5 Things You Didn't Know About Raye

Raye is swiftly redefining pop, thanks to her signature blend of raw emotion captured in her lyricism and vocals, in addition to her catchy hooks. The British singer-songwriter, born Rachel Agatha Keen, has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in music.

After years of behind-the-scenes success, contributing as a writer to hits for some of the biggest names in music (like co-writing for Beyoncé, Charli Xcx, and John Legend), Raye stepped into the spotlight with her powerful solo music after drama with an old record label. The Ghanaian-Swiss and English musician's debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, released in 2023, shows off her vulnerability and versatility, earning rave reviews and cementing her place in pop’s upper echelons.

With her haunting vocals and bold lyricism, Raye delivers music that resonates deep, proving she's not afraid to challenge the status quo. After years of chart-topping collaborations, she's proving she doesn’t just write the hits—she is the hit. From chart-climbing singles like "Escapism" with 070 Shake to her performance at the 2025 Academy Awards, Raye's entrance into the spotlight has been a long time coming. With a sound that’s both haunting and uplifting, she’s a star who refuses to be boxed in.

Keep reading for some surprising facts and things you probably don't know about one of today's brightest pop stars.

Raye had a tumultuous rise to fame.

Raye may be getting her flowers now, but her journey to receiving them was less than perfect. In 2014, she got signed to Polydor Records to pursue her own music career while writing for other artists as well. Raye took to her X (formerly Twitter) account in June 2021, to accuse the label of refusing to release her debut album, a few weeks after the album’s lead single dropped. 

“I have been on a 4 ALBUM RECORD DEAL since 2014!!! And haven’t been allowed to put out one album. ALL I CARE ABOUT is the music. I'm sick of being slept on and I’m sick of being in pain about it. This is not business to me, this is so personal,” she claimed in the tweet. She received an outpouring of support for her honesty and bravery from fellow British artists like Charli Xcx, Mnek, and Rina Sawayama. 

Raye took a hiatus after parting ways with Polydor and went independent, before briefly being signed to Human Re Sources in 2022.

She wrote for Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter.

Before her mainstream success in pop, Raye was already a favorite and highly sought-after talent for her songwriting skills. She has some serious pen game, including having previously written songs for Little Mix, John Legend, Charli XCX, and, more recently, on Beyoncé’s Grammy Award-winning album Cowboy Carter on the track “Riiverdance.”

She holds a BRIT Awards record.

Raye’s accolades just keep coming, and rightfully so. At the 2024 BRIT Awards, she broke the record for the most artist wins in a single night with six, including for British Album of the Year for My 21st Century Blues, Song of the Year for "Escapism," and British Artist of the Year. Raye extended her number of career wins at the 2025 ceremony, taking home the award for Best R&B Act.

She has a phone just for social media.

Setting boundaries for social media usage is essential, and Raye takes this seriously. The Grammy-nominated musician has two phones: one for social media only and a second one for everything else, including work, friends, and games. 

“I feel like it’s so important to separate the virtual world and real life,” Raye told British GQ. She continued noting, “if you feel disappointed with something you did in the social world, or you posted something you didn’t think was ‘up to standard’, or your tweet wasn’t funny enough,” it’ll stick with you.

Raye doesn't drink.

Raye has been open about her past substance abuse, the degree of how dangerous it got, and her path to sobriety. She has said her dependence on drugs and alcohol stemmed from years of hiding the pain and trauma from being sexually assaulted by a record producer. Unhappiness with her solo career at the time was also a factor in her substance usage. As of 2025, the singer has been sober for two years.

In the track “Ice Cream Man,” the musician went into detail on the sexual assault she experienced. Lyrics in the song notably reveal details on her age at the time, adding, "If I was ruthless they’d be in a penitentiary.”