The Boy Who Played the Harp
Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:44:54 PM Wikipedia source
The Boy Who Played the Harp is the third studio album by British rapper Dave, released on 24 October 2025 through Neighbourhood Recordings. The album serves as a follow-up to We're All Alone in This Together (2021), his second studio album, and Split Decision (2023), Dave's collaborative EP with Central Cee. It features guest appearances from James Blake, Jim Legxacy, Kano, Tems, and Nicole Blakk. The album's title alludes to the Book of Samuel in the Bible (1 Samuel 16:14–23), where Saul summoned a young, brave shepherd, David, to play the harp to soothe him as he was being troubled by evil spirits. The album was released to critical acclaim with many critics praising its lyricism, storytelling, and concept. The album became Dave's third consecutive number one album on the UK Albums Chart, moving approximately 74,000 units in its first week, while becoming the first UK rap artist to debut three albums atop the chart. Internationally, the record debuted at number one in Ireland, the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland, and the top twenty in Canada.
Infobox
Released
24 October 2025 (2025-10-24)
Studio
Abbey Road Studios (London) The Church Studios (London) Real World Studios (Box) Westlake Studios (Los Angeles) Miraval Studios (Correns)
Length
47:43
Label
Neighbourhood Recordings
Producer
Dave[a] Dom Maker Fraser T. Smith James Blake Jim Legxacy Jo Caleb Jonny Leslie Kyle Evans
Tables
Professional ratings · Critical reception
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
7.6/10
Metacritic
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
87/100
Review scores
Review scores
Aggregate scores
Review scores
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
Clash
Clash
Aggregate scores
Clash
Aggregate scores
9/10
DIY
DIY
Aggregate scores
DIY
Aggregate scores
Financial Times
Financial Times
Aggregate scores
Financial Times
Aggregate scores
The Guardian
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
MusicOMH
MusicOMH
Aggregate scores
MusicOMH
Aggregate scores
NME
NME
Aggregate scores
NME
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
6.5/10
The Times
The Times
Aggregate scores
The Times
Aggregate scores
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.6/10 |
| Metacritic | 87/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Clash | 9/10 |
| DIY | |
| Financial Times | |
| The Guardian | |
| MusicOMH | |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 6.5/10 |
| The Times | |
Chart performance for The Boy Who Played the Harp · Charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (2025)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
7
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)
Chart (2025)
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (2025)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
15
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2025)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peakposition
4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2025)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peakposition
50
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
19
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Chart (2025)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Peakposition
2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
2
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (2025)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
86
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (2025)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
22
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2025)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
22
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Chart (2025)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Peakposition
37
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)
Chart (2025)
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)
Peakposition
4
Irish Albums (OCC)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Chart (2025)
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Peakposition
22
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (2025)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
10
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable)
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable)
Chart (2025)
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable)
Peakposition
2
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Chart (2025)
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Peakposition
10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Chart (2025)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Peakposition
5
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (2025)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Peakposition
89
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2025)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2025)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
5
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
| Chart (2025) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 7 |
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA) | 1 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 15 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 4 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 50 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 19 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten) | 2 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 2 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 86 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 22 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 22 |
| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) | 37 |
| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn) | 4 |
| Irish Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) | 22 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 10 |
| Nigerian Albums (TurnTable) | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge) | 10 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) | 5 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 2 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 89 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 6 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 5 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) | 1 |
Certifications for The Boy Who Played the Harp · Certifications
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release dates and formats for The Boy Who Played the Harp · Release history
Various
Various
Region
Various
Date
24 October 2025
Label(s)
Neighbourhood Recordings
Format(s)
CDLPcassettestreamingdigital download
Edition(s)
Standard
CDLPcassette
CDLPcassette
Region
CDLPcassette
Date
Stone Island Exclusive
Spotify Exclusive
Spotify Exclusive
Region
Spotify Exclusive
| Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition(s) | Ref. |
| Various | 24 October 2025 | Neighbourhood Recordings | CDLPcassettestreamingdigital download | Standard | |
| CDLPcassette | Stone Island Exclusive | ||||
| Spotify Exclusive |
References
- Under the stage name "Santan"
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- The Boy Who Played the Harp
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- "The Boy Who Played the Harp Stone Island Sound Presents Special Collector's Edition 2LP Etched Vinyl & CD"https://store.santandave.com/products/the-boy-who-played-the-harp-stone-island-sound-presents-special-collector-s-edition-2lp-etched-vinyl-cd
- "Spotify Fans First: Sacred Psycho Blue Bundle Complete"https://store.santandave.com/collections/spotify-fans-first/products/spotify-fans-first-sacred-psycho-blue-bundle-complete