Sex Bomb: Tunde Adebimpe
Issue #24
Get to know the TV on the Radio singer
By Kristina Francisco
Published: June 1st, 2005 | 1:50pm
Most know Tunde Adebimpe as the foxy frontman for TV On The Radio, but there’s oh so much more to know about this Sex Bomb. Here’s the breakdown, Tiger Beat-style:
Nigeria
Born in St. Louis, Adebimpe moved to Nigeria when he was 6. “My parents are from there. They wanted us to grow up there and know the culture and our extended family. We were there for a while, and then there was a military coup and my dad said we didn't need to be there anymore.”
The Cheerful Cricket
His senior year of college, Adebimpe switched his focus from live-action directing because “I realized that I had problems dealing with people and getting people to do things. At the time I just wasn’t socially adjusted.” He made a stop-motion animation film called The Cheerful Cricket, which got him a year-and-a-half animation gig for MTV’s Celebrity Death Match.
Jump Tomorrow
This feature film stars Mr. Adebimpe himself. “Apparently it’s still on IFC or Starz or something because every once in a while people are like, ‘You’re that dude in that movie!’ and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Poster boy
When TVOTR won 2004’s Shortlist prize, the band, currently at work on their next album, was recognized at a Los Angeles party. “It was weird. Honestly — and this is the most honest I can be about it — it was great to be recognized and to know that the people who were voting were people we respected, but none of those people were at the party. The people at the party wanted to take pictures. I remember walking to a coat rack to look at a jacket, and someone was like, ‘Could you pose with the jacket for a second?’ and took a picture. I hope it ends up nowhere.”
XXX
“Oh my God, finally!” Adebimpe jests at his new Sex Bomb status. “In the seventh grade, I was definitely, definitely, definitely, super, super awkward, like ridiculously painfully shy and awkward. I guess I’ve grown out of that now.”
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