Dutchavelli

Storming into the U.K. mainstream with a booming voice and clear-cut delivery, rapper Dutchavelli made his mark in 2020 with explosive hits like "I Dunno," "Only If You Knew," and "Burning." Having established a dominant track record over the span of just months, he expanded his portfolio with debut mixtape Dutch from the 5th. Although born in Birmingham, England, Dutchavelli (real name Stephan Fabulous Allen) spent his formative years in the Netherlands, living in Rotterdam with his seven siblings (including fellow rapper Stefflon Don). Returning to Clapton, London, in his early teens, Allen soon earned the nickname "Dutch" for his heavy Netherlands accent, which he later lengthened for his stage name. Having honed his musical talents with encouragement from friends, Dutchavelli debuted in 2016 with the single "New Jack City," an aggressive trap anthem that put his guttural vocals front and center. Subsequent tracks "LOL," "Let It Breathe," "Say Narda," and "Feel the Same" demonstrated his versatility, broaching everything from vibe-driven Afro-swing to introspective hip-hop, yet his career was put on hold as he dealt with a variety of legal issues. Returning to music in 2020, the rapper breached the mainstream with "Only If You Knew," a brutal drill single reflecting on his struggles and triumphs thus far. With a multi-million-view reception from online crowds, Dutch linked up with Tion Wayne and Stormzy for the infectious "I Dunno," a single that racked up over 80 million streams and won "Track of the Year" at GRM Daily's 2020 Rated Awards. His name firmly cemented in the mainstream, Dutch found significant success with the singles "Surely," "Burning," and "Bando Diaries" before setting to work on his debut mixtape. Titled Dutch from the 5th, the project offered a gritty, rugged run through his drill sonics, peppered with introspective trap and reflective narratives.
© David Crone /TiVo