Not long ago, Daniel Chenjerai who performs under the name DC3 was an unknown teenager from Northampton writing rap verses in relative obscurity. Now, at 18, he finds himself nominated for two MOBO Awards, rubbing shoulders with some of the most talked about names in British music, and still trying to process how quickly everything has changed.
Chenjerai, earned nominations for Best Newcomer and Best Gospel Act at the awards, which celebrate excellence in black British music. The ceremony is set to take place in Manchester, where he will share the spotlight with established acts including Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress and Central Cee.
For a young artist yet to sign with a record label, the recognition lands with particular weight.
What the moment means for Northampton
DC3 has been vocal about what it means to carry his hometown into a room that size. Northampton does not typically feature in conversations about the UK’s rap hotbeds, which makes his presence at the MOBO Awards feel like something more than a personal milestone. He described his connection to the town as something deep and unshakeable, the kind of roots that do not loosen regardless of where the music takes him.
He began writing music in 2016 and recorded professionally for the first time in 2020, building his profile steadily without the infrastructure that major label support typically provides. His track I Know has accumulated nearly 1.8 million views on YouTube, a number that speaks to an audience that found him on its own terms.
Faith, family and a few hidden playlists
DC3’s Christian faith sits at the center of his musical identity, shaping both the content of his work and his path toward the gospel category. His father Pardon is a local pastor, which meant that the more secular music feeding his early creative instincts had to be consumed carefully and out of sight.
Stormzy, one of the defining figures of British grime and rap, was among the artists DC3 secretly studied as a teenager. The idea of getting caught listening to music his family might not have approved of was enough to send him clearing his search history after every session. It is a detail that humanizes his journey in the most relatable way possible, the image of a gifted kid navigating the space between who he was at home and who he was becoming as an artist.
A family that believes in what is coming next
The people closest to DC3 have not been shy about their expectations for what he is capable of. His mother Annastacia expressed quiet certainty that her son is only beginning to tap into what he can do, pointing to his work ethic as the engine behind the talent. His father struck a similarly grounded tone, emphasizing that a strong foundation at home gives an artist the kind of confidence that no industry contact can manufacture.
For DC3, the nominations themselves already feel like a victory. Reaching the shortlist alongside artists he has looked up to, being acknowledged as a genuine talent within the UK music landscape, is something he described as a win in its own right. Anything beyond that, including taking home an award, would simply be a bonus on top of a moment he is still learning to believe is real.
