Trey La
Trey La | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles Selorm Dumenu November 23, 1986 Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, author, advocate |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | Finalist in 2012 rap contest The Next Big Thing In GH Hip-Hop; releasing combined book and EP project The Money Trey |
Charles Selorm Dumenu (born November 23, 1986), professionally recognized as Trey La, is a Ghanaian artist, author, and advocate for social causes. He rose to prominence as a finalist in the 2012 rap contest The Next Big Thing In GH Hip-Hop, broadcast on GH One TV.
Early life and education
Trey La was born in Hohoe, located in Ghana's Volta Region, and was brought up by his late paternal grandparents, among whom was the educator Mr. R.G.K. Dumenu. His early education took place at Kabore School Complex in Ho, followed by attendance at Bishop Herman College in Kpando for his secondary schooling. He earned a degree from the University of Education, Winneba, and later completed an MBA specializing in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Additionally, he holds an HND in Secretaryship and Management Studies from Kumasi Technical University.
Career
Beginning his career primarily as a rapper and recording artist from Ghana, Trey La briefly held a position at Stanbic Bank before fully dedicating himself to music. In 2011, he released the single One Man Army, which featured King Fad and was produced by Ghanaian musician E.L. The track is notable for incorporating rap verses delivered in eight different Ghanaian languages.
His breakthrough came with participation in The Rising Stars of GH Mixtape Album, compiled by Ghanaian-American producer Coptic, which included performances by leading Ghanaian talents such as Sarkodie and Stonebwoy. Following this exposure, Coptic signed Trey La in 2014, resulting in the release of The Introduction Mixtape Album and progress on his debut studio project Graaaduation, which features collaborations spanning Africa and the United States.
Trey La’s body of work encompasses The Introduction Mixtape Album, Passive Religionist, Graaarmy Vol. 1, the EP Locally Acquired Foreign Accents (LAFA), as well as The Money Trey EP, Big Things Start Small EP, and most recently the Kevin Ekow Taylor EP, which attracted attention from broadcaster Kevin Taylor. His collaborative efforts include partnerships with Ghanaian and international artists like French-Ghanaian vocalist Bibie Brew.
Among his production associates are Coptic, Oshea, BD Records from Palestine, DJ Pain 1, Anno Domini, and Legend Beats.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Trey La introduced The Money Trey, a combined book and EP project that shares its title—making him the first Ghanaian artist to release a literary work alongside an album unified by a central theme. He is regarded as the second African musician to undertake such a dual-format release after Nigerian artist Burna Boy, who launched a comic book concurrent with his album African Giant.