Michael is arguably best known for his portrayal of Big Shaq, the fictional character who had viral success with the song "Man's Not Hot." garnering over 410 million views on YouTube, and over 500 million global streams to date. The single turned into a viral meme, solidifying Dapaah's status as a cultural, comedic and viral phenomenon.
Michael first gained attention as the star and creator of the hugely popular YouTube mockumentary series "Somewhere in London" (SWIL), which follows the journeys of young Londoners, including Big Shaq. The two seasons have amassed over 15 million views, establishing Dapaah as a skilled writer and storyteller. In addition to his comedic roles, Michael has showcased his acting prowess in dramatic performances. He starred in the critically acclaimed BBC One drama "Noughts + Crosses," an adaptation of Malorie Blackman's bestselling novel playing Mensah, a powerful and influential TV personality.
Michael is a much sought after ambassador for a number of nationwide campaigns and has made appearances at the BET, MOBO and BRIT Awards. Michael's other accolades include a nomination for 'Hero of The Year' for NME Awards and wins for GUBA's Rising Star Award' and GRM Daily Rated Awards 'Personality of the Year. He has also collaborated with some of the world’s biggest brands including Nike, Apple, Beats, EE, Gymshark, JD Sports, McDonalds, Experian, Uber, Gillette and most recently - Google Pixel and the England team - amongst many others, reflecting his widespread influence and appeal. Michael is also a proud partner of ‘The Given Type’, an NHS blood campaign which encourages donors from the black community.
Mary Bekhait, YMU CEO, “We are delighted to sign someone of Michael’s calibre – an international, elite multi-hyphenate, pushing culture forward and instigating conversation across platform and genre. His extraordinary ability to create first class content and inspire global audiences is compelling and marks him out as a leader in the contemporary entertainment landscape. We are very excited to partner with his in-house team, led by Fola Adeyemi and propel his career further to even greater heights”
