Labrinth 'turned down Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj'

Labrinth has said he turned down the opportunity to work with Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj to concentrate on writing his debut solo album.

The singer, who co-wrote Tinie Tempah's Pass Out and had a number two hit with Let The Sun Shine last year, said: "These guys have their careers, my one is still on its way."

He admitted the decision had not been easy.

"I'm not just looking to be famous and attach myself to famous names. I want to make history in the business in terms of creativity."

'Big song'

Labrinth, who was speaking to Newsbeat at the MusicConnex event in London, said: "It's not very easy to do that when you're trying to get somewhere.

"I could make a big song for Beyoncé but that's not saying it's going to be another creative Pass Out.

"If you're confident with something - which I'm confident with my thing - you can make that time out to make sure what you're doing is perfected."

Since Christmas Labrinth, whose real name is Timothy McKenzie, has been writing music in his studio.

He was nominated, alongside Tinie Tempah for an Ivor Novello award for best contemporary song yesterday (19 April).

The musician's had writing sessions with Ed Sheeran, Swedish House Mafia and Mike Posner.

Claude Kelly, who co-wrote Bruno Mars' Grenade, has also helped out.

Labrinth, the only non X Factor signing to Simon Cowell's SyCo label, said he has already been asked by his boss if they can use one of his album tracks during the new series of the US X Factor, which launches this autumn.

"They asked me for a song for that. They were like, 'Can we use one of the songs off the album for the new X Factor?'

"It's so funny. I'm not sure. I would love to do that - we're sorting it out at the moment."