Unknown T

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Unknown T
Birth nameDaniel Richie Lena[1][2]
Born (1999-08-17) 17 August 1999 (age 24)
Homerton, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present
Labels
Member of98s

Daniel Richie Lena (born 17 August 1999), known professionally as Unknown T, is a British rapper. His post release album Rise Above Hate (2020) was a major hit on the UK music scene, the album reaching the top of the charts in its first couple of weeks.

Career[edit]

His debut single, "Homerton B", peaked at number 48 on the UK Singles Chart in October 2018.[3] Though it was originally released without a label,[4] its chart performance led to him being signed by Island Records through Universal Music Group[5] and appeared at Wireless festival in 2019.[6] It was included in a number of publications "best of 2018" lists, including The Guardian,[7] Mixmag,[8] and Complex.[9] In March 2019, "Homerton B" became the first UK drill track to be certified Silver by the BPI.[10] Follow up tracks "Throwback", "Meat" and "Leave Dat Trap", the latter featuring AJ Tracey, have accumulated over 5 million views.[11]

Unknown T's first mixtape Rise Above Hate was released on 17 July 2020 and peaked at 14 on the UK Albums Chart.[12] On 7 January 2021, Unknown T released the single "WW2".[13] On 10 June, the second single "Wonderland" featuring M Huncho was released.[14] On 25 June, he released the third single "Goodums".[15][16] On 15 July, he released the fourth single "Driller sh!t".[17] On 30 July 2021, Unknown T released his second mixtape Adolescence, including guest appearances from Digga D, M1llionz, Potter Payper, and Nafe Smallz.[18]

Personal life[edit]

Lena is of Congolese and Ugandan descent. Lena is a supporter of Liverpool F.C.[19]

Legal issues[edit]

In 2017, aged 17, Lena was cleared of hiding a 4 mm revolver and ammunition under his bed after claiming the gun was foisted upon him by a stranger.[20] More recently Lena was cleared of murdering Steve Narvaez-Jara, 20, at a house party near Old Street, Islington, London in the early hours of 1 January 2018.[21] Speaking to the Guardian in 2018, Lena complained that the drill scene – long the subject of criticism in the media – was being unfairly attacked. "They don't understand the reality," he said. "It's not about the music, it's about what's behind the music. You can't blame the music, or say you're giving a helping hand with no aid. They're pointing the finger at us but forgetting there's three fingers pointing back."[22]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[12]
Blood Diamond
  • Released: 12 January 2024
  • Label: Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 61

Mixtapes[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[12]
Rise Above Hate
  • Released: 17 July 2020
  • Label: Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 14
Adolescence
  • Released: 30 July 2021
  • Label: Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 8

Extended plays[edit]

Title Details
Before the Smoke
  • Released: 18 August 2023
  • Label: Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Compilation albums[edit]

Title Details
Class of 98s
(with 98s)
  • Released: 24 September 2020
  • Label: 98s
  • Format: Digital download

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

List of singles as a lead artist, showing year released, peak chart positions, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[23]
"Homerton B"[24] 2018 48 Non-album singles
"Throwback"
(with Crazy Cousinz)[26] 		2019 63
"Meat"[27] —
"Leave Dat Trap"
(featuring AJ Tracey)[28] 		53 Rise Above Hate
"Fresh Home"[29] 2020 55
"Squeeze & Buss"[30] —
"Daily Duppy"
(featuring GRM Daily)[31] 		— Non-album single
"Deh Deh"[32] 80 Rise Above Hate
"Main Squeeze"
(featuring Young T & Bugsey)[33] 		99
"WW2" 2021 42 Adolescence
"Wonderland"
(featuring M Huncho) 		52
"Goodums" —
"Driller sh!t" —
"Double Tap"
(with Abra Cadabra) 		64 Non-album singles
"Often" 2022 —
"JUST LANDED (Freestyle pt. I)" — Who said drill’s dead?
"BATTY & BENCH (Freestyle pt. II)" —
"Right Hand"
(with Knucks) 		2023 70 Blood Diamond
"FREE SLIME / SEXY GIRLS"
(with Lancey Foux) 		— Before the Smoke
"Adolescence"
(featuring Digga D) 		90 Blood Diamond
"Hocus Pocus"
(Unknown T featuring Loyle Carner)[34] 		2024 —
"–" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist[edit]

List of singles as a featured artist, showing year released, and album name
Title Year Album
"9er Ting"
(Kay-O featuring Unknown T)[35] 		2018 This Sh#ts Ments
"Medusa"
(WSTRN featuring Unknown T)[36] 		2019 Non-album singles
"Dumpa"
(Ill Blu featuring M24, Unknown T)[37] 		2020
"Kate Winslet"
(NSG featuring Unknown T) 		TBA
"Jagged Edge"
(TSB featuring M1llionz & Unknown T) 		2021 Non-album singles
"Roberto C"
(Young T & Bugsey featuring Unknown T) 		Truth Be Told
"Packs and Potions (Remix)"
(Hazey featuring M1llionz, Digga D & Unknown T) 		2022
"PRAYERS"(OBLADAET featuring Unknown T)[38] 2023 PLAYERS CLUB 2

Guest appearances[edit]

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other artist(s), and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Turn"[39] 2019 RV, Headie One Drillers x Trappers II
"Raise Hell"[40] V9 Homerton Sensei
"Black & Proud" 2020 AJ Tracey Reprise: A Roc Nation Album
"Excuse Me" SL Different Dude
"Double Trouble"[41] GRM Daily, D Double E GRM 10
"Drip Drip" V9 Yūdokuna
"Under Surveillance" Frosty Under Surveillance
"Ughh!" 98s, Jimmy, Kay-O Class of 98s
"98 Degrees" 98s, Stally, DA, Hitman, V9, Mazza
"Medicine" 2021 Deno Boy Meets World
"Mon Cher" Gazo, Pa Salieu Drill FR
"Eastender" Potter Payper Thanks for Waiting
"Anger Problems" V9 Murk With A Mouth
"Tied Up" Kay-O Fine Line
"Went Jail" 2022 Groundworks, Digga D The G Tape: Volume 1
"Darjeeling" FKA twigs, Jorja Smith Caprisongs
"Giddy Up" wewantwraiths HeartBrokeChild

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rapper Unknown Thomas released from prison after murder case Online". 16 July 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  2. ^ "ADDICTS FEAT M HUNCHO". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Homerton B". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. ^ Gorton, Thomas (10 September 2018). "I can't stop listening to Unknown T's 'Homerton B'". Dazed. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  5. ^ Renshaw, David (8 November 2018). "Unknown T rules, and here's the proof". The Fader. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Unknown T – 7th July". Wireless Festival. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Snapes, Laura (3 December 2018). "The top 100 songs of 2018". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  8. ^ "The Top 50 Tracks of 2018". Mixmag. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Complex UK's Best Songs Of 2018". Complex. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  10. ^ Davey, Jacob (11 April 2019). "Interview: Unknown T Is Doing Homerton Proud". Complex. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Home". Unknown T. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "rise above hate | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Unknown T Drops New Single 'WW2'". Clash Music.
  14. ^ "Unknown T and M Huncho connect on "Wonderland"". Revolt. 14 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Unknown T Announces New Mixtape 'Adolescence'". Clash Music.
  16. ^ "UNKNOWN T HITS THE COLORS STUDIO TO PERFORM BRAND-NEW SINGLE "GOODUMS"". GRM Daily. 25 June 2021.
  17. ^ "UNKNOWN T IS ON HIS "DRILLER SH!T" IN VISUALS FOR NEW STREET HEATER". GRM Daily. 15 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Unknown T drops 'Adolescence' project". Revolt. 30 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Rising 11: Unknown T". GAFFER. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Drug dealer cleared of stashing Turkish revolver". Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Rapper Unknown T is cleared of murder". BBC News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  22. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; agencies (18 February 2020). "Drill rapper Unknown T cleared of murder of student". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Unknown T | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Homerton B – Single by Unknown T". iTunes. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  25. ^ "BRIT Certified – bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Unknown T"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Throwback – Single by Unknown T & Crazy Cousinz". iTunes. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Meat – Single by Unknown T". iTunes. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Leave Dat Trap (feat. AJ Tracey) – Single by Unknown T". iTunes. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Unknown T – Fresh Home". Genius. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  30. ^ Unknown T – Squeeze & Buss, retrieved 10 July 2020
  31. ^ Unknown T (Ft. GRM Daily) – Daily Duppy, retrieved 10 July 2020
  32. ^ Unknown T – Deh Deh, retrieved 10 July 2020
  33. ^ "Unknown T (Ft. Young T & Bugsey) – Main Squeeze". Apple Music. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Unknown T delivers magic with "Hocus Pocus" visuals". GRM Daily. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  35. ^ "9er Ting (feat. Unknown T) – Single by KO". iTunes. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Medusa (feat. Unknown T) – Single by WSTRN". iTunes. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Dumpa (feat. M24 & Unknown T) – Single by iLL BLU". Apple Music. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  38. ^ "PRAYERS OBLADAET (feat. Unknown T)". iTunes. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Drillers x Trappers II by RV & Headie One". iTunes. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. ^ "Homerton Sensei by V9". iTunes. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  41. ^ "GRM 10 by GRM Daily". Apple Music. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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