Daniel Lena (born 17 August 1999), known professionally as Unknown T, is a British-Ugandan rapper. His post release album Rise Above Hate (2020) was a major hit on the UK music scene, with the album reaching the top of the charts in its first couple of weeks.
Career His debut single, "Homerton B", peaked at number 48 on the UK Singles Chart in October 2018. Though it was originally released without a label, its chart performance led to him being signed by Island Records through Universal Music Group and appeared at Wireless festival in 2019. It was included in a number of publications "best of 2018" lists, including The Guardian, Mixmag, and Complex. In March 2019, "Homerton B" became the first UK drill track to be certified Silver by the BPI. Follow up tracks "Throwback", "Meat" and "Leave Dat Trap", the latter featuring AJ Tracey, have accumulated over 5 million views.
Unknown T's first mixtape Rise Above Hate was released on 17 July 2020 and peaked at 14 on the UK Albums Chart. On 7 January 2021, Unknown T released the single "WW2". On 10 June, the second single "Wonderland" featuring M Huncho was released. On 25 June, he released the third single "Goodums". On 15 July, he released the fourth single "Driller sh!t". On 30 July 2021, Unknown T released his second mixtape Adolescence, including guest appearances from Digga D, M1llionz, Potter Payper, and Nafe Smallz.
He jointly holds the record for most top 75 hits in the UK without having a top 40 hit with fellow British rapper Loski. Unknown T also made a cameo appearance as himself in the BBC series Boarders.
Personal life
Lena is of Ugandan and Congolese descent. Lena is a supporter of Liverpool F.C.
Legal issues In 2017, aged 17, Lena was cleared of hiding a 4 mm revolver and ammunition under his bed after claiming the gun was foisted upon him by a stranger. More recently Lena was cleared of murdering Steve Narvaez-Jara, 20, at a house party near Old Street, Islington, London in the early hours of 1 January 2018. Speaking to the Guardian in 2018, Lena complained that the drill scene – long the subject of criticism in the media – was being unfairly attacked. "They don't understand the reality," he said. "It's not about the music, it's about what's behind the music. You can't blame the music, or say you're giving a helping hand with no aid. They're pointing the finger at us but forgetting there's three fingers pointing back."
Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positionsUK UKR&B/HHPeaks on the UK R&B Albums Chart: Rise Above Hate: Adolescence: Blood Diamond: Blood Diamond Released: 12 January 2024 Label: Stay Solid Music, Island Format: Digital download, streaming 61 2
Mixtapes Title Details Peak chart positions CertificationsUK UKR&B/HH IRE Rise Above Hate Released: 17 July 2020 Label: Stay Solid Music, Island Format: Digital download, streaming 14 3 74 BPI: Silver Adolescence Released: 30 July 2021 Label: Stay Solid Music, Island Format: Digital download, streaming 8 3 88 Listen. Released: 11 September 2026 Label: Stay Solid Music, Island Format: Digital download, streaming — — —
Extended plays Title Details Before the Smoke Released: 18 August 2023 Label: Stay Solid Music, Island Format: Digital download, streaming
Compilation albums Title Details Class of 98s(with 98s) Released: 24 September 2020 Label: 98s Format: Digital download
Singles As lead artist +List of singles as a lead artist, showing year released, peak chart positions, certifications and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK UKR&B/HHPeak R&B/HH chart positions in the UK: For "Homerton B": For "Throwback": For "Leave Dat Trap": For "Fresh Home": For "WW2": For "Wonderland": For "Double Tap": "Homerton B" 2018 48 27 BPI: Platinum rowspan="3" "Throwback" 2019 63 38 "Meat" — — "Leave Dat Trap" 53 32 Rise Above Hate "Fresh Home" 2020 55 36 "Squeeze & Buss" — — "Daily Duppy" — — "Deh Deh" 80 — Rise Above Hate "Main Squeeze" 99 — "WW2" 2021 42 23 Adolescence "Wonderland" 52 17 "Goodums" — — BPI: Silver "Driller sh!t" — — "Double Tap" 64 21 rowspan="2" "Often" 2022 — — "Just Landed (Freestyle pt. I)" — — Who said drill’s dead? "Batty & Bench (Freestyle pt. II)" — — "Right Hand"2023 70 — Blood Diamond "Free Slime / Sexy Girls" — — Before the Smoke "Adolescence" 90 — Blood Diamond "Hocus Pocus" 2024 — —"–" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist +List of singles as a featured artist, showing year released, and album name Title Year Album "9er Ting" 2018This Sh#ts Ments "Medusa" 2019 rowspan="4" "Dumpa"(Ill Blu featuring M24, Unknown T) 2020 "Kate Winslet"(NSG featuring Unknown T) "Jagged Edge"(TSB featuring M1llionz & Unknown T) 2021 "Roberto C"(Young T & Bugsey featuring Unknown T) Truth Be Told "Packs and Potions (Remix)"(Hazey featuring M1llionz, Digga D & Unknown T) 2022 "PRAYERS" 2023Players Club 2 "UK Drill" (Booter Bee featuring Unknown T)2025 True Stories 2
Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other artist(s), and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Turn" 2019 RV, Headie One Drillers x Trappers II "Raise Hell" V9 Homerton Sensei "Black & Proud" 2020 AJ Tracey Reprise: A Roc Nation Album "Excuse Me" SL Different Dude "Double Trouble" GRM Daily, D Double E GRM 10 "Drip Drip" V9 Yūdokuna "Under Surveillance" Frosty Under Surveillance "Ughh!" 98s, Jimmy, Kay-O Class of 98s "98 Degrees" 98s, Stally, DA, Hitman, V9, Mazza "Medicine" 2021 Deno Boy Meets World "Mon Cher" Gazo, Pa Salieu Drill FR "Eastender" Potter Payper Thanks for Waiting "Anger Problems" V9 Murk With A Mouth "Tied Up" Kay-O Fine Line "Went Jail" 2022 Groundworks, Digga D The G Tape: Volume 1 "Darjeeling" FKA twigs, Jorja Smith Caprisongs "Giddy Up" wewantwraiths HeartBrokeChild
References