Who is mysterious Scouse rapper EsDeeKid?

Meet EsDeeKid, the masked scouser taking Liverpool rap global.

Liverpool rap has changed. The days of Riuven rhyming tongue-in-cheek bars about Chav Scum Kiddas and Juice FM spinning the same 20 songs on repeat are over.

These days, the Scouse scene has gone global. Since Aystar set the standard in the early 2010s with his chilling, laidback lyricism about life on the city streets, we’ve seen a new wave of talented young artists making a splash far beyond postcodes with purple bins.

From HAZEY’s TikTok-driven sensation ‘Packs and Potions’ to Young LS’s feral, ferocious energy attracting millions of online views and Mazza L20 spitting some of the sickest bars Charlie Sloth’s Fire in The Booth has ever heard, Scouse ‘trap’ tunes are gaining serious attention.

But one Liverpool rapper has risen above the pack. His name is EsDeeKid. And, despite never revealing his face, name, or age publicly, the balaclava-clad wordsmith has gone from underground cult icon to global name in less than a year.

As well as his 2025 debut album, Rebel, reaching number 8 in the UK album charts and number 29 on the US Billboard 200, EsDeeKid has also gained celebrity fans, including actor Timothee Chalamet. The Marty Supreme star even recorded a guest verse for the hit single 4 Raws, appearing alongside EsDeeKid in a music video.

What makes EsDeeKid so special?

What sets Scouse rap apart from the rest of the UK rap scene isn’t the beats, it’s the voice. Unlike many rap artists from other cities who use London-centric vocabulary and phrasing, Liverpool rappers lean unapologetically into their USP – the unmistakable Scouse accent.

Yet, while his city-born contemporaries expertly spit those tell-tale hard-hitting T sounds and thick Ks that kick like a kangaroo from Kirkby, EsDeeKid has arguably used the unique rhythm and slang of Liverpool to the most devastating effect.

Credit: EsDeeKid Scouse Rapper The Guide Liverpool — Credit: EsDeeKid

You can’t imagine anyone else snarling bars as he does on 4 Raws:

“Plod are on chase, gotta make the excursion, now I’m managing this s**t like I’m Jurgen.”

It’s in these stories of street paranoia, spending dough, and getting girls that EsDeeKid really shines, bringing to life the reality of Liverpool’s underground with cinematic anger and intensity.

Yes, he has menace and machismo aplenty, but EsDeeKid also brings Scouse humour to his verses, with acerbic remarks and imaginative inflections.

“He the biggest green man since Incredible Hulk,” he says of a weed dealer on Phantom, featuring long-term collaborator Rico Ace.

These clever turns of phrase put a playful spin on EsDee’s otherwise aggressive style that sees him bark through tracks in a matter of moments. Most recordings on Rebel barely break the two-minute mark – a big reason he dominates short-form video platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

But for all his punchiness, wit, and swagger, there’s no escaping the fact that mystery is one of the most appealing things about EsDeeKid. After all, never showing his face led to fevered speculation that the rapper was Timothee Chalamet in disguise (they have similar eyes, apparently). The online rumour mill caught Chalamet’s attention and, never one to miss a publicity opportunity, the actor performed as ‘Little Timmy Tim’ alongside the rapper in a reworked video for 4 Raws in December 2025. The release finally put the myth to bed, and even saw Chalamet give a cheeky nod to the Scouse accent with the line:

“I got a can of Coke and that cheque in.”

The mystery around the Liverpool lingo has even led to the creation of online ‘EsDeeKid’ translators – YouTube videos dedicated to explaining what on earth he’s on about.

Wha’ lad, indeed.

What’s next for EsDeeKid?

Described by Dazed as “the fastest-growing artist in the world right now”, the masked emcee is expected to drag street-level Scouse Rap into the mainstream this year.

EsDeeKid’s famously energetic live shows go on tour at the end of January, taking the Liverpool rapper to Canada, America, and Australia.

2026 is when the rest of the world finally catches up to what we’ve known for years – nothing compares to the Liverpool lilt.

Listen to EsDeeKid on Spotify here.

Get more Liverpool music news here.

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