If there’s one thing DEELA knows how to do, it’s pull you straight into her universe — loud, confident, borderless, and absolutely vibes only. Her long-awaited mixtape Wicked has finally arrived, and honestly, it feels like the victory lap she’s been building toward all year.
Born during a writing camp in Nigeria, Wicked carries that unmistakable Naija spark — the kind of dynamic, feel-good energy that throws you right back to the Don Jazzy golden era, when music simply made you move without asking for permission. Across eight tightly crafted tracks, DEELA unloads her signature bounce, stitching together influences and cultures with a cohesion that feels both intentional and effortless.
Producers Geniu Bambino, Black Culture, and Twitch help shape the sonic palette, but it’s DEELA who glues everything together. Lead singles “Slide” and “Why Always Me” already proved she can tap into a global sound without losing the grit that defines British rap, and the rest of the mixtape only reinforces that truth. Whether she’s sparring with South West London’s 3Monzo on the playful “L.O.M.N (Love Of My Night)” or linking up with Fetish — known for work with Doechii — on the punchy “Tough Nut,” the collaborations feel organic and world-building.
And the momentum? It just keeps stacking. A co-sign from Little Simz is no small thing, and sharing the stage with her in Manchester and at the O2 Arena is the kind of moment that tells the world, “Yeah, DEELA’s next.”
Her journey makes the mixtape hit even harder. During the pandemic, while juggling studies, she doubled down on rap — a space where female representation was still emerging — finding community with artists like Deto Black and brazy. From teaching herself the ins and outs of independence to earning support from boundary-pushers like Cruel Santino and Mowalola, DEELA built her lane brick by brick. Add in organic collaborations with Flo Milli, Teni, BXKS, Len, and Coco & Clair Clair, plus her breakthrough EP Good Girl Dey No Pay, and the picture becomes clear: she’s been quietly assembling a global takeover.
Even outside music, she’s becoming a cultural force — from Baby Keem sliding into her DMs to fashion-world co-signs from Sinead Gorey, Di Petsa, and Jeffrey Campbell, and appearances at London Fashion Week. DEELA is moving like an artist who refuses to be boxed in.
With Wicked, she isn’t just releasing music — she’s making a statement. This is DEELA stepping fully into her power, leading a new generation of unapologetic, genre-bending artists who aren’t waiting for permission to change the soundscape.
Wicked cements DEELA as a fearless, culture-shaping force
