Michael Dapaah was born on 10 August 1991 in Croydon, south London. He is the son of Ghanaian immigrants, and he was raised with them in Croydon. He grew up on a council estate in the Pollard’s Hill area of Croydon. As a child he spent some time living in South Africa, where he took part in school plays, including a role as Mowgli in The Jungle Book. From an early age, he was known for his humour and was regarded as “the funny guy” during his school years, often hosting comedy segments in student showcases.

Dapaah’s parents encouraged him to pursue a traditional academic path during his early education. He studied science subjects, including biology, chemistry, and physics, during his school years. However, by around the age of 16, he developed an interest in drama and creative subjects, often attending drama classes with a friend. During this period, he was also recognized as a class clown and enjoyed participating in school-based performances and showcases.

After completing his secondary education, he continued his studies in London. He attended Brunel University, where he studied Theatre, Film and Television, and later completed a course at the National Youth Theatre.

 

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Michael Dapaah Career

Michael Dapaah (born 10 August 1991) is a British actor, rapper and comedian whose creative career spans comedy, music and acting. He first gained notice in British comedy circles through TV and online sketch roles, and became internationally famous in 2017 with the comedic rap character Big Shaq.

Under this persona, Dapaah released the hit single “Man’s Not Hot”, which blended satire and grime influences. The song quickly went viral on social media and streaming platforms, reached the Top 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and earned a Platinum certification in the UK for over 600,000 combined sales and streams.

The music video has since been viewed hundreds of millions of times. This breakthrough established Dapaah as a multi-hyphenate entertainer, crossing over from online comedy into mainstream music.

Early Career and Online Success

Dapaah began building his following with comedic acting roles on British television and online. He appeared in shows targeting the UK Afro-Caribbean and African communities – for example, playing a brief role on the sitcom Meet the Adebanjos.

In 2017, he co-created SWIL (Somewhere in London), a mockumentary-style web series on YouTube (with collaborator Marv Brown) that satirised London street culture. SWIL’s first season quickly gained over a million views, and introduced several of Dapaah’s characters, notably MC Quakez and Roadman Shaq (Big Shaq).

These humorous characters – streetwise yet cartoonish – became the foundation of his early popularity, as online fans shared clips and memes from the SWIL episodes.

 

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Big Shaq Breakthrough: “Man’s Not Hot”

Dapaah’s career took off when he performed as Roadman Shaq on BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Fire in the Booth segment (hosted by Charlie Sloth) in August 2017. In that radio appearance he freestyled a rap that mixed comedic one-liners with faux-grime swagger.

The freestyle – featuring ad-libs like “the ting goes SKRRRAHH” – became an instant Internet sensation. Dapaah then officially released it as the single “Man’s Not Hot” on Island Records on 22 September 2017.

The track’s catchy hook and comedic absurdity propelled it onto music charts: it peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and secured Platinum status in the UK (over 600K in sales/streams). The song also charted internationally (for example reaching top 30 in Australia) and earned additional certifications globally.

“Man’s Not Hot” became a cultural phenomenon – widely shared as a meme – and its success led to TV and media features. For example, a remix was performed by The Roots on The Tonight Show, and even basketball star Shaquille O’Neal released a playful “diss track” in response.

As Dapaah later said of his Fire in the Booth turn, “it exposed me to a wider audience.”

Subsequent Music Projects

After “Man’s Not Hot”, Dapaah continued releasing music under the Big Shaq persona. In May 2018 he dropped “Man Don’t Dance”, a follow-up single that played off the style of the original hit. While it achieved only modest chart placement (peaking outside the top 70 in the UK), it maintained his visibility in the UK grime/rap scene.

In 2019 he released “Buss It Down”, another Big Shaq track, which featured his trademark humor and energetic beats. Media outlets noted that “Buss It Down” demonstrated he was “not just a one-hit wonder.”

In late 2020 he put out a video single titled “Chicken Shop Freestyle” as Big Shaq. These releases did not match the chart success of “Man’s Not Hot”, but they reinforced his musical brand and kept fans engaged between comedy projects.

 

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Acting and Television Work

Alongside music, Michael Dapaah has pursued acting in both comedy and drama. Early in his career he had bit parts in UK comedy programmes. In 2017 he made a cameo in the BBC Three sitcom Enterprice, playing a character named Dr. Ofori in the pilot episode.

A major acting turn came in 2022 when he was cast in the BBC drama Noughts + Crosses (Season 2) as a TV presenter called Mensah. This role marked a deliberate shift into more serious acting for Dapaah.

He remarked that playing Mensah was “time to properly enter the world of acting” and an opportunity “to show people and myself that I can play a role which isn’t so heavily comedic.”

He has also made brief on-screen appearances beyond the UK; for instance, he featured as a shopkeeper in the 2023 film Rye Lane. In addition, Dapaah frequently appears as himself or as Big Shaq on various UK entertainment programmes, talk shows and panel shows, further raising his profile beyond music alone.

Production Work and Entrepreneurship

Michael Dapaah has taken an entrepreneurial approach to his career. He launched his own media venture, Dapaah Entertainment Ltd, under which he oversees many of his creative projects. He has produced and directed much of his SWIL content and comedy music videos through this outlet.

In 2020 he even branched into lifestyle and fitness content, launching a YouTube series called “Belly Must Go”, which combined exercise challenges and humour. This expansion into production and multiple content formats demonstrates that Dapaah’s career is not confined to one medium. Throughout, he has often written, directed and edited his own material, reflecting his role as an independent creator.

 

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Achievements and Recognition

Throughout his career, Dapaah has accumulated several notable achievements. Most prominently, “Man’s Not Hot” not only charted highly but also became one of the UK’s bestselling comedy singles of recent years.

It was certified Platinum in the UK and also earned multiplatinum or gold certifications in other markets. The song’s widespread popularity is underscored by its online metrics: as of early 2026 the official music video has well over 400 million views on YouTube.

In recognition of his rapid rise, Dapaah became a fixture at music and media events; for example, he attended the 2017 MOBO Awards and performed live on radio tours. His comedic persona Big Shaq was even referenced in UK Parliament.

While he has not pursued traditional music awards, the cultural impact of his work has been noted in the press and by audiences. Beyond charts, Dapaah has been praised for blending humor with commentary on British urban life, making him a distinctive figure in British pop culture.

Current Projects and Recent Activity

In the 2021–2026 period Michael Dapaah continued to diversify his output across media. He maintained an active presence on social platforms, releasing comedic sketches and music clips to his followers.

In mid-2025 he launched a new interview series called “Comfortably Speaking” on his YouTube channel, where he chats with guests from music and entertainment. He also remains involved in comedy festivals and tours when possible.

In 2024 he signed with the YMU management group in London, positioning himself for future writing and acting projects. Dapaah has hinted at new music releases and continued SWIL episodes, showing that he keeps content flowing for his fanbase.

In parallel, he has leveraged his platform for positive initiatives, serving as an ambassador for creative arts education programs.

As of 2026, Dapaah’s career reflects a blend of creative roles – actor, writer, producer and rapper – each reinforcing his brand. His ongoing projects combine entertainment with entrepreneurship, and he continues to explore new formats while building on the widespread appeal he first garnered with Big Shaq.

Michael Dapaah Net Worth