’s my Cool and I can’t take it off”: That’s the chorus from of his lead single and it’s all about how he doesn’t know where his popularity originated. He just has been doing what he loves doing (making beats, writing) and all of a sudden people started noticing. So people started saying he was cool and nothing he does is reducing that cool factor. Lesson = do what you love and do it well, coolness and fame will follow.
• “Do I look like I sell drugs?”: That’s the chorus from Tensta’s other single. It’s catchy and witty based on the track title “Dopeboy” which is in reference to the appearance of any hip hop dressed black male. Whether going to the club or other high profile places, the appearance alone makes one think that automatically this kid/guy sells drugs. And is therefore denied entrance. Dahlak Brathwaite has a similar track entitled “The Club” which is about this same issue in his album Dual Consciousness. Even though the world has changed so much in terms of racial equality, there are many things which still occur that go unmentioned like this topic. Lesson = look at the qualities and not just the appearance.

So all in all, Tensta’s lyrical content fits into my definition of smart lyrics. Something I feel Ne-Yo has and I explained in my review of Year of The Gentlemen. And the production behind the lyrics really make this music great.

Right now Tensta has only his album “It’s a Tensta Thing” out for sale. I’m sure he’s in the studio working on more songs and another full length album. But until then, check out some free music on his MySpace page and the multiple mixtapes he’s been on. Solid music and an artist I think will absolutely cross-over to the U.S. in a few years or less. He’s got the making for a famous hip hop artist.