Dave: Get to know the award-winning rapper 🏆

Find out more about BRIT Award-winning Santan Dave...

'Location' star Dave is truly living his best life. Not only did his debut album 'Psychodrama' bag him a hugely-coveted Mercury Prize and a BRIT Award, but he bagged yet another BRIT Award following the release of his second album 'We're All Alone in This Together'.

As we prepare for new music from the award-winning rapper, join us as we take a look at Dave's meteoric rise to fame. Read up on how Dave has worked his way up in the music industry to get to his incredible position at just 27-years-old...

Who is Dave?

Dave is a multi-talented guy - he's best known as a rapper, but he's also a singer, songwriter, actor, producer and musician. He also plays the piano!

What's his real name?

Dave's real name is actually Dave, but his full name is David Orobosa Omoregie. He's also sometimes known as Santan Dave.

Where did the name Santan Dave come from?

Whilst many don't know where this originated, fans online have speculated that it's from the time he went through a phase of posting on his Snapchat Stories, adding his name to objects.

Apparently, when he went on holiday, he posted about being on 'holidave', and when he bought some new shoes he put 'adidave'. Then, when he got a new bank card from Santander, he posted about 'santandave', and the name has stuck!

Where is Dave from?

He was born in Brixton in London, and moved with his family to Streatham. His parents are Nigerian, and he has two older brothers.

How old is he?

His birthday is 5th June 1998, which makes his current age 27-years-old.

MOBO Award nominations

Dave was nominated for two awards at the 2022 ceremony - Best Male Act and Song of the Year (in association with Lucozade) for 'Starlight'.

Sadly, Dave missed out on the gongs, with Best Male Act going to Central Cee, and Song of the Year going to Dreya Mac, FelixThe1st and Finch Fetti, with the track 'Own Brand (Baddie)'.

He then picked up more MOBO Award nominations in 2023, for Best Male Act and Song Of The Year (for his track 'Splinter' with Central Cee), winning the latter at the ceremony in February 2024.

Dave's performance at The BRIT Awards 2022

After bagging himself the 2022 BRIT Award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act, it's safe to say that Dave showed us all how it was done when it comes to closing an award ceremony! The rapper played the guitar, as he was joined by Giggs, Ghetts, Fredo, Meekz and a gospel choir for an incredible pyrotechnic-fuelled rendition of his ‘We’re All Alone in This Together’ track ‘In the Fire’.

Dave took home the award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act, giving a humble acceptance speech. During his heart-warming speech, the rapper added: "I know I'm a difficult person and want to say thank you to all my friends to anyone that knows me for putting up with me."

Which BRIT Awards has he won?

Dave was nominated for two awards at The BRIT Awards 2023 - Song of The Year (for 'Starlight') and Hip Hop, Grime, Rap Act. Sadly, he missed out on both to Harry Styles for 'As It Was' and Aitch respectively.

Prior to giving us one of the most impressive performances we have ever seen at The BRIT Awards 2022, truly showing us how to close the show in style, Dave picked up the award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act.

He was nominated for a whopping FOUR BRIT Awards back at the 2020 ceremony: Song of the Year for 'Location', British Male Solo Artist, Best New Artist and Album of the Year for 'Psychodrama'.

Not only that, but Dave gave an absolutely incredible performance at the ceremony, performing a version of his song 'Black'. We caught up with 'Power Over Me' singer Dermot Kennedy, who said he'd LOVE to collaborate with Dave on new music... Watch this space!

Dave was also previously nominated for a BRIT Award in 2018, for British Breakthrough Act.

These weren't the first major awards he's won, as Dave also took home the MOBO Award for Best Newcomer in 2017, the Best Contemporary Song Ivor Novello Award for 'Question Time' as well as the coveted Mercury Prize for his album 'Psychodrama' in 2019.

Dave's looking to add to his string of awards in 2025, with another nomination at the BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard. He's up for Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act against Central Cee, Ghetts, Little Simz and Stormzy.

Glastonbury 2023

Dave joined Central Cee on stage at Glastonbury 2023 for an incredible performance of their hit track 'Sprinter', which shot to Platinum status (BPI) just over a month later. It would go on to be certified 3x Platinum in April 2025 with 1.8 million UK sales.

Warning: Explicit language

'Starlight'

After teasing fans, Dave finally released his bop 'Starlight' on Thursday 3rd March 2022! It's safe to say the track was a certified hit, flying to the top spot in the chart.

The rapper took to his social media platforms to celebrate the single hitting the Number 1 spot, simply writing: 'Starlight... #1 Single'.

After it was announced that the song had spent its second week at the Number 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart, earning more streams than the week before and becoming Dave's longest running Number 1 hit, he took to his socials to gush: 'I’m nothing without the people 🤞🏾'.

WATCH: Dave wins Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act at The BRITs 2022

How did he get famous?

Dave released music himself online, appearing on different musical platforms including YouTube, before making an appearance on SB.TV in 2015. A year later, in 2016, he teamed up with AJ Tracey on their song 'Thiago Silva' - about the Brazilian footballer. The pair performed the track together at Bestival that year.

Later in 2016, Drake remixed Dave's song 'Wanna Know', which peaked at Number 51 on the chart, marking Dave's first charted song.

In 2017, Dave released 'Samantha' with J Hus, and released his EP 'Game Over' which peaked at Number 13 in the charts. He then went on tour, performing shows in the US, Netherlands, UK and Ireland.

After taking a few months out, Dave released 'Funky Friday' featuring Fredo in 2018, which debuted at the Number 1 spot.

The album debuted at Number 1, and Dave performed at Glastonbury Festival in June 2019 on The Other Stage. His performance went viral after he invited an audience member called Alex up onto the stage with him for 'Thiago Silva'. Alex then gave an incredible performance of the song, helping Dave become a more well-known name in the process.

Dave's second album

After not dropping a solo track since his 2019 'Paper Cuts', Dave delighted fans when he surprise released TWO tracks in April 2021 - 'Titanium' and 'Mercury', which is a collaboration with singer-songwriter Kamal.

Then, on 23rd July 2021 Dave released his second album 'We're All Alone in This Together', featuring huge names such as Stormzy and WizKid. Celebrating the release on Instagram, the rapper wrote: 'My second album We’re all alone in this together is out now.' In the lengthy caption, he thanked all friends, family and fans for supporting him along the way.

Just one week later, Dave celebrated his album hitting the Number 1 spot in the charts. He took to Instagram to write: 'Second number 1 album. A lot of emotions but this is the work of the people, the best supporters on earth... my family and friends but most importantly God.

'For this we give God the glory. 74,000 album sales in 1 week and it’s God’s doing. It’s our number 1. History.'

In August 2024, Dave's track 'Clash', featuring Stormzy, was certified 2x Platinum, with the whole album holding a Platinum certification at the time.

Dave's third album and new music

Following the release of his smash-hit second album, fans have been chomping at the bit for more new music from the rapper. Well, it looks like the rapper is gearing up to release some new music fairly soon.

In May 2025, Dave posted about how it'd been 10 years since his first release, writing on Instagram about how far he'd come before ending with: 'Feel like I’m just getting started anyway.

'This isn’t some we’ve made it post I’m just land marking it because I let too many things go past me these days. With this scene on a global stage now it’s time to take it to another level. I’m just finishing this album and then it’s on. This year it’s gonna be with you.'

He also teased in December 2023 that he had a new album coming 'soon'. Sharing a series of images of himself - including a checklist which included 'START ALBUM 3' - he wrote: 'Back to the motion💿🔜'.

Dave: Top Boy

Not only a talented rapper and songwriter, Dave is also an actor, having starred in Netflix first series of Top Boy as Modie. The show had originally aired on Channel 4 for two seasons prior to Netflix taking it under its wing.

Dave's character was in prison, and had a rivalry with Sully during their time together inside - and on the outside, as he ran a rival gang.

Netflix's first season of the show was executively produced by none other than fellow rapper Drake, who fought for the show to continue after it was scheduled to end after the first two seasons.

Of course, fans were over the moon when it was revealed that Top Boy would be returning for more seasons on Netflix, with the streaming platform releasing season two on 18th March 2022, and season three in September 2023.

How much is Dave worth?

In November 2021, Dave was a new entry in heat's Rich List 2021. Following the success of his two amazing Number 1 albums, Dave was reportedly worth a massive £5.2 million.

In the 2022 edition of the rich list, Dave was reported to be worth £7.4 million, thanks to his Number 1 single 'Starlight' and a sell-out arena tour.

Then, in 2023, according to heat he had a net worth of £10.9m.

Check out Dave's biggest songs:

You can hear Dave on the KISS playlist! 🎶

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