Dave (rapper) Bio: Net Worth, Age, Girlfriend, Parents, Height, Albums, Songs, Nationality, Movies

Biography

Dave, born David Orobosa Michael Omoregie on June 5, 1998, in Brixton, South London, is a highly acclaimed British rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor.

Also known as Santan Dave, he rose to prominence in the UK rap and grime scene with his intricate lyricism, socially conscious themes, and storytelling.

Raised in nearby Streatham by Nigerian parents—his father a pastor and mother a nurse—he began writing lyrics as a young teen and learned piano, channeling personal and family challenges (including his brothers’ imprisonments) into his music.

He gained early attention with a viral 2015 Bl@ckbox freestyle at age 16, followed by standout appearances on BBC Radio 1. Dave‘s breakthrough came with EPs like Six Paths (2016) and hits such as “Thiago Silva” and “Funky Friday.”

His debut album, Psychodrama (2019), won the Mercury Prize and Brit Award for Album of the Year, praised for its emotional depth and social commentary. He followed with We’re All Alone in This Together (2021) and his third album, The Boy Who Played the Harp (2025), solidifying his status as one of the UK’s most influential and decorated rappers. He has also acted, notably in Top Boy.

British rapper and actor
Dave
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	David Orobosa Michael Omoregie
Stage Name:	Dave
Born:	5 June 1998 (age 27 years old)
Place of Birth:	Brixton, London, United Kingdom
State Of Origin:	Edo State
Nationality:	Nigerian, British
Education:	St Mark’s Academy, Richmond upon Thames College
Height:	180 cm
Parents:	Frank Omoregie, Juliet Doris Omoregie
Siblings:	Christopher Omoregie, Benjamin Omoregie, De Montfort University
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Besmira (2021), Tems (2025)
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Rapper • Actor
Net Worth:	$21 million-$22 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Dave (real name David Orobosa Michael Omoregie), known professionally as Santan Dave, was born on 5 June 1998 in Brixton, South London, England.

He is British-Nigerian (of Nigerian descent, specifically Edo/Bini heritage from his parents’ side). He was raised in a Christian household—his father is a pastor—and moved with his family to nearby Streatham, South London, at the age of seven.

His parents are Frank Omoregie (a pastor who was deported to Nigeria when Dave was only a few months old due to visa issues) and Juliet Doris Omoregie (a nurse who raised the family largely single-handedly amid significant hardship, including a brief period of homelessness).

Dave is the youngest of three sons; his two older brothers are Benjamin Omoregie (eight years older) and Christopher Omoregie (five years older). Both brothers spent time in prison during Dave’s teenage years—Christopher received a life sentence in 2010 for his involvement in a gang-related murder under joint enterprise laws, while Benjamin served four years for robbery (released in 2018).

For education, Dave attended St Mark’s Academy, a Church of England secondary school in Mitcham. He later studied at Richmond upon Thames College in Twickenham, where he took A-Levels in law, philosophy, and ethics, as well as additional modules in sound design and politics.

He was accepted to study law at De Montfort University in Leicester but chose not to attend, focusing instead on his burgeoning music career. He began writing lyrics at age 11 after watching his brother rap and taught himself piano at 14 after receiving a keyboard from his mother.

Career

Dave, also known as Santan Dave, was born David Orobosa Michael Omoregie. He started his music career in 2015 at just 16 or 17 years old, when a freestyle on the Bl@ckbox YouTube channel went viral, highlighting his sharp lyricism.

This early success led to appearances on BBC Radio 1, including Semtex’s 1Xtra session and Charlie Sloth‘s Fire in the Booth, helping him gain recognition in the UK grime and rap scenes. In 2016, he released his debut EP, Six Paths, through Neighbourhood Recordings.

The EP featured introspective tracks and the hit single “Thiago Silva” with AJ Tracey, which became popular as a grime-rap crossover. His profile grew further when Drake remixed his song “Wanna Know” and later featured him on the outro of “Teenage Fever” from the 2017 playlist More Life, introducing Dave to a wider audience.

That same year, he performed with Drake at London’s O2 Arena. Dave followed up with his second EP, Game Over, in 2017, and released singles like “Question Time,” which won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2018.

In 2018, his collaboration with Fredo, “Funky Friday,” became his first UK number-one single. Dave‘s major breakthrough came with his debut studio album, Psychodrama, in 2019. The album explored themes of mental health, family, and social issues, and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, setting a record for the most streams for a British rap album in its first week.

It won the Mercury Prize in 2019 and was named Album of the Year at the 2020 BRIT Awards. That year, Dave also made his acting debut as Modie in season 3 of Netflix’s Top Boy, earning praise for his performance.

His second album, We’re All Alone in This Together, was released in 2021, topped the UK chart, and featured collaborations with Stormzy, James Blake, and Wizkid. The album brought more acclaim and awards, including Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act at the 2022 BRIT Awards.

Singles like “Starlight” (2022) also reached number one, and in 2023, his EP Split Decision with Central Cee produced the hit “Sprinter,” another UK chart-topper.

In 2025, Dave released his third studio album, The Boy Who Played the Harp, on October 24. This album was more somber and introspective, featuring artists like James Blake, Tems, and Kano. It debuted strongly, with singles such as “Raindance” featuring Tems reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart, setting a record for the most UK number-one singles by a UK rapper this decade.

The album earned him several nominations at major awards shows, including multiple BRIT categories, and supported a sold-out arena tour across the UK and Europe. Over his career, Dave has won 2 BRIT Awards (from 16 nominations), 4 Ivor Novello Awards, 1 Mercury Prize, 1 MTV Europe Music Award, and several MOBO Awards, including Best Newcomer in 2017.

He is known for his socially conscious storytelling, political commentary, piano skills, and production, and is considered one of the most influential and respected figures in British music.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Dave (rapper)
• Instagram: SANTAN (@santandave)
• YouTube: Santan Dave
• IMDb: David Omoregie
• TikTok: Santan (@santandave)
• Twitter: SANTAN (@Santandave1) / X

Personal Life

Dave (Santan Dave), born David Orobosa Michael Omoregie on 5 June 1998, is currently 27 years old.

He stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall, though he has claimed on social media to be taller than 6 feet.

Dave has never been married and has no confirmed wife or children. Past rumors have included links to an Albanian ex-girlfriend named Besmira (mentioned around 2021 in fan discussions and tied to tracks like “Survivor’s Guilt“), as well as brief speculation about models or other figures in the early 2020s.

More recently, in late 2025 and into 2026, strong fan speculation has surrounded him and Nigerian singer Tems following their collaboration on “Raindance” (from his 2025 album The Boy Who Played the Harp), shared social media moments, matching rings in videos, joint appearances (e.g., at events like the Las Vegas Grand Prix), and lyrics fans interpret as references (e.g., height mentions aligning with Tems‘ 5’9″ stature).

However, neither has confirmed any romantic involvement—these remain unverified rumors and fan theories.

Net Worth

Dave (Santan Dave), the acclaimed British rapper, has an estimated net worth of £16.8 million (approximately $21 million to $22 million USD).

This figure reflects his substantial success in the music industry, including chart-topping albums like Psychodrama (2019), We’re All Alone in This Together (2021), and The Boy Who Played the Harp (2025), multiple UK number-one singles (such as “Funky Friday,” “Starlight,” “Sprinter,” and “Raindance“), sold-out arena tours, streaming revenue, production credits, acting roles (notably in Top Boy), and brand collaborations.

Some older or less updated sources list lower figures around £3–11 million from prior years, and speculative online discussions sometimes inflate or underestimate—£16.8 million aligns with his ongoing commercial dominance, independent status, and diversified income streams.

Dave is known for a grounded approach to wealth, often channeling earnings into philanthropy (e.g., via his Juliet O Foundation and donations to global causes) rather than ostentatious displays.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Psychodrama (2019)
  Debut album; concept-driven exploration of mental health, family, and society. Won the Mercury Prize (2019) and BRIT Award for Album of the Year (2020). UK #1 album.
• We’re All Alone in This Together (2021)
  Second studio album; featured Stormzy, James Blake, Wizkid, and others. UK #1; critically acclaimed for emotional depth and production.
• The Boy Who Played the Harp (2025)
  Third studio album, released October 24, 2025. Somber, introspective project with features from James Blake (“History”), Tems (“Raindance”), Kano (“Chapter 16”), Jim Legxacy (“No Weapons”), and others. UK #1 debut; made Dave the first UK rapper with three #1 albums. Lead single “Raindance” (ft. Tems) hit UK #1 and entered Billboard Hot 100.

EPs

• Six Paths (2016)
  Debut EP via Neighbourhood Recordings; included early hits like “Thiago Silva” (with AJ Tracey) and “Streatham.”
• Game Over (2017)
  Second EP; built on his rising profile with tracks showcasing lyricism and production.
• Split Decision (2023)
  Collaborative EP with Central Cee; featured the massive hit “Sprinter” (UK #1, multi-platinum).

Notable Standalone Singles & Hits

Dave has multiple UK #1 singles (he’s among the top UK rappers for chart success this decade):

• “Thiago Silva” (2016, with AJ Tracey)
• “Funky Friday” (2018, with Fredo) – First UK #1
• “Question Time” (2018)
• “Location” (2019, with Burna Boy)
• “Clash” (2021, ft. Stormzy)
• “Verdansk” (2021)
• “Starlight” (2022) – UK #1
• “Sprinter” (2023, with Central Cee) – UK #1
• “Raindance” (2025, ft. Tems) – UK #1

Other key tracks include “Wanna Know” (remixed by Drake), “Black,” “Meridian” (with Tiakola), and freestyles like his viral 2015 Blackbox cypher.

Other Contributions

• Features on tracks by artists like Drake (“Teenage Fever” outro on More Life, 2017), Burna Boy, Stormzy, Wizkid, Central Cee, and more.
• Acting: Role as Modie in Top Boy (Netflix, Season 3, 2019).
• Production: Frequently self-produces or collaborates with 169, Fraser T. Smith, Jo Caleb, etc.

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