As a child, Tihei was diagnosed with autism and dyslexia, was bullied and felt constantly behind in school. However a chance encounter with two musicians at the age of 14 set him on the path to discovering his own unique way of connecting with others; freestyle rapping. Now, Tihei has not only toured his studio album ‘Tihei Life’, he is also a regular performer at the Otara Markets where he turns subjects given to him by market-goers into freestyle raps. Having already completed a certificate in contemporary music, Tihei is now furthering his study by undertaking a diploma in Performing Arts.