Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi, known as Rogue Rapper, is a South African rapper, author, and TV presenter with a Congolese-South African background. Her music is known for its unique vocals, hardcore flow, and creative prowess, which has earned her respect in the South African music industry.

Rogue Rapper’s debut album, The New Era Sessions, won the South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film and marked her as a groundbreaking artist. She continues to make an impact with her classic singles, collaborations, and timeless music, maintaining relevance in the evolving South African hip-hop scene.

Early Life

Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi, known as Rogue Rapper, was born on September 13, 1992, in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, with Congolese heritage. She began songwriting at the age of 12 and later explored acting, public speaking, and poetry. At 19, she was introduced to rap music by a friend.

33-year-old Rogue is multilingual, fluent in French, English, and Jozi compositions. Though from South Africa, she embraces her Congolese roots, as her parents migrated to South Africa in 1991. Growing up in an academically focused family, she pursued her education in the performing arts, eventually studying drama and film at the University of Pretoria.

Career

In December 2014, Rogue released her second single, “Mi Corazon,” featuring rapper BigStar Johnson, following her debut single, “Party.” This marked her early steps into the South African music scene.

In 2015, Rogue gained further recognition by being featured alongside other female rappers in the remix of AKA’s song “Baddest,” which solidified her presence in the industry.

2016 proved to be a pivotal year for Rogue, with the release of the hit song “Mbongo Zaka,” featuring Moozlie. The song gained widespread popularity, topping charts on all major radio stations across South Africa. This success continued into 2017 when Rogue was recognized as one of the best female rappers in Africa by the hip-hop website Creative-hiphop, sharing the honor with artists such as Nadia Nakai and Eno Barony.

In October 2016, Rogue expanded her influence beyond music by becoming a mentor on the Vuzu reality game show “The Coalition.” She also showcased her skills on the MTV Base Cyphers in the “New Skool” category in 2017.

A major highlight of Rogue’s career came on September 8, 2017, with the release of her album “The New Era Sessions.” The album debuted at number 2 on the local iTunes charts. She also premiered a short film for the album on September 15, 2017, which featured notable actors and earned her several accolades, including a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film and a South African Music Award for Best Music Video of the Year.

In 2018, Rogue took on new roles, including hosting the SABC 1 music show “Remix SA” and serving as a judge in Halls SA’s online hashtag challenge, HallsOMFCC.

In March 2019, Rogue made a significant career move by signing with Sony Music South Africa, further establishing her position in the South African music industry.

Songs

Albums

2017 – The New Sessions

2021 – Popular Remix

Singles

2020 – One by One

2020 – Senzeni Na

2021 – Gear Box

2021 – W.A.G

2022 – Summer Feels/O.T.T

2022 – Turn It Up

2023 – iStylie

2024 – La Teoria

2024 – Pushing All Day

2025 – Pretoria Let’s Roar

Other Notable Singles

“Bazigally”

“Popular” (featuring Emtee)

“No Cap” (Freestyle)

“One By One” (featuring AKA)

“Popular Remix” (featuring Costa Titch, Hanna, Blxckie, and Tumi Tladi)

“WAG (WhatsApp Group)” (featuring Sarkodie and Youssoupha)

Awards and Nominations

Rogue Rapper, known as the queen of rap in South Africa, has been consistently recognized and celebrated through various awards and nominations for her singles, album, and acting skills. Here is list of some of these awards and nominations:

South African Hip Hop Awards (2017)

Winner of the “Best Female Artist” category.

Nominee for “Freshman of the Year (NewComer).”

2018 (For Album “The New Era Sessions”)

South African Film and Television Awards: Winner of the “Best Micro-Budget Film Award.”

South African Music Awards: Winner of “Best Music Video of the Year” for the song “Arumtumtum.”

SABRE Awards Africa:

Winner of “Best Southern Africa PR campaign.”

Winner of “Best Corporate Image.”

Awards for Skit on “The New Era Sessions” Album

South African Film and Television Awards: Winner of the “Best Micro-Budget Film Award.”

South African Music Awards: Winner of “Best Music Video of the Year.”

Album Nominations (2018)

Nominated for “Best Female Southern Africa.”

Nominated for “Best African Lyricist/Rapper.”