Deca OTA

C.J. Ofoma (born July 26, 2003), known professionally as Deca OTA or simply Deca, is a rapper and songwriter from London. He is best known for his introspective lyricism, laid-back delivery, and jazz-infused production.

Deca grew up in Grahame Park, North West London, before moving to Newham. Coming from a non-musical family, he was first introduced to rap through his older brother, who briefly pursued music. Inspired, Deca recorded his first track in 2018 at a local studio after school but didn’t begin taking music seriously until 2021, alongside longtime collaborator Rosen Films, who directs his videos.

Deca’s sound draws from boom bap, jazz, and old-school rap, heavily influenced by artists like MF DOOM, Masta Ace, Mobb Deep, and Big L. His early releases, including Far from Average (2021), Interlude, and Cincinnati (2022), gained moderate attention. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that he saw a breakthrough with Free Imprint, a song that gained traction on *TikTok, attracting the attention of UK rap figures like Nemzzz, Blanco, and many others. This was followed by Through the Fire, his most commercially successful track to date, which delves into themes of spirituality, redemption, and introspection, reflecting his Christian faith.

With a unique blend of spiritual depth, jazz instrumentation, and contemporary rap, he continues to carve out his own lane in UK hip-hop, standing apart in a scene often driven by trends and conformity.