Fresh from supporting Amaarae in London and Paris and appearing alongside Little Simz on the surprise SUGAR GIRL EP, Nigerian British rapper DEELA is keeping the momentum going with her latest double single, “DEY PLAY!” and “Gbona”.
The two tracks showcase different sides of her artistry. “DEY PLAY!” is a confident, no-nonsense statement, built around a phrase used to brush off unwanted attention and delivered with DEELA’s trademark self-assurance. Meanwhile, “Gbona”, Yoruba for “hot” or “heat”, is a motivational blend of pidgin and English that celebrates resilience, ambition and the self-belief driving her forward.
Born and raised in Lagos before moving to England at 11, DEELA has carved out a sound that reflects both sides of her upbringing. Influenced by everything from Anita Baker and Whitney Houston to Jay-Z and Kanye West, she fuses rap, trap and Afrobeats into a style that’s uniquely her own. Since committing to music full time after studying Biomedical Science at the University of Manchester, she’s collaborated with artists including Flo Milli, Teni and Coco & Clair Clair, while introducing her self-described “Wicked Babe Music” era through 2024’s “Good Girl Dey No Pay” and her 2025 debut mixtape Wicked.
With recognition from DAZED and Clash as a 2026 One to Watch, growing international attention for her collaboration with South African producer Vanco, and recent performances at Fête de la Musique and Somerset House, DEELA continues to prove she’s one of the UK’s most exciting voices bridging African and British music. “DEY PLAY!” and “Gbona” only reinforce that trajectory, capturing an artist confidently defining success on her own terms.