Chiedu Oraka

Hailing from North Hull Estate, Chiedu Oraka is redefining UK rap with his dynamic sound and powerful storytelling. His music fuses dancefloor-ready anthems with raw social poetry, portraying the Black, working-class experience in a predominantly white, economically deprived Northern region. Oraka’s work amplifies unheard voices and champions a bold new sound.

In 2024, he capped off a landmark year as a finalist for Best Newcomer at the 2025 Northern Music Awards. Oraka’s acclaimed mixtape Misfit (released via Launchpad+ and EMI North in April 2024) delved into themes of Black identity, masculinity, mental health and life on society’s margins. The project earned critical acclaim from NME, Clash, Wonderland, DJ Mag and The Telegraph to name a few, with strong support from BBC Radio 1, 6Music, and 1Xtra. Single "Helly Hansen 6" landed on BBC 6Music’s C List for four consecutive weeks, and Oraka became BBC Radio 1’s first-ever Future Flex freestyle performer.

Known for his electrifying stage presence, Oraka has performed across the UK and internationally, including his debut Glastonbury 2024 performance on the BBC Introducing stage, a sold-out headline UK tour, and SXSW 2024 in Austin, where he supported Skepta for the British Music Embassy. His lyrical prowess and high-energy performances have also earned him support slots with Stormzy, KRS-One, Casisdead and Akala.

Oraka is one of the founding members of music collective Lockdown; through their independent label ROOM 73 the collective have released a number of hit songs, including ‘Men Behaving Badly’, ‘Flex’ and ‘Darcy’, which garnered streams in the millions. Oraka’s highest performing single, ‘Darcy’ sat on Spotify's Grime Shutdown for over 300 days.

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