Wohdee, the Birmingham-born rapper rapidly gaining international attention, is experiencing a remarkable ascent in the U.K. Music scene. From a viral freestyle that ignited her visibility to a MOBO Award nomination and a recent collaboration that took her to Jamaica, the 20-something artist is building momentum on her own terms.
The artist, whose real name is not publicly available, radiates a warmth and intentionality that belies her prowess on the mic, according to those who’ve interviewed her. Her recent visual for “No Behaviour (WYFL Riddim),” a collaboration with DJ Mac and Crash Dummy released in January , originated as a casual car set freestyle that quickly spread across TikTok and Instagram. The track’s success propelled Wohdee to Jamaica for the music video shoot.
Wohdee’s musical roots run deep, shaped by her family’s diverse tastes. Her father’s love of reggae and her mother’s affinity for R&B and dancehall created a rich sonic environment during her childhood. Growing up in Birmingham, a city she describes as “magical,” with a close-knit community despite its size of 1.2 million, she was surrounded by creativity. Her moniker itself is a nod to early 2000s hip-hop, stemming from the 504 Boyz’s track “Whodi,” a song she remembers dancing to as a toddler.
“Music was cherished in my house,” Wohdee told SPIN. “It was always supported to be creative. My older brother made a song and I thought it was so cool, so I really looked up to him.” That early exposure and encouragement clearly fueled her own artistic ambitions. She began writing poetry around the age of eight, a skill that naturally evolved into rapping.
While her initial attempts at songwriting weren’t exactly masterpieces – she admits her first song was “ass” – the experience of hearing herself on a track was transformative. “The first time hearing myself on a song, I didn’t stop playing it,” she recalled. Her second song, “Vein,” proved to be a turning point, giving her the confidence to continue pursuing music.
Wohdee’s creative process is typically hands-on, involving her in all aspects of production, from beat selection to arrangement. However, “No Behaviour” presented a unique scenario. “Usually I would pick the beat,” she explained. “But with the ‘No Behaviour’ track, that’s DJ Mac’s release, and he’s been… fucking it up with that one, so yeah, I just hopped on that beat.”
The past 18 months have been a period of intense growth for Wohdee, marked by the release of her two-part project, Mind Games, and a series of standout freestyles. These included a viral performance on Red Bull Mic Flex, an explosive freestyle on BBC 1Xtra, and a highly regarded “Fire in the Booth” session on Apple Music 1. These performances have solidified her position as a rising force in U.K. Rap.
Now, Wohdee is setting her sights on the U.S. Market. She acknowledges the stylistic differences between U.K. And U.S. Rap – particularly in beats, lyrical content, and accent – but remains optimistic. The recent Grammy win for fellow British artist Lola Young, for Best Pop Solo Performance with her hit “Messy,” has further fueled her ambition. “I’m actually going to manifest that [a Grammy] because that’s hard,” she said, visibly inspired by Young’s success.
Wohdee’s latest project, Mind Games 2, released in October , also served as an exploration of her Jamaican heritage, a connection through her father. Interestingly, Apple Music categorizes “No Behaviour” as reggae, a classification that amuses Wohdee, given its hip-hop foundation. She sees reggae as a genre that taps into a deeper emotional core, offering a different kind of expression than the more celebratory themes often found in her other work.
“I feel like it gets in touch with the actual essence,” she explained. “All of this rapping about money, lifestyle, clubbing, and partying, it’s all good and it’s all fun, but I feel like reggae is more for the soul.”
While a full-length album isn’t currently her priority, Wohdee is focused on maintaining the momentum of “No Behaviour (WYFL Riddim)” and releasing a series of singles. She’s embracing a more fluid approach, prioritizing “vibes” over rigid planning. “I’m just plotting singles,” she noted. “I have a few bangers waiting, a few features. I’m just trying to make it flow. I’m not trying to put any pressure behind it.”
Wohdee’s songwriting process is organic, driven by inspiration that strikes at any moment. Whether it’s a fleeting thought, a powerful emotion, or the energy of a live performance, she diligently captures her ideas, often scribbling down lyrics on the spot. Even anger can serve as a creative catalyst. “I could literally be right here and have a thought that’s like, ‘Oh, that would be a sick bar,’ and I have to just start writing the bar,” she said.
Looking ahead, Wohdee has ambitious goals beyond music. She aspires to expand her creative horizons into acting, modeling, and other ventures. However, she’s determined to avoid being defined solely as a viral sensation. “I want to have my hand in a few pies,” she said. “I want to win a Grammy, but then I also want to get into acting. I want to be in something like a mad cool film or a show. I want to model. I want to do it all and just have fun with it.”
With a growing fanbase – over 248,000 Instagram followers, nearly 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and 460,000 TikTok followers – Wohdee is poised for continued success. But she remains grounded, acknowledging that there’s still much work to be done. “I don’t really give myself credit a lot,” she admitted. “It’s like, ‘Oh I’ve just done this’ or ‘I’ve just dropped that song’ or ‘I’ve just been nominated for this,’ but I never really celebrate or I’m never like, ‘Wow.’ I don’t know why, but maybe it’s because I see the end goal and I’m not at the end goal, because there’s still more work to do. But I’m excited for the journey.”
