Thompson Iyamu
Musical artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thompson Iyamu (born 22 October 1968), known by his stage name P Tee Money, is a British DJ, producer and actor known for his music and film.[1] He is also a singer, remixer and author.[1]
Thompson Iyamu | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 22 October 1968 Islington, London, England |
| Other names | P Tee Money, The African Drake |
| Citizenship | British, Nigerian |
| Alma mater | Nigerian Defence Academy |
| Occupations | DJ/EDM, producer, actor, author, entrepreneur, Singer and Remixer |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Founder & CEO, African Film & Music Award |
| Title | Prince of Edo Kingdom |
| Spouse | Wendy Tingling (Married 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments | Vocals, Synthesizer, Personal Computer, MIDI controller, Drum Machine, Sampler, Mixer |
| Label | P Tee Money Music |
| Website | pteemoneymusic |
Iyamu's career spans electronic dance music, Afrobeat, and film. Emerging in the early 1990s, he first gained recognition as a DJ before expanding his work into music production, remixing, recording, and acting.[1] He has toured internationally as a DJ, and collaborated with artists across multiple genres.[1]
Alongside his music career, Iyamu has appeared in international motion pictures, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), The Mummy Returns (2001), The Scorpion King (2002), and I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003).[1]
Iyamu is the founder of the African Film & Music Award (AFMA) and a member of the Benin Royal Family.[2][3] He is a grandson of Oba Akenzua II who reigned as Oba of Benin from 1933 to 1978, the nephew of Oba Ewuare II, the current Oba of Benin, and the nephew of Princess Elizabeth Olowu, a pioneering Nigerian sculptor.[4]
Early life and education
Iyamu was born in Islington, London to a Cypriot Jewish mother and a Nigerian father.[5][6] His maternal grandfather was Nigerian, and his mother comes from a Cypriot Jewish heritage.[5] He is the first son and second born out of six siblings from his mother. He is also a member of the Benin Royal Family as the grandson of Akenzua II and nephew of Princess Elizabeth Olowu. He was introduced to music at a young age, with early influences including George Duke and Earth, Wind & Fire.[7]
At the age of four, his family moved to Nigeria where he completed his primary school, then was moved to a military academy. He received a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He later moved to London in 1988.[8]
Career
Iyamu adopted the stage name P Tee Money at the beginning of his career as a DJ in the early 1990s.[9][10][11] During this period, he toured across the United Kingdom alongside female rap artist Weird MC, performing extensively throughout the latter half of 1990 and into 1991.[12][13][14] Over time, he refined his musical style, gravitating towards progressive house, a genre noted for its rhythmic complexity and melodic layering.[15][16] His evolving sound and dynamic performances earned him recognition within the UK’s electronic music scene.[17][18]
Iyamu later expanded into music production, releasing several albums and singles. His work incorporates a range of styles, most notably electronic dance music and Afrobeat, often blending elements of both in his productions.[19][20] He has collaborated with a number of international artists and has produced remixes in addition to his own original tracks.[21]
In 2018, Iyamu collaborated with producers Matthew S and Dirty Freek on a remix album of the song "When I Came Up"[22][23] with Bon Villan, a Toronto-based indie electronic trio group.[24] On 8 September 2019 Iyamu and Morocco-based producer Yeves released a Dance Album; Bass Trouble which he co-wrote and co-produced.[25]
On 16 May 2020 he released a single; Make some noise[26] during the COVID-19 pandemic period which generated over 50,000 streams in the first week of release.[27] On 22 July 2020 he released a new album; You Don't Care. One of the songs from the album contained an up-tempo beat that was influenced by music from the 1980s which featured Addie Nicole.[28][29]
In November 2020, he released a new Afro beat single Overdose on Freshness collaborating with Pat-E, which he co-produced.[30][31] On 1 January 2021 he released a new single titled Scream Out Loud (Banger Mix).[32] On 12 March 2021 he released a new Spanish single titled Vamonos.[33]
On 28 May 2021 Iyamu was featured on DJ S’ Tingling EP which he also co-produced and was released through his record label P Tee Money Music.[34] On 4 July 2021 he released a new afro-beat sing titled Caterpillar.[35][36]
On 21 August 2021, he released a new single OOzing featuring Pat-E.[37] On 3 February 2022, he came back with a new single 360 on the highway.[38]
Iyamu released his 8th EP Album, Tungba, on 17 November 2022 which contains the singles, Overdose on freshness and Money (featuring P at-E).[39][40] On 14 January 2023 he released a new single Do ki Do. [41] Shortly after he released a single Come to Daddy on 31 August 2023.[42][43] On 7 June 2024 he released a new single title Low waist.[44]
On 12 September 2025, Iyamu released his ninth extended play, Lifestyle.[45] [46] The five-track project received positive attention from listeners and critics, with commentary noting his versatility in blending Afrobeat, Amapiano, and electronic dance influences.[47][48] The EP features tracks such as Tomorrow, described as combining a reflective message with an upbeat rhythm, and No Space, which was noted for its futuristic production style.[49] The title track, Lifestyle, drew particular attention for its Amapiano-inspired sound.[50]
Following its release, the project trended on Audiomack and secured regular airplay across radio stations in the United Kingdom and Africa.[51] Coverage emphasized the EP as a further demonstration of Iyamu’s ability to bridge African and international sounds, continuing his trajectory as both a producer and recording artist.[51]
Writing
In 2015, Iyamu launched his first book titled The Players Code which was intended as a less predatory take on pickup artistry.[52]
In 2016, he released another book titled The Players Code Unleashed. He has also written series of erotic romance novels. In 2019 Iyamu published two more books Being Whit You and Wild Seduction, adding to his series of collections.[52]
Acting
Iyamu has appeared in several international motion pictures. He played a supporting role in I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003), a British crime drama directed by Mike Hodges and starring Clive Owen. In Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), he appeared alongside Angelina Jolie in the Paramount Pictures adaptation of the popular video game franchise.
He was also featured in The Mummy video game (2000),[53] followed by an appearance in the live-action sequel The Mummy Returns (2001), which introduced Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in his film debut and starred Arnold Vosloo as the resurrected high priest Imhotep. Iyamu later appeared in The Scorpion King (2002), a spin-off from The Mummy franchise, co-starring Johnson and Academy Award–nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan.[54]
Outside of franchise films, he also acted in Tom & Thomas (2002), a Dutch–British family drama directed by Esmé Lammers.[55]
Public Image
Upon releasing his new single, 360 on the highway, Iyamu has been described by social media influencers and news medias as The most searched African celebrity on Google.[56]
In 2025, Iyamu’s growing international recognition led to further media attention. The Sun Nigeria, and Vanguard Nigeria all referred to him as The African Drake, a nickname attributed to his multicultural background and his genre-blending sound that fuses Afrobeat, EDM, and pop influences.[51] The comparison reflects his identity as a British entertainer of Jewish and African royal descent and his reputation for visually ambitious music projects.[51] His AI-powered futuristic videos have been highlighted by entertainment media for their advanced special effects and creative direction, further reinforcing his cross-cultural influence and innovative approach to African music.[51]
Books
- Being Whit You ISBN 9781513647975
- Wild Seduction ISBN 9781635870657
- The Players Code ISBN 9781483552675
- The Players Code Unleashed ISBN 9781483585987
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Rebirth |
| 2017 | Bounce |
| 2018 | Sandstorm |
| 2018 | I'm Not Afraid |
| 2019 | I Won't Stop |
| 2019 | Bass Trouble |
| 2020 | You Don't Care |
| 2022 | Tungba |
| 2025 | Lifestyle |
Collaboration albums
| Year | Title | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | When I Came Up (Remixes) | Bon Villan |
| 2019 | Bass Trouble | P Tee Money & Yeves |
| 2021 | Dominium | DJ S' Tingling |
| 2022 | Fight To Death: Rematch | Sappho |
| 2024 | 2024 Countdown in the Sky (Remixes) | Sappho |
Singles
| Year | Title | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lights out | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Good Time | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Free your mind | P Tee Money (feat. Aqua) |
| 2017 | Heat Up | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | No Sweat | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Wind it Up (Remix) | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Shake That | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Drop | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | I Got You | P Tee Money |
| 2017 | Wind it Up | P Tee Money |
| 2018 | Tropical Dream | P Tee Money |
| 2018 | The Face in my dreams | P Tee Money (feat. Addie Nicole) |
| 2018 | You are my one | P Tee Money (feat. Nina Storey) |
| 2018 | The Swagg | P Tee Money |
| 2018 | Everytime | P Tee Money |
| 2018 | Attention | P Tee Money (feat, Rasheed) |
| 2018 | Summer 2005 | P Tee Money |
| 2019 | Time is the greatest healer | P Tee Money |
| 2019 | Drown | P Tee Money (feat. Smoothie) |
| 2019 | Global | P Tee Money (feat. Pat-E) |
| 2019 | Money | P Tee Money (feat. Pat-E) |
| 2019 | Her Body | P Tee Money |
| 2020 | I Don't wonna know | P Tee Money (feat. Addie Nicole) |
| 2020 | Finders Keepers | P Tee Money (feat. Smoothie) |
| 2020 | Make Some Noise | P Tee Money |
| 2020 | Overdose on Freshness | P Tee Money & Pat-E |
| 2021 | Scream Out Loud (Banger Mix) | P Tee Money |
| 2021 | Vamonos | P Tee Money |
| 2021 | Caterpillar | P Tee Money |
| 2021 | OOzing | P Tee Money feat, Pat- E |
| 2022 | 360 on the highway | P Tee Money |
| 2022 | Dumsor | P Tee Money |
| 2022 | Do Ki Do | P Tee Money |
| 2023 | In Need Of You | P Tee Money |
| 2023 | Come To Daddy | P Tee Money |
| 2024 | Low Waist | P Tee Money |
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider | Special Forces Team | Supporting Role |
| 2001 | The Mummy Returns | Pharaoh's guard | Featured Dwayne Johnson’s film debut |
| 2002 | Tom & Thomas | Window Shopper | Directed by Esmé Lammers |
| 2002 | The Scorpion King | Ambush Bandit | Franchise Film |
| 2003 | I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | Street Pimp | British Crime Drama |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Mummy (video game) | Pharaoh's guard |
Philanthropy
Iyamu has set up a charity with the purpose of helping young people to start their own businesses.[57] He is known for helping some of his fans who need help paying for their college tuition, and he has opened a charity for this purpose.[58] He is responsible for providing for some of the youths from the village he supports in Edo state, Nigeria with free education, through his financial donations.[59]
Personal life
Iyamu keeps his personal life relatively private. He is married to Wendy Tingling and is a father. He has spoken publicly about the importance of family, and has expressed pride in both his Nigerian and Jewish heritage, often advocating for African unity.[60]
In February 2021, Iyamu experienced personal losses when his step-brother died, followed shortly by the passing of his father five days later.[61]
Iyamu’s wife, Wendy Tingling, also known professionally as Ms P Tee Money, is active within the beauty, fashion, and entertainment sectors.[62] She has been profiled by notable media outlets, including Independent Nigeria and Vanguard Nigeria, for her elegance and influence in the creative industry.[62][63] Together, the couple have been described as a power duo in the British-African entertainment scene, frequently appearing at cultural and philanthropic events.[64]
His late mother, Evelyn Hannah Oba, was of mixed Jewish-Cypriot and Nigerian heritage. Iyamu has credited his multicultural background for shaping his worldview and artistic expression.[65] He continues to advocate for cultural unity, youth empowerment, and creative arts development through his philanthropic initiatives across Africa and the diaspora.[66]