# Deno (singer)

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British musician

Deno Also known as Deno Driz Born Deno Michael Mebrahtu (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 23) Brixton, London, England Genres R&B[1] afroswing hip hop Occupations Singer songwriter rapper actor Years active 2016–present Label Independent Website denodriz.com

Musical artist

**Deno Michael Mebrahtu** (born 23 September 2002), known mononymously as **Deno**, is a British-Eritrean singer, songwriter, rapper and actor from [London](/source/London). His parents are originally from [Eritrea](/source/Eritrea),[2] and he was raised in [South London](/source/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](/source/Evelyn_Grace_Academy) in [Brixton](/source/Brixton), [London](/source/London).

In 2016, a friend of Deno asked him to freestyle and sing on his [Snapchat](/source/Snapchat) after school. This was posted to Instagram with the "#imjustbait" hashtag. He gained thousands of followers. Further videos caught the attention of [Stormzy](/source/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](/source/Gang_Signs_%26_Prayer)*.[3]

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](/source/YouTube). The same year, the pair, often styled AJ x Deno, recorded multiple songs. They began performing more consistently, including opening for [Migos](/source/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.[4] The video for "London" was streamed over 45 million times and peaked at No. 45 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).

### Rise to fame (2018–2021)

Deno met rapper [Cadet](/source/Cadet_(rapper)) on the set of the short film *Shiro's Story Part 3* (2018). His ensuing collaboration with Cadet, the track "[Advice](/source/Advice_(song))", went viral, with over 30 million YouTube views. It reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart[5] with over 500,000 sales,[6] earning a Brit certified Gold Award.[7] More singles followed as he featured on the hit "[Pumpy](/source/Pumpy)" by Da Beatfreakz, also featuring past collaborators AJ, Swarmz and Cadet.[8] In 2019, Deno released "[First Days](/source/First_Days_(song))", a tribute to Cadet, who had died in a road collision in February of that year.[9]

In September 2019, Deno released the single "Change" featuring [DigDat](/source/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.[10]

Deno appeared singing in the 2018 season of [Idris Elba](/source/Idris_Elba)'s TV series *[In the Long Run](/source/In_the_Long_Run)*.

In late 2019, Deno released the [EP](/source/Extended_play) *Eye 2 Eye* which has features such as [Krept](/source/Krept), [Jay1](/source/Jay1) and [DigDat](/source/DigDat).[11]

In 2021, Deno released the mixtape "Boy Meets World" which has features such as [J.I the Prince of N.Y](/source/J.I_the_Prince_of_N.Y), [Chunkz](/source/Chunkz), [Unknown T](/source/Unknown_T), [Cadet](/source/Cadet_(rapper)), [Craig David](/source/Craig_David), [DDG](/source/DDG_(rapper)), Jade Silva and [Bandokay](/source/Bandokay) and [Double Lz](/source/Double_Lz) of rap collective [OFB](/source/OFB_(rap_group)). The mixtape peaked at 31 on the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart).

## Discography

### Mixtapes

Title Album details Peak chart positions UK [12] Boy Meets World Released: 14 May 2021 Label: Columbia Format: Digital Download, Streaming 31

### Extended Plays

Title Details Eye 2 Eye Released: 25 October 2019 Label: Columbia Format: Digital Download, Streaming

### Singles

#### As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK [13] "London" (with AJ featuring EO) 2018 45 BPI: Platinum[14] Non-album single "Advice" (with Cadet) 14 BPI: Platinum[14] The Rated Legend "Pumpy" (with Da Beatfreakz, Cadet, AJ and Swarmz) 70 BPI: Silver[14] Non-album single "First Days" 2019 71 "Lifestyle" 82 "Motorola" (with Da Beatfreakz, Dappy and Swarmz) 32 BPI: Silver[14] "Change" (featuring DigDat) 53 Eye to Eye "Walking On" (featuring Krept) — "Link Up" (with Geko, Stefflon Don and Dappy) 84 22 "Self-Obsessed" (with Da Beatfreakz, D-Block Europe and Krept & Konan) 2020 26 BPI: Silver[14] Non-album single "Circles" (featuring OFB, Bandokay and Double Lz) 36 Boy Meets World "Lingo" (featuring J.I and Chunkz) 2021 57 "Drizzy" — "Reload" (with Swarmz) — Non-album singles "Better Now" 2022 —

### As featured artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album UK [citation needed] "Lamborghini" (Kosso featuring Deno) 2020 — Non-album single "Purple" (Charlie Sloth featuring Deno and Polo G) — "Baby" (A1 x J1 featuring Deno) 2021 98 TBA

### Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Home Alone" 2019 D-Block Europe, Swarmz Home Alone "Chase Cash" Lil Berete 1 Way Out "J LO" 2020 Nafe Smallz, Chip Goat World "Ying & Yang" GRM Daily, Chip GRM 10 "Gang Gang" 2021 KSI, Jay1 All Over the Place

## Filmography

### Television

Year Title Role Network Notes Ref. 2017-2018 In the Long Run Singing Boy Sky One 6 episodes

### Web

Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2018 Shiro's Story Bailey Part 3 (Short YouTube Series) [15] 2020 The Re-Up Brandon Main Role, both parts

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Evans, Elle (14 May 2021). [""I'm Just Being Myself!" Deno On New Mixtape 'Boy Meets World' A quick chat with the live-wire MC"](https://www.clashmusic.com/features/im-just-being-myself-deno-on-new-mixtape-boy-meets-world). *www.clashmusic.com*. [Clash Music](/source/Clash_(magazine)#ClashMusic.com). Retrieved 8 August 2022. testing the waters a lot! I did some dancehall and R&B, with 'Boy Meets World'

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dawkins, Farida (14 August 2018). ["Deno Driz, the 16-year-old Eritrean singer in the UK is surely the next big thing"](https://face2faceafrica.com/article/deno-driz-the-16-year-old-eritrean-singer-who-is-surely-the-next-big-thing-videos). Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Welsh, April Clare (30 January 2017). ["Stormzy teases February release with mysterious London billboards"](https://www.factmag.com/2017/01/30/stormzy-teases-february-release-with-mysterious-billboard/). Fact. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Martin, Liam. ["AJ and Deno"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/aj-deno-mn0003743644/biography). Allmusic. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: ADVICE"](https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/advice/). Official Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Homewood, Ben (23 September 2019), *Big numbers aren't enough for this new kid on the block...*, Music Week

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["11 young musicians to listen to now - including a favourite of the royals"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/mens-style/11-young-musicians-listen-now-including-favourite-royals/). The Telegraph. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Hargreaves, Eilidh (23 September 2019). ["AJ and Deno"](https://www.thismustbepop.com/2018/10/01/aj-deno-columbia/). This Must Be Pop. Retrieved 23 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Jodi. ["Singer, Deno Driz, Releases Latest Track, 'First Days'"](https://celebmix.com/singer-deno-driz-releases-latest-track-first-days/). CelebMix. Retrieved 13 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Wightman-Stone, Danielle (22 August 2019). ["BoohooMan to launch collection with UK artist Deno"](https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/boohooman-to-launch-collection-with-uk-artist-deno/2019082244867). Fashion United. Retrieved 13 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Deno Announces Debut EP 'Eye 2 Eye'"](http://grmdaily.com/deno-announces-eye-2-eye-ep). *GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Official_Charts_Company_12-0)** ["DENO full Official Chart History"](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54704/deno/). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-UK_13-0)** ["Deno | full Official Chart history"](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54704/deno/). [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 5 July 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BPI_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BPI_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BPI_14-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BPI_14-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-BPI_14-4) ["BRIT Certified - Deno"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/) (To access, enter the search parameter "Deno"). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved 5 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Mensah, De'Graft (21 September 2018). ["Shiro's Story: The UK rap action drama with Netflix potential"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45594313). *Newsbeat*. [Bbc.co.uk](/source/Bbc.co.uk). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190215075522/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45594313) from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019. *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.*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Deno (singer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deno_(singer)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deno_(singer)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.