{{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| * 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 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 }} | label = Independent | website = {{URL|http://denodriz.com}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|AJ|Cadet|Stormzy|DigDat|Swarmz|Polo G|Charlie Sloth|Chunkz|KSI|J.I the Prince of N.Y|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 on the set of the short film ''Shiro's Story Part 3'' (2018). His ensuing collaboration with Cadet, the track "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", 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 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, Craig David, DDG, Jade Silva and Bandokay and Double Lz of rap collective 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<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;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| 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 | * 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"<br />{{small|(with Cadet)}} | 14 | * BPI: Platinum<ref name=BPI /> | ''The Rated Legend'' |- !scope="row"| "Pumpy"<br />{{small|(with Da Beatfreakz, Cadet, AJ and Swarmz)}} | 70 | * BPI: Silver<ref name=BPI /> | rowspan="4" {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- !scope="row"| "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, 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, Bandokay and Double Lz)}} | 36 | | rowspan="3"| ''Boy Meets World'' |- !scope="row"| "Lingo"<br />{{small| (featuring 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<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 | ''Goat World'' |- !scope="row"| "Ying & Yang" | GRM Daily, Chip | ''GRM 10'' |- !scope="row"| "Gang Gang" |rowspan="2"| 2021 | KSI, Jay1 | ''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'' | 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