Dennis Junior Odunwo[4] (born 1 September 1993),[5] known professionally as Tion Wayne, is a British rapper and DJ from Edmonton, North London.[3][2]

Tion Wayne
Background information
Birth nameDennis Junior Odunwo[1]
Also known asT Wizzy
Born (1993-09-01) 1 September 1993 (age 31)
Edmonton, London, England[2]
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • DJ
Years active2010–present[3]
Labels

He appeared on three top-10 singles on UK Singles Chart as a guest – NSG's "Options", "Keisha & Becky" with Russ Millions and KSI's track "Houdini" – before getting his first top 10 hit as the lead artist with "I Dunno" featuring Dutchavelli and Stormzy, which peaked at number 7, and having his first number 1 with "Body" alongside Russ Millions.[2][5]

Early life

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Dennis Junior Odunwo was born in Edmonton, North London.[2][3][4] His parents are Yoruba immigrants from Nigeria.[6] His mother was a nurse and his father was a computer engineer. He is a middle child and wanted to become an accountant.[7]

Career

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Odunwo began to make a name for himself in the music scene in 2010 after dropping a handful of videos on YouTube.[2][3][4] By 2014, he had released his first mixtape, titled Wayne's World.[8] Odunwo slowly began building a loyal following. By 2016, he had supported artists such as American rapper Rick Ross and Ghanaian artist Sarkodie.[8] His follow-up mixtape, Wayne's World Vol. 2, was also released that year. In 2017, Odunwo released Transition EP.[8] He made his UK Singles Chart-debut in early 2019 when he was featured on London-based group NSG's single "Options", which peaked at number seven.[9] He also released Wayne's World 3 in 2019.[9]

His single "Keisha & Becky" with fellow British rapper Russ Millions also reached the UK top 10, peaking at number seven.[9] In 2020, Odunwo was featured, alongside rapper and singer Swarmz, and rapper KSI's single "Houdini".[10] The single peaked at number six in the UK Singles Charts.[9][10] Soon after that, he released his single "I Dunno" featuring Dutchavelli and Stormzy, which also reached the UK top 10, peaking at number seven.[11][12]

In 2021, Tion Wayne released "Body", a second collaboration with Russ Millions. A remix was released on 22 April. The song charted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the first UK drill song to chart at number 1.

In May 2023, Tion Wayne went to the residence of late rapper Sidhu Moose Wala at his village in Punjab, India. He also went to pay his respect to his parents and film a music video for the song "Healing". Tion Wayne and Moosewala previously collaborated on the track "Celebrity Killer" in 2021.[13][14]

Controversies

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On 4 March 2017, Odunwo was involved in a brawl outside a nightclub in Clifton, Bristol[4] where he was among the performers who had been DJing at the venue.[3] The brawl involved more than 100 people.[3] Odunwo, along with three other men, were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 9 November.[3] Odunwo was jailed for 16 months.[1][9]

On 17 November 2020, Odunwo was involved in an altercation with rapper Headie One on board a flight from Dubai to London in which the rapper Morrisson tried to break up shortly after boarding.[15][16]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[17]
UK
R&B/HH

[18]
BEL
(FL)

[19]
IRE
[20]
NLD
[21]
Green With Envy 5 3 164 33 93

Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
[9]
Wayne's World 2014
Wayne's World 2 2016
T Wayne's World 3 2019 62
"—" denotes a mixtape that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[17]
UK
R&B/HH

[23]
AUS
[24]
CAN
[25]
DEN
[26]
IRE
[27]
NLD
[21]
NZ
[28]
POR
[29]
WW
[30]
"Streetz Dem"
(with Brandz)
2017 Non-album singles
"I'm On"
(featuring Kojo Funds)
"Gone Bad"
(with Geko and One Acen)
"Cmon"
(with Hardy Caprio)
"Home" 2018
"On My Life"
"Sweet Thug"
(with One Acen)
"Keisha & Becky"
(with Russ Millions)
2019 7 1 44
  • BPI: 2× Platinum[22]
T Wayne's World 3
"Married to the £" Non-album single
"Drive By"
(featuring Swarmz)
57 30 T Wayne's World 3
"2 On 2"
(with Jay1)
53 40
"2/10"
(featuring One Acen)
"4AM"
(with Manny Norté, 6LACK, Rema featuring Love Renaissance)
2020 Non-album singles
"I Dunno"
(featuring Dutchavelli and Stormzy)
7 7 30
"Deluded"
(featuring Mist)
26 14 83
"Body"
(with Russ Millions)
2021 1 1 1 16 3 1 3 1 15 11 Green with Envy
"Wow" 21 8 49 [A]
"Wid It"
(with ArrDee)[B]
19 6 41 [C]
"Knock Knock"
(with M24)
2022 21 8 42 [D] TBA
"IFTK"
(with La Roux)
6 1 10 [E]
"Let's Go"
(featuring Aitch)
30 11 84 [F]
"Healing"[41] 2023 35 15 [G]
"Amen"
(featuring Nines)
43 18
"Lowkey (LDN Drift)"
(with Hedex featuring Takura)[43]
2024 [H] [I] Non-album single
"We Won"
(with Russ Millions)
TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[17]
UK
R&B/HH

[23]
AUS
[24]
IRE
[27]
NLD
[21]
NZ
Hot

[46]
"Gyaldem Sugar"
(Mazi Chukz featuring Tion Wayne)
2017 Non-album singles
"Hot Property"
(Team Salut featuring Tion Wayne, Afro B and Eugy)
"Options"
(NSG featuring Tion Wayne)
2018 7 3 52
  • BPI: 2× Platinum[22]
Roots
"Trendy"
(Cadet featuring Ay Em and Tion Wayne)
Non-album singles
"Bally"
(Swarmz featuring Tion Wayne)
2019 32 16
"London"
(M24 featuring Tion Wayne)
2020 32 16
"Houdini"
(KSI featuring Swarmz and Tion Wayne)
6 5 [J] 11 3 Dissimulation
"Moncler"
(Tinie featuring Tion Wayne)
Non-album single
"Last Night"
(B Young featuring Tion Wayne)
"Come Over"
(Rudimental featuring Anne-Marie and Tion Wayne)
26 Ground Control
"Celebrity Killer"
(Sidhu Moose Wala featuring Tion Wayne)
2021 MooseTape
"Blama"
(Steel Banglez featuring Tion Wayne and Morrisson)
94 TBA
"Night Away (Dance)"
(A1 x J1 featuring Tion Wayne)
2022 11 4 83 21
[48]
42 26 Non-album single
"Suffer"
(GRM Daily featuring Giggs and Tion Wayne)
TBA
"Je M’appelle"
(Benzz featuring Tion Wayne & French Montana)
Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[17]
NZ
Hot

[37]
"Rock Dat"
(featuring Polo G)
2021 35 Green with Envy
"Who's True"
(with Jae5 and Davido)
50

Notes

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  1. ^ "Wow" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 27 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[36]
  2. ^ "Wid It" is also included on Arrdee's debut mixtape Pier Pressure.
  3. ^ "Wid It" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[37]
  4. ^ "Knock Knock" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 30 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[38]
  5. ^ "IFTK" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[39]
  6. ^ "Let's Go" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[40]
  7. ^ "Healing" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 24 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[42]
  8. ^ "Lowkey (LDN Drift)" did not enter the UK Singles Chart Top 100 but debuted at number 97 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart Top 100.[44]
  9. ^ "Lowkey (LDN Drift)" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 13 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[45]
  10. ^ "Houdini" did not enter the Australian Singles Chart, but debuted at number 36 on the Australian Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart.[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bennett, Geoffrey (9 November 2017). "Grime star Tion Wayne stamped on a man's head during mass brawl outside Clifton nightclub". Bristol Live.
  2. ^ a b c d e Embley, Jochan (19 June 2020). "Virtually Famous: Tion Wayne". Evening Standard.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Aniefiok, Ekpoudom (13 October 2019). "Tion Wayne review – enthrallingly glossy anthems and joyful productions". The Guardian.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rapper Tion Wayne: 'Police don't want us to win, they want us in jail'". the Guardian. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Tion Wayne | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  6. ^ Kane, David (8 May 2020). "Tion Wayne". Notion Online.
  7. ^ Smyth, David (9 April 2021). "Tion Wayne interview". Evening Standard. I was good at maths, I love money - I was going to be an accountant.
  8. ^ a b c "Tion Wayne | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Tion Wayne | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ a b "BTS's Suga, The 1975, Gunna And KSI Chart New Top 10 Albums In The U.K." Forbes.
  11. ^ "Tion Wayne, Dutchavelli, Stormzy Shake Things Up With New Drop "I Dunno"". Complex.
  12. ^ "DaBaby And Roddy Ricch Replace Lady Gaga And Ariana Grande At No. 1 On The U.K. Singles Chart". Forbes.
  13. ^ "Tion Wayne Set For Release With Sidhu Moosewala". BritAsiaTv. 2 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Tion Wayne Salutes Late Rapper Sidhu Moose Wala In New "Healing" Video". Complex.
  15. ^ "Headie One and Tion Wayne in 'altercation' on Dubai flight – reports say". The Independent. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  16. ^ Fowler, Kate (18 November 2020). "Who is Morrisson? Rapper responds to Tion Wayne and Headie One fight!". HITC.
  17. ^ a b c d "Tion Wayne | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ Peaks on the UK R&B Albums Chart:
  19. ^ "Tion Wayne – Green with Envy" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d "Discografie Tion Wayne". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "British certifications – Tion Wayne". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 November 2024. Type Tion Wayne in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  23. ^ a b Peak R&B chart positions in the UK:
  24. ^ a b "Tion Wayne Australian Charts Discography". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Tion Wayne Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  26. ^ "danishcharts.dk – Discography Tion Wayne". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  27. ^ a b "irishcharts.com - Discography Tion Wayne". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Discography Tion Wayne". charts.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Tion Wayne". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Billboard Global 200 Chart History: Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  31. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles for week of 15 November 2021". aria.com.au. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Gold/Platinum – Tion Wayne". Music Canada. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Tion Wayne & Russ Millions – Body". IFPI Denmark. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  34. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". 12 July 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  35. ^ ""Portuguese single certifications – Tion Wayne & Russ Millions – Body"" (PDF). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  36. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  37. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  38. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  39. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  40. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  41. ^ Keith, James (6 May 2023). "Tion Wayne Salutes Late Rapper Sidhu Moose Wala In New "Healing" Video". Complex. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  42. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  43. ^ "Hedex unveils 'Lowkey (LDN Drift)' with Tion Wayne". We Rave You. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  44. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 2/2/2024 2 February 2024 – 8 February 2024". Official Charts. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  45. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  46. ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
  47. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 1 April 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2022.