South London rapper of Nigerian origin, Dave (Santan), dropped his highly anticipated third studio album, The Boy Who Played the Harp, on the 24th of October 2025. After a four-year hiatus, fans were beginning to grow impatient, waiting for Dave to release a new project. I can confidently say this album was worth every single minute of the wait.
Dave’s The Boy Who Played the Harp is an intimate meditation on introspection, purpose, and moral accountability. The title itself carries profound symbolism. The “boy” references the biblical David, the shepherd who soothed King Saul with his harp before ascending to kingship. By invoking this imagery, Dave positions himself as an artist who uses his gift not merely for entertainment, but for healing, reflection, and truth. Throughout the album, he reflects deeply on his life, his faith, and his role in a world that constantly tests his principles.
At its core, The Boy Who Played the Harp is Dave calling himself to a personal meeting. Peeling back layers of ego, confronting guilt, wrestling with faith, and ultimately emerging with something raw and redemptive. The album does not chase commercial virality; it chases clarity — the kind that only comes when you look within long enough to understand your purpose.
Here’s a full-length review of Dave’s third studio album The Boy Who Played the Harp.
1. History (feat. James Blake)
The album opens with a braggadocios track. A deep, resonant piano progression establishes a quite cinematic tone as Dave glides over it with confidence and calm. He aligns himself with the biblical David, suggesting that his past success was merely preparation for a greater mission. James Blake’s graceful voice adds a delicate melodic layer, giving the song an ethereal balance between pride and humility. As an introduction, History perfectly sets the thematic tone for the album.
2. 175 Months
Here, Dave begins self-interrogation over an impetuous beat and airy feminine vocals. He unpacks the weight of fame, the loneliness of success, and the price of ambition. It is a moment of raw self-examination, where Dave seeks self-accountability and wonders whether he is evolving fast enough to meet his own expectations.
3. No Weapons (feat. Jim Legxacy)
Drawing inspiration from Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon formed against me shall prosper”. This song is a beautiful fusion of melody and message. Dave employs his protegee, Jim Legxacy, who delivers an infectious hook that breathes hope into the track, while Dave raps about faith, protection, and divine assurance, staying consistent with the biblical undertone that runs throughout the album. The chemistry between both artists shines effortlessly, creating one of the most spiritually uplifting songs on the project.
4. Chapter 16 (feat. Kano)
This song stands as the album’s most significant moment. In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel anoints David as king; the moment destiny finds him. Little wonder why Dave mirrors that story here by inviting Kano, one of the UK’s foundational voices, into a symbolic conversation. The two sit across a metaphorical dinner table, discussing fame, legacy, and the meaning of longevity. Kano offers wisdom, advising Dave (who he calls THE RAP MESSIAH) on how to navigate attention without losing authenticity. The song ends with a figurative passing of the torch, as Kano calls Dave and Little Simz the future of rap.
5. Raindance (feat. Tems)
This is the collaboration fans have dreamed of. Tems’ soulful, honeyed vocals blend with Dave’s charismatic flow to produce something magnetic. The track dances between Afro-soul and introspective R&B, encapsulates the highs and lows of love, temptation, and emotional connection. Their chemistry feels organic; Tems soars while Dave grounds the song with rhythmic confidence. Raindance gives us a firsthand experience of peak musical mastery and cohesion. It is sensual, spiritual, and sonically rich, offering a moment of warmth in the album’s meditative arc.
6. Selfish (feat. James Blake)
This is one of the most vulnerable moments on the album. Introduced by a gentle piano progression, Dave reflects on trauma, anxiety, and the emotional cost of his journey. James Blake’s vocals float around the verses like a conscience whispering hard truths. The song feels like a confessional booth. Dave reflects, lots of unanswered questions, opens up about his wavering mental health, insecurity, ego, and the weight of expectation. It’s haunting, stripped back, and deeply moving, standing as one of the purest emotional expressions on the record.
7. My 27th Birthday
Dave has built a tradition of signature, lengthy birthday-themed tracks that act as time capsules for his state of mind. My 27th Birthday is the most mature and emotionally charged of them all. Over a haunting vocal and melancholic piano loop, Dave unloads his thoughts on politics, social decay, family, fame, and personal struggle. It is almost eight minutes long but never drags. Every verse feels essential. This track is the heart of the album and a self-indictment that allows for thorough reflection. Here, Dave’s self-awareness hits its emotional peak.
8. Marvellous
Here, Dave becomes a storyteller again. He narrates the life of Josiah, a 17-year-old trapped in the cycle of drugs, crime, and incarceration. The song’s placement after My 27th Birthday feels intentional; the outro of that track features Josiah’s voice saying, “Tell my story,” and Dave honours that request here. Rather than rap aggressively, he chooses to sing, showing both artistic maturity and vocal growth. It’s a sorrowful yet beautifully told story that underscores the importance of empathy and remembrance.
9. Fairchild (feat. Nicole Blakk)
On Fairchild, Dave shifts to powerful social commentary. The song dives into the harsh realities faced by women; sexual abuse, assault, femicide and the emotional toll of gender-based violence. Nicole Blakk delivers a gripping verse that gives voice to the silenced, while Dave reflects on male ignorance, complicity, and his own accountability. It’s a difficult listen, but an essential one. The song stands as both confession and call to action, urging men to do better and society to pay attention.
10. The Boy Who Played the Harp
The title track closes the album on a note of reflection and reaffirmation. Just as the biblical David played the harp to restore peace, Dave plays his metaphorical harp; his music, to remind himself of purpose and destiny. It is both declaration and prayer, a moment of self-acceptance where he embraces the power and responsibility that come with his gift. The song’s tone is gentle yet resolute, bringing the project to a thoughtful and fulfilling close.
Ultimately, The Boy who Played the Harp is a deep, reflective and meditative examination of a highly successful artist who seems to be at war with himself, questioning his faith, belief, and expectations of his person and responsibility to his immediate circle and community at large.
It is lyrically acute, consciously and socially precise, and is definitely going to be talked about for years to come.