{{short description|British musician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Deno | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Deno Michael Mebrahtu | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|year=2002|month=9|day=23|df=yes}} | years_active = 2016–present | birth_place = [[Brixton]], [[London]], England | alias = Deno Driz | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * rapper * actor }} | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Elle |title="I'm Just Being Myself!" Deno On New Mixtape 'Boy Meets World' A quick chat with the live-wire MC |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/im-just-being-myself-deno-on-new-mixtape-boy-meets-world |website=www.clashmusic.com |publisher=[[Clash (magazine)#ClashMusic.com|Clash Music]] |access-date=8 August 2022 |date=14 May 2021 |quote=testing the waters a lot! I did some dancehall and R&B, with ‘Boy Meets World’}}</ref> * [[afroswing]] * [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] }} | label = Independent | website = {{URL|http://denodriz.com}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|AJ|[[Cadet (rapper)|Cadet]]|[[Stormzy]]|[[DigDat]]|[[Swarmz]]|[[Polo G]]|[[Charlie Sloth]]|[[Chunkz]]|[[KSI]]|[[J.I the Prince of N.Y]]|[[DDG (rapper)|DDG]]}} }}
'''Deno Michael Mebrahtu''' (born 23 September 2002), known mononymously as '''Deno''', is a British-Eritrean singer, songwriter, rapper and actor from [[London]]. His parents are originally from [[Eritrea]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://face2faceafrica.com/article/deno-driz-the-16-year-old-eritrean-singer-who-is-surely-the-next-big-thing-videos | title = Deno Driz, the 16-year-old Eritrean singer in the UK is surely the next big thing | publisher = Face2Face Africa | last = Dawkins | first = Farida | date = 14 August 2018 | access-date = 28 August 2019 }}</ref> and he was raised in [[South London]]. He came to the forefront of London's afro-wave music scene beginning in 2018 with a number of viral music videos and hit songs.
==Music career== ===Beginnings (2016–2017)=== Deno attended [[Evelyn Grace Academy]] in [[Brixton]], [[London]].
In 2016, a friend of Deno asked him to freestyle and sing on his [[Snapchat]] after school. This was posted to Instagram with the "#imjustbait" hashtag. He gained thousands of followers. Further videos caught the attention of [[Stormzy]], who retweeted one of them, got in touch, and took Deno into the studio with him to guest on his album ''[[Gang Signs & Prayer]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.factmag.com/2017/01/30/stormzy-teases-february-release-with-mysterious-billboard/ | title = Stormzy teases February release with mysterious London billboards | publisher = Fact | last = Welsh | first = April Clare | date = 30 January 2017 | access-date = 28 August 2019 }}</ref>
In 2016, Deno met rapper AJ at a Stratford Westfield get-together. The two began a creative partnership, beginning with Deno singing the chorus on AJ's track "Know Me". The video netted over 2.5 million views on [[YouTube]]. The same year, the pair, often styled AJ x Deno, recorded multiple songs. They began performing more consistently, including opening for [[Migos]] at IndigO2.
Deno & AJ were signed by Sony Columbia UK in 2017. They released singles from 2017, but did not find commercial success until 2018 with the hit "London" featuring EO.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/aj-deno-mn0003743644/biography | title = AJ and Deno | publisher = Allmusic | last = Martin | first = Liam | access-date = 28 August 2019 }}</ref> The video for "London" was streamed over 45 million times and peaked at No. 45 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].
===Rise to fame (2018–2021)===
Deno met rapper [[Cadet (rapper)|Cadet]] on the set of the short film ''Shiro's Story Part 3'' (2018). His ensuing collaboration with Cadet, the track "[[Advice (song)|Advice]]", went viral, with over 30 million YouTube views. It reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/advice/ | title = OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: ADVICE| publisher = Official Charts | access-date = 13 September 2019 }}</ref> with over 500,000 sales,<ref>{{citation | title = Big numbers aren't enough for this new kid on the block... | publisher = Music Week | last = Homewood | first = Ben | date = 23 September 2019 }}</ref> earning a Brit certified Gold Award.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/mens-style/11-young-musicians-listen-now-including-favourite-royals/ | title = 11 young musicians to listen to now - including a favourite of the royals | publisher = The Telegraph | date = 1 October 2018 | access-date = 28 August 2019 }}</ref> More singles followed as he featured on the hit "[[Pumpy]]" by Da Beatfreakz, also featuring past collaborators AJ, Swarmz and Cadet.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.thismustbepop.com/2018/10/01/aj-deno-columbia/ | title = AJ and Deno | publisher = This Must Be Pop | last = Hargreaves | first = Eilidh | date = 23 September 2019 | access-date = 23 September 2019 }}</ref> In 2019, Deno released "[[First Days (song)|First Days]]", a tribute to Cadet, who had died in a road collision in February of that year.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://celebmix.com/singer-deno-driz-releases-latest-track-first-days/ | title = Singer, Deno Driz, Releases Latest Track, 'First Days'| publisher = CelebMix | author = Jodi | access-date = 13 September 2019 }}</ref>
In September 2019, Deno released the single "Change" featuring [[DigDat]], with a video directed by Darnell Depradine.
He teamed with men's global fashion wear brand BoohooMAN for a 30-piece fashion collection, launched in September 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/boohooman-to-launch-collection-with-uk-artist-deno/2019082244867 | title = BoohooMan to launch collection with UK artist Deno | publisher = Fashion United | last = Wightman-Stone | first = Danielle | date = 22 August 2019 | access-date = 13 September 2019 }}</ref>
Deno appeared singing in the 2018 season of [[Idris Elba]]'s TV series ''[[In the Long Run]]''.
In late 2019, Deno released the [[Extended play|EP]] ''Eye 2 Eye'' which has features such as [[Krept]], [[Jay1]] and [[DigDat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grmdaily.com/deno-announces-eye-2-eye-ep|title=Deno Announces Debut EP 'Eye 2 Eye'|website=GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture}}</ref>
In 2021, Deno released the mixtape "Boy Meets World" which has features such as [[J.I the Prince of N.Y]], [[Chunkz]], [[Unknown T]], [[Cadet (rapper)|Cadet]], [[Craig David]], [[DDG (rapper)|DDG]], Jade Silva and [[Bandokay]] and [[Double Lz]] of rap collective [[OFB (rap group)|OFB]]. The mixtape peaked at 31 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].
==Discography== ===Mixtapes=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br/><ref name="Official Charts Company">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54704/deno/ |title=DENO full Official Chart History |accessdate=31 January 2022 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> |- | ''Boy Meets World'' | * Released: 14 May 2021 * Label: Columbia * Format: Digital Download, Streaming | 31 |}
===Extended Plays=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Details |- | ''Eye 2 Eye'' | * Released: 25 October 2019 * Label: Columbia * Format: Digital Download, Streaming |}
===Singles=== ====As lead artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]] ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54704/deno/|title=Deno {{!}} full Official Chart history|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| "London"<br />{{small|(with AJ featuring EO)}} |rowspan="3"| 2018 | 45 | * [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Platinum<ref name=BPI>{{cite web|title=BRIT Certified - Deno|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|access-date=5 July 2022|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|format=To access, enter the search parameter "Deno"}}</ref> | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- !scope="row"| "[[Advice (song)|Advice]]"<br />{{small|(with [[Cadet (rapper)|Cadet]])}} | 14 | * BPI: Platinum<ref name=BPI /> | ''[[The Rated Legend]]'' |- !scope="row"| "Pumpy"<br />{{small|(with Da Beatfreakz, [[Cadet (rapper)|Cadet]], AJ and [[Swarmz]])}} | 70 | * BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI /> | rowspan="4" {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- !scope="row"| "[[First Days (song)|First Days]]" | rowspan="6"| 2019 | 71 | |- !scope="row"| "Lifestyle" | 82 | |- !scope="row"| "Motorola"<br />{{small|(with Da Beatfreakz, [[Dappy]] and [[Swarmz]])}} | 32 | * BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI /> |- !scope="row"| "Change"<br />{{small|(featuring [[DigDat]])}} | 53 | | rowspan="2"| ''Eye to Eye'' |- !scope="row"| "Walking On"<br />{{small|(featuring [[Krept]])}} | — | |- !scope="row"| "Link Up"<br />{{small|(with [[Geko (rapper)|Geko]], [[Stefflon Don]] and [[Dappy]])}} | 84 | | ''22'' |- !scope="row"| "Self-Obsessed"<br />{{small| (with Da Beatfreakz, [[D-Block Europe]] and [[Krept & Konan]])}} | rowspan="2"| 2020 | 26 | * BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI /> | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- !scope="row"| "Circles"<br />{{small| (featuring [[OFB (rap group)|OFB]], [[Bandokay]] and [[Double Lz]])}} | 36 | | rowspan="3"| ''Boy Meets World'' |- !scope="row"| "Lingo"<br />{{small| (featuring [[J.I the Prince of N.Y|J.I]] and [[Chunkz]])}} | rowspan="3"| 2021 | 57 | |- !scope="row"| "Drizzy" | — | |- !scope="row"| "Reload"<br />{{small| (with [[Swarmz]])}} | — | | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |- !Scope="row"| "Better Now" | 2022 | — | |}
===As featured artist=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br />{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} |- !scope="row"| "Lamborghini"<br />{{small|(Kosso featuring Deno)}} | rowspan="2"| 2020 | — | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- !scope="row"| "Purple"<br />{{small|([[Charlie Sloth]] featuring Deno and [[Polo G]])}} | — |- !scope="row"| "Baby"<br />{{small|([[A1 x J1]] featuring Deno)}} | rowspan="2"| 2021 | 98 | {{TBA}} |}
=== Guest appearances === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:16.5em;" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" |Other artist(s) ! scope="col" |Album |- !scope="row"| "Home Alone" | rowspan="2"| 2019 | [[D-Block Europe]], [[Swarmz]] | ''Home Alone'' |- !scope="row"| "Chase Cash" | Lil Berete | ''1 Way Out'' |- !scope="row"| "J LO" | rowspan="2"| 2020 | [[Nafe Smallz]], [[Chip (rapper)|Chip]] | ''Goat World'' |- !scope="row"| "Ying & Yang" | [[GRM Daily]], Chip | ''GRM 10'' |- !scope="row"| "Gang Gang" |rowspan="2"| 2021 | [[KSI]], [[Jay1]] | ''[[All Over the Place (KSI album)|All Over the Place]]'' |}
==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Network ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"| 2017-2018 | ''[[In the Long Run]]'' | Singing Boy | [[Sky One]] | 6 episodes | |}
===Web=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2018 | ''[[Shiro's Story Trilogy|Shiro's Story]]'' | Bailey | Part 3 (Short YouTube Series) | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45594313|title=Shiro's Story: The UK rap action drama with Netflix potential|last=Mensah|first=De'Graft|date=21 September 2018|website=Newsbeat|publisher=[[Bbc.co.uk]]|access-date=14 February 2019|quote=''It's a gritty UK drama that's had more than 10 million hits and has seen the likes of Not3s and Headie One make their acting debuts.''|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215075522/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45594313|archive-date=15 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2020 | ''The Re-Up'' | Brandon | Main Role, both parts | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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[[Category:Living people]] [[Category:2002 births]] [[Category:21st-century Black British male singers]] [[Category:21st-century British male singers]] [[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Lambeth]] [[Category:English people of Eritrean descent]] [[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Lambeth]] [[Category:People from Brixton]] [[Category:English hip-hop musicians]] [[Category:Columbia Records artists]] [[Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Lambeth]]