His music is characterised by his thick Scouse accent[4] and draws inspiration from cloud rap.[5] EsDeeKid's identity is unknown; he covers his face with a balaclava and keeps personal information, such as his age, private. He has mentioned on his Twitter that he still lives in his council house.[1][5]
As of January 2026, his single "Phantom" (with Rico Ace) has accumulated more than 170 million streams, and album Rebel has charted in multiple European countries,[6][7][8] as well as peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200,[9] despite being released nearly five months prior to its debut on the chart.[10] He has been described by Dazed as "the fastest-growing artist in the world right now".[11]
Background and persona
EsDeeKid originates from Liverpool and his regional identity is a key part of his appeal.[1] He performs with his face concealed by a balaclava and has not publicly disclosed his real name, age or detailed biographical information.[1][5] Both interviews and reviews note that he rarely breaks character in public, maintaining a mysterious, anonymous persona centred on dark visuals and minimal personal exposure.[11][12]
His accent has been singled out by critics as one of his defining characteristics, helping to distinguish him within the wider field of UK rap.[1][4]The Guardian's "Add to playlist" column described him as having a "magnificent Scouse accent" and "entertainingly debauched lyrics", noting his rapid rise from Liverpool's underground scene.[1]Dazed interviewed fans who have highlighted his menacing stage presence, all-black clothing and masked image as central to his appeal.[12]
Career
2023–2024: Early releases and recognition
EsDeeKid's first known song was a feature on "Altered" by DualSpines, released in 2023.[11] He began releasing standalone music in May 2024, releasing a remix of "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd on SoundCloud.[13] Other non-album singles he released include "Apathy", "Slurricane" (with Fakemink), "Number (N)ine Freestyle", "Gracias", "Palaces" (with Rico Ace), "Tapped In" (with SINN6R), "Ferragamo", "Bally" (with Rico Ace), "Little Kidda" and "Warmin' Up".[7]
His 2024 single "Bally" featuring Rico Ace was highlighted in Pitchfork's "The Ones" column, where Alphonse Pierre described it as one of the year's standout tracks and named EsDeeKid one of the year's breakout stars.[14] The song received international success and established his partnership with Rico Ace, who would later appear on some of his best-known tracks.
His debut album, Rebel, was released on 20 June 2025 through Lizzy Records.[15] The project included the singles "LV Sandals", "5am", and "Phantom" alongside 8 other original tracks.[7]Rebel charted in the United Kingdom, Ireland and several other European countries, reaching number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and appearing on national album charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.[16][8][17][18][19] His monthly listeners on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Youtube, also increased significantly.[7][20]
As of December 2025, EsDeekid's most listened track on Spotify is "Phantom" (featuring Rico Ace). Since its release in March 2025,[6] it has amassed over 120 million streams.[7]
Live performances
Following the release of Rebel, EsDeeKid launched his European tour in 2025, performing in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Dazed described the run of dates as "career-defining", reporting that he rounded off the tour with a show at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town, London.[12]The Face described his London date on the Rebel tour as "legendary", highlighting intense mosh pits, a riotous atmosphere and fans showing up early to see his first major headline show in the city.[21]
According to various sources, his shows prominently feature a heavy, almost rock-influenced live energy, with dark lighting, frequent moshing and EsDeeKid often appearing as a shadowy figure at the centre of the stage, underscoring his mysterious persona.[21][12]
Identity speculation
In November 2025, rumours began to circulate on TikTok that EsDeeKid's actual identity was American-French actor Timothée Chalamet, with internet users noting correlations between articles of clothing and physical similarities.[22][23] The theory was widely reported in music and entertainment media, and became the subject of thinkpieces about anonymity in popular music and the role of online speculation in shaping artist narratives.[11] The theory led to widespread memes about a potential connection.[citation needed] Pieces of investigative journalism also indicated that a link between EsDeeKid and Chalamet was unlikely, citing an October 2025 concert in Milan that EsDeeKid performed while Chalamet was reported to be in New York City.[24]
In December 2025, Chalamet fuelled rumours, telling Heart FM: "I got no comment on that.... Two words: all will be revealed in due time."[25][26] He later posted a snippet of a music video for a remix of EsDeeKid's single "4 Raws", featuring a rap verse from Chalamet himself, on his Twitter account.[27]
Other rumours surrounding his identity have alleged that EsDeeKid previously went under the alias DualSpines, noting significant correlations between his and EsDeeKid's vocals on "Altered", released December 11th, 2023 on DualSpines' Soundcloud.[11][28]
Musical style
EsDeeKid's music combines elements of cloud rap and trap, with atmospheric, lo-fi production and heavy bass underpinning his delivery.[5] His lyrics often centre on drug use, nightlife, relationships and designer fashion, themes that The Guardian described as "entertainingly debauched".[1] Critics have noted that, although his subject matter can be repetitive, his vocal timbre, phrasing and accent make his performances distinctive.[1][5]
Rebel was described by Tastemakers Music Magazine as drawing heavily on cloud-rap textures, with hazy synths and reverb-heavy beats that provide a backdrop for his slurred, melodic flows.[5]Dazed and The Fader have situated him within a broader new underground of UK rap artists who move beyond drill into more experimental, internet-influenced sounds.[12][4]
His collaborations with fellow underground artists such as Fakemink, Rico Ace and Fimiguerrero further root him in this scene, pairing his vocals with distorted, bass-heavy beats and unconventional song structures.[1][7]
Reception
EsDeeKid has received attention from a range of music publications. Pitchfork highlighted "Bally" as one of its "The Ones" picks and described him as a breakout artist for 2024.[14]
In The Guardian's "Add to playlist" column, Ben Beaumont-Thomas and Laura Snapes praised his "magnificent scouse accent" and the energy of his tracks, particularly the single "LV Sandals", and compared his appeal to artists such as Playboi Carti.[1]The Face has covered both his recorded output and live shows, describing his Rebel tour as "legendary" and noting the rapid growth of his streaming numbers and fanbase.[21][2]
Dazed has devoted multiple features to EsDeeKid, profiling his fan community and positioning him within a lineage of artists with concealed identities. One article linked his popularity to the intrigue surrounding his anonymity.[11][12]
Discography
Studio albums
List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
