Dave, also known as Santan Dave, is one of the most decorated British rappers of his generation. Born in South London to Nigerian parents, the 28-year-old has earned three consecutive UK number-one albums, a Mercury Prize and a Brit Award, alongside some of the longest-running chart-toppers of the streaming era. Read on for Dave's age, real name, career story, biggest songs and key facts.
Dave Quick Facts
Real Name: David Orobosa Michael Omoregie
Born: 5 June 1998, Brixton, London
Age: 28
Origin: Streatham, South London
Breakthrough: Viral 2015 Bl@ckbox freestyle at 16
Biggest Hits: "Funky Friday", "Starlight", "Sprinter", "Raindance"
Awards: Mercury Prize and Brit Award for Album of the Year (2020); Ivor Novello for Best Contemporary Song (2018)
Early Life
David Orobosa Michael Omoregie was born on 5 June 1998 in Brixton, London, to Nigerian parents - his father a pastor and his mother a nurse - and was raised in nearby Streatham. A gifted pianist from a young age, he started rapping as a teenager and sharing freestyles online. At just 16, his 2015 Bl@ckbox freestyle went viral and marked him out as one of the brightest new voices in UK rap.
Career
Dave built his early momentum through the EPs "Six Paths" (2016) and "Game Over" (2017), plus standout singles including "Thiago Silva" with AJ Tracey. His profile jumped in 2016 when Drake premiered a remix of Dave's "Wanna Know" on OVO Sound Radio. In 2018, his politically charged single "Question Time" won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, and "Funky Friday" featuring Fredo gave him his first UK number one.
His debut album "Psychodrama" arrived in 2019, debuting at number one in the UK and going on to win both the Mercury Prize and the Brit Award for Album of the Year in 2020. Its follow-up, "We're All Alone in This Together" (2021), also topped the UK Albums Chart. "Starlight" (2022) became his first solo UK number one, and in 2023 he joined forces with Central Cee for "Sprinter" (Split Decision EP) - read our Central Cee biography - which became the longest-running UK number one by a UK rapper. Away from music, Dave has also acted, playing Modie in the Netflix series Top Boy in 2019.
Recent Work (2025–2026)
Dave released his third studio album, "The Boy Who Played the Harp", on 24 October 2025. It became his third consecutive UK number-one album and produced three UK top-10 singles: "Raindance" featuring Tems (read the Raindance lyrics (Dave & Tems) and our Tems biography), "History" and "Chapter 16". "Raindance" later climbed to UK number one - Dave's fourth chart-topper - and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 89 in February 2026, his first appearance on the US chart.
In 2026, Dave took the album on the road with The Boy Who Played the Harp Tour, running from 2 February to 17 October 2026 with 43 shows across Europe, North America, Australia and Africa. He also co-headlined Reading Festival 2026, played his first-ever South Africa shows in Pretoria on 3 October and Cape Town on 6 October, and closed the tour with a concert in Lagos on 17 October 2026.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official music video for "Raindance" by Dave featuring Tems below:
FAQs
What is Dave's real name and age?
Dave's real name is David Orobosa Michael Omoregie. He was born on 5 June 1998 in Brixton, London, which makes him 28 years old. He is also known as Santan Dave.
What are Dave's biggest songs?
His biggest songs include "Funky Friday" featuring Fredo, "Starlight", "Question Time", "Thiago Silva" with AJ Tracey, "Sprinter" with Central Cee - the longest-running UK number one by a UK rapper - and "Raindance" featuring Tems.
What awards has Dave won?
His debut album "Psychodrama" won the Mercury Prize and the Brit Award for Album of the Year in 2020, while his single "Question Time" won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2018.
Is Dave also an actor?
Yes. Dave played Modie in the Netflix series Top Boy in 2019.
For more artist stories on LatestLyrics, check out our Burna Boy biography.
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