Stanisland Magazine

The Boy Who Played The Harp had been announced— here’s what to expect from the new Santan Dave album

Last updated: 24th October 2025

British rapper Dave is a lauded laureate with a lyrical fidelity most can only dream of. His vocal dexterity, guided by an astute mind that has heralded two music-defining moments in hip-hop.

The lyricist (real name David Orobosa Michael Omoregie) is known for his consistency and cadence, supported by a considerably lustrous wordplay, which of course, naturally heightens anticipation for his third studio album.

RELATED STORY: Reviewed – Dave – “The Boy Who Played The Harp” Is Lyrically Staggering, But Musically Uneven

Already a well-known prospect within the British Isles, his artistry was further catapulted by the stratospheric sales of his collaboration with Central Cee on the song, Sprinter. Personal opinions aside, the track smashed records as the UK’s longest-serving billboard rap song. It was also included in former US President Barack Obama‘s yearly playlist, with appreciation shown by his peers, including J.Cole.

High Expectations

Both Psychodrama and We’re All Alone in This Together are incredible, making it hard to decipher which is his seminal work. Their impact earned him a reputation across the pond, as well as interest from his contemporaries.

His discography showcased an ability to switch up his compositional choices, thanks to an application of an assortment of flows. This opened the door for both hip-hop artists and rappers from other genres to make similar adjustments to their own projects.

Santan is a product of his experiences, and that’s what makes him an exciting rapper. It wouldn’t surprise me if this album was completed a long time ago, with the only problem and stumbling block being what tracks to choose from.

The Boy Who Played The Harp

The rapper said he has been working on the project for months. As of 1st October 2025, Dave has announced the title of his new project in a social media post: The Boy Who Played The Harp, with pre-orders live on his website.

Album Features

Dave revealed the entire track list with some surprises in tow. Though we predicted what seemed like safe bets, Jim Legxacy adds his talents as well as James Blake and a surprise appearance from Kano.

The Full Tracklist

• History (ft James Blake)
• 175 Months
• No Weapons (ft Jim Legxacy)
• Chapter 16 (ft Kano)
• Raindance (ft Tems)
• Selfish (ft James Blake)
• My 27th Birthday
• Marvellous
• Fairchild
• The Boy Who Played the Harp

A post in November 2024 led listeners to believe he will also collaborate with afrobeats producer Rema. Though the production roster is yet to be released — this means reciprocal credits from other artists may still bear some surprises.

Fan Reactions

There’s major buzz before the project has even dropped. Reddit users are naturally hyped, with two exclaiming, “Buzzing,” and “Hopefully this year!’

READ MORE: 5 New Rap Songs You Need to Hear

Though some are disillusioned. One fan referenced changing tastes, saying: “…will the album have the same positive response after all this time away? Have a lot of the fans, like me, tuned into something different now?”

However, another was upbeat, noting his travels across the pond and how his work is gaining recognition: “…one thing I’ll say is that I just came back from the states and every time I say I’m from London, they all start chatting about Dave.”

When Will it Be Released?

Dave has dropped several cryptic tweets, clues, and more, including a to-do list on Instagram consisting of “Start album 3.” However, he revealed its release date will be October 24th 2025,

Final Thoughts

We’re excited for a new Dave album, and while he has somewhat pivoted from his usual sound in recent months, we hope he will stay faithful to his style.

As he continues to work with other UK artists, there is a strong talent pool of active spitters within the hip-hop scene—including rappers like Verbz, Loyle Carner, Enny, and more—who will complement Omoregie‘s flair. This time round however, the rapper has somewhat changed direction with the recruitment of James Blake again (on two tracks no less) — a choice that potentially sets up an intriguing listen.

Either way, we’re all waiting, and whatever he drops will likely be an artistic evolution that remains true to his vision.