Dave (rapper)
A British rap prodigy whose intricate, narrative-driven lyrics dissect social politics and personal trauma with surgical precision.
Born 1998 (age 28)·British rapper·Birthday: June 5·Generation Z
Biography
Dave, born David Omoregie in South London, announced himself as a generational voice while still a teenager. His early tracks, like the viral 'Thiago Silva,' showcased a technical prowess that belied his age, but it was the depth of his songwriting that set him apart. He writes with the clarity of a novelist, weaving complex tales of immigrant family struggles, systemic injustice, and psychological vulnerability over minimalist, piano-led production. His debut album, 'Psychodrama,' was a conceptual masterpiece that won the Mercury Prize, framing therapy sessions as a lens to examine his brother's incarceration and his own relationships. Dave operates outside the traditional UK rap scenes, creating a singular lane defined by emotional candor and political urgency, making him a reluctant but essential spokesman for a disillusioned generation.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Dave was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Mercury Prize in 2019 for his debut studio album 'Psychodrama.'
- His single 'Funky Friday' featuring Fredo debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart.
- Wrote and performed 'Black,' a powerful song addressing racial inequality in Britain, which sparked significant national conversation.
- Co-wrote the UK number-one single 'Location' for singer Dave and Burna Boy.
- Starred as a mod in the 2021 reboot of the film 'The Sparks Brothers.'
Did You Know?
He is a classically trained pianist, which heavily influences his musical compositions.
He studied at the prestigious BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology.
His stage name 'Santan' is derived from the name of the area he grew up in, Santan Court.
He wrote and performed a diss track aimed at a fellow rapper, which was later revealed to be a promotional stunt for a mobile network.
He is of Nigerian heritage.
“I'm a black man, and I'm a proud black man, and I want to make sure that every other black man, woman, and child feels the same.”
