Footballers have increasingly explored hip-hop, with many releasing occasional songs to generate publicity or enhance their personal brands. However, for some players, music goes beyond a side hustle and has become a genuine creative passion.
For football stars such as Memphis Depay, Rafael Leao, Moise Kean, and Alex Iwobi, rap offers an escape from the intense demands of professional football. The recording studio provides a space where they can freely express their emotions, experiences, struggles, and personal stories while developing an identity away from the football pitch.
9. Clint Dempsey (Deuce)
Former USMNT captain and Premier League star Clint Dempsey was one of the early American footballers to seriously embrace rap, performing under the name Deuce.
Before the 2006 World Cup, Dempsey entered the music scene with ‘Don’t Tread’, a hard-hitting Southern rap song with strong Texas influences that was widely used in major sports campaigns.
8. Noa Lang (Noano)
Dutch winger Noa Lang has built a reputation in the European hip-hop scene under the name Noano, attracting significant attention and impressive streaming figures.
His January 2025 single ‘Waka’ went viral and accumulated more than 4 million YouTube views alone.
7. Royston Drenthe (Roya2Faces)
Former Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe became increasingly frustrated with the demands of professional football and temporarily stepped away from the sport to focus on music full-time under the alias Roya2Faces.
His 2017 debut single ‘Paranoia’ quickly gained popularity in the Netherlands, although he eventually returned to football with Sparta Rotterdam.
6. Asamoah Gyan (Baby Jet)
Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan also enjoyed considerable success in music under the pseudonym Baby Jet.
His popular song ‘African Girls’, which featured the late musician Castro, achieved major commercial success and won the Best Hiplife Single award at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards.
5. Ryan Babel
Former Liverpool and Ajax winger Ryan Babel took his musical ambitions to another level during the COVID-19 lockdown.
He released an eight-track hip-hop album titled The Autobiography – Chapter 1, using his music to share personal experiences and openly address issues involving former managers, including Rafa Benítez, as well as former teammates.
4. Moise Kean (19F)
Italian striker Moise Kean has emerged as a prominent figure in the hip-hop scene in recent years. Performing as 19F, he released his debut album Chosen, delivering tracks in both Italian and English.
Kean also achieved a notable milestone in gaming when his 2025 single ‘BOMBAY’ became the first song by an active top-flight footballer to appear on an official EA Sports FC soundtrack.
3. Alex Iwobi (17)
Fulham and Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi made history in the Premier League by becoming the first active player to release a complete music EP.
Under his stage name 17, Iwobi released the nine-track project More To Life, combining polished production with luxury-inspired rap themes and featuring fellow footballer Amadou Onana.
2. Rafael Leao (WAY 45)
AC Milan forward Rafael Leao records music under the alias WAY 45, a name inspired by the postal code of his hometown.
Unlike players who treat music as a temporary hobby, Leao has developed a substantial catalogue, releasing three different projects. These include his 2021 debut EP Beginning, the 17-track studio album My Life In Each Verse, and his 2025 trap EP 12:12.
1. Memphis Depay
Dutch forward Memphis Depay is arguably the most prominent active footballer to establish a serious presence in music.
He began his music career in 2017 with ‘LA Vibes’ before releasing his full-length studio album Heavy Stepper in 2020.
More recently, his 2025 EP Favelas and the controversial music video for ‘Don’t Panic’ have continued to generate attention around his musical identity and presence in the hip-hop world.
