Santan Dave

Dave Celebrates ‘My 24th Birthday’ With An Introspective Freestyle

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It’s wild to think that with all he’s accomplished, Dave is still in the first half of just his second decade of life. In the past year, he’s won BRIT Awards, toured the US, been announced as the headliner of both his home nation’s Wireless Festival and the first-ever Toronto Rolling Loud, and received the co-sign of Drake, who is still widely considered the number-one talent scout on the planet. All of that before turning 24, which he did on June 5 this year.

To celebrate, he’s issued an introspective freestyle titled “My 24th Birthday,” which is a spiritual successor/continuation of his 2017 track “My 19th Birthday.” Although he’s skipped a few years in the series, he can be forgiven; the past five years have been pretty busy, full of ups and downs for the rising star. But now he’s also got plenty to reflect on, from buying his mom a house and earning his second UK No. 1 with “Starlight,” to the newfound problems that come with fame and fortune for a kid from the endz of South London.

“But what’s livin’? Is it clubbin’ and bangin’ chicks or plannin’ trips?” he wonders on the track. “Or some sort of pleasure I haven’t managed to factor in? / I guess I’ll let you know when the stats are in.” Perhaps he’ll do so on his 29th birthday.

Listen to “My 24th Birthday” above.

Drake’s OVO Fest Is Returning In 2022

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drake ovo
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In addition to anointing UK rapper Dave as one of the most unique artists in the business today, Drake also had another surprise for fans at Dave’s tour stop in Toronto last night. After performing “Wanna Know” and “Knife Talk” alongside his host (or guest, since Drake owns the venue, History), Drake told the diehards in attendance that he’s also planning on bringing back his own event, OVO Fest, sometime this year. “I love you with all of my heart,” he said. “They let the city back open so I will see you at OVO Fest soon.”

Drake’s festival would have had its 10th iteration in 2020, but COVID-19 and the resulting safety restrictions forced him to forego plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary at the event itself. Unfortunately, as a side effect of the slowed income from that year, there was no 2021 edition, either. The last OVO Fest took place in 2019 with guests like millennial favorites B2K, Chingy, and Lloyd. Intriguingly enough, Drake’s festival isn’t the only one coming back to Toronto this year; in April, Rolling Loud announced its own event in The Six featuring none other than Dave as a headliner alongside Future and international superstar Wizkid.

Drake didn’t offer any more details, but you can bet when he does, there will be a frenzy to get tickets to his hometown show — no matter how much they cost.

Drake Joined Dave Onstage At His Toronto Show, Calling Him A ‘Once In A Generation Talent’

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Streatham, London rapper Dave has been rising in acclaim and esteem over the last few years. In addition to dropping the well-received albums Psychodrama and We’re All Alone In This Together — both of which topped the UK’s Albums Chart — he was a thrilling villain in the Drake-produced revival of the street crime drama Top Boy and recently became a BRIT Award-winner for We’re All Alone. It’s safe to say that he’s one of the UK’s most exciting acts today.

Leave it to Drake to make that coronation official during Dave’s North American tour stop in — where else? — Toronto, Drake’s hometown. Drake joined Dave onstage mid-show to perform their 2016 collaboration “Wanna Know,” as well as a rendition of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy track “Knife Talk.” Afterward, Drake addressed the audience, giving Dave his benediction.

“This guy right here is a once-in-a-generation talent,” he said. “Whether he’s rapping, pouring out his heart, whether he’s turning all the way up, whether he’s playing the piano, whether he’s acting in our show Top Boy, I promise you, this guy right here is a one of one.”

Drake’s blessing is no small one; his pop-outs for collaborators and friends have helped increase their popularity by several orders of magnitude. In recent years, he’s done so for artists like Giveon and Jack Harlow, and if past trends are anything to judge by, it probably won’t be long until Dave’s own profile similarly skyrockets. Check out video of Drake onstage with the breakthrough UK artist above.

Little Simz Won Best New Artist And Dave Played A Flaming Guitar At The 2022 BRIT Awards

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Last night’s BRIT Awards ceremony gave a whole new meaning to the term “playing with fire” as rap music won big and dominated the onstage performances with dynamic sets from Black artists like Dave and Little Simz (who, incidentally, are also alums of “the British version of The Wire,” Top Boy).

Dave, who won the Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act award, also performed his song “In The Fire” from his 2021 second studio album We’re All Alone in This Together with fellow Grime standouts Giggs, Ghetts, Meekz, and Fredo. After completing his passionate verse, Dave revealed a surprising talent, donning an electric guitar to play a dazzling solo as flames shot out the end, a la Mad Max: Fury Road. Watch the performance above.

Another big winner was Little Simz, whose 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert was widely considered one of the year’s best. Nominated for Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act, Simz won Best New Artist, bringing her mum onstage for an inspirational acceptance speech encouraging fans to chase their dreams and holding herself up as an example of the fruits of perseverance. She also played album standouts “Introvert” and “Woman” alongside actress Emma Corrin from The Crown. You can check her performance out below.