Ryan De La Cruz

Rayan Itsan Indanda (born 20 October 1996), known mononymously as Ryan De La Cruz, is a Congolese-British singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, model, director, producer, and television personality. He sings in English, French, and Lingala. Born in Cricklewood, Northwest London, Itsan began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative project with the Lil Rascals, a group associated with the early 2000s grime music movement. He later signed a record deal with Plan B in 2015 after portraying Jake in the critically acclaimed film ''Ill Manors''.

Emerging as a rapper, he released his debut five-track EP ''Pagans'' in June 2016. The following year, his track "Know About Me" gained recognition as Vevo's Track of the Week and entered BBC Radio 1's B list chart for several weeks. In 2019, Itsan released his debut studio album, ''Syko'', followed by ''23'' (2021), an album influenced by contemporary R&B and soul. In 2024, he released the four-track EP ''Cameleon'' on 23 February, ''Nasti'' on 16 August, and a joint EP with Sh Quille, ''How You Getting On'', on 29 November.

Early life

Ryan De La Cruz was born Rayan Itsan Indanda on 20 October 1996 in Cricklewood, Northwest London, to Congolese parents. His father, Rev. Dave Indanda, was a reverend and an early figure in the Congolese nationalist movement known as the ''Combattants'', while his mother, Marie-Claire Tumbe, was involved in modeling and tailoring.

De La Cruz showed an interest in music and performance from an early age, teaching himself to sing and dance by the age of seven. His passion for rhythm was evident, as he frequently repurposed household cutlery to play drums in his bedroom. His father, recognizing his musical inclination, experimented one evening, teaching De La Cruz and his two sisters how to sing in harmony. Raised in a household with five siblings, Ryan was involved in church activities, regularly attending services and singing in the choir alongside his father and fellow congregation members. On Saturdays, he accompanied his father to drum lessons and later became a drummer for the church.

In the early 2000s, his family relocated to Forest Gate, East London, where he developed an interest in acting. He would often assist his older sister, Julia, by rehearsing lines for her drama classes. This exposure to theater led to a formative experience when she brought him to her school to watch a drama rehearsal. It was there that he met a young Nick Sagar, whom he would later work with on the film ''Ill Manors''.

Music career

2000s–2017: Lil Rascals, ''Pagans'', "Know About Me", and ''Syko''

After moving to East London, De La Cruz began actively showcasing his talent through school talent shows and networking within the local music scene. He formed a connection with a school friend whose father managed Lil Rascals, a prominent group within the UK grime music scene, often featured on Channel AKA. At just nine years old, De La Cruz was already ambitious about entering the music industry, persistently encouraging his friend to arrange a meeting between their parents.

During the filming of ''Ill Manors'', De La Cruz developed a close friendship with Plan B, who became a mentor and played a key role in his artistic development, particularly in songwriting and music production. Even as his career progressed, he continued to dedicate himself to music, often spending extensive hours refining his craft. In 2013, he signed a record deal with Plan B's recording imprint under Sony Music. In June 2016, De La Cruz released his debut five-track EP, ''Pagans'', featuring singles such as "Gotham", "Don't Think About It", "Bando", "Pagans", and "Jimmy's Story". On 1 May 2016, he appeared on NSG's single "Alright", which was later included in their 2017 EP ''Grown Up''.

In January 2017, the music video for his song "Know About Me", directed by Bouha Kazmi, gained significant recognition, landing the song on the BBC Radio 1 B list chart for several weeks. Released in October 2016 by Void UK, the track was selected as Vevo's Track of the Week and awarded Best Video of the Year by BBC radio personalities Mistajam, DJ Semtex, and DJ Target. Speaking to ''the Hundreds'', De La Cruz stated that he wanted to create a project that was "vibrant, showing different sides of me and what I can do". On 7 March 2019, he guest-performed on S Wavey's single "Player" alongside Ghetts. Later that year, on 8 November, he released his debut studio album, ''Syko'', under Alacran Group LLO/J.0.A.l Records, licensed exclusively to ONErom. With De La Cruz overseeing much of the production and mixing, the 11-track album blended trap and contemporary R&B, featuring guest appearances from Mercston and JiuLing. The title track, "Syko''"'', gained traction for its blend of melodic elements and hard-hitting trap beats, characterized by what De La Cruz described as "creepy nursery bells" that added an eerie edge. Meanwhile, the lo-fi and gritty visuals of the "Stubborn" music video showcased his natural flair for dance and performance.

2021–present: ''23'', ''Cameleon'', ''Nasti'', ''How You Getting On'', and "Oyo Nini"

In 2021, he dropped his second studio album, ''23'', a 23-track project heavily influenced by contemporary R&B and soul. The self-produced album delved into socially conscious, discrimination, racism, and police brutality. It featured guest appearances from Luke Gomm, Ngozi Diamond, Gabi'el, JiBs, Apollo BlockBoy, Dennis Milliano, Krze, Jacksmunii, Smasher, BackRoad Gee, Clinton Elvis, Lavelle London, Richy Sparkz, Rolldens, FUNDR, Nxm Notes, Neezy N.E.B, ADP, and Tokyo James. Two years later, in 2023, he contributed to ''The BLCKOut (EP) Vol.1'' by XVR BLCK, featuring on the track "Pembeni". In 2024, he released the four-track EP ''Cameleon'' on 23 February, ''Nasti'' on 16 August, and a joint EP with Sh Quille, ''How You Getting On'', on 29 November. On 21 February 2025, he released "Oyo Nini", a Congolese rumba-inspired single that sampled Franco Luambo's 1984 hit "Makambo Ezali Bourreau". The song was issued under Raw-X Ent and Wèrè Wèrè Music and distributed by Def Jam Africa.

Acting

After grabbing the attention of Plan B, De La Cruz was auditioned in school to play a lead role in a film that Plan B both wrote and self-directed ''Ill Manors''. Charles Gant of ''Variety'' wrote, "young De La Cruz impresses when he switches from macho swagger to scared child in a heartbeat". This gave De La Cruz depth in terms of experience and allowed him to grow. After he received the role of Jake, De La Cruz went on and landed a role 'Shawn' in the British-African sitcom ''Meet the Adebanjos'', appearing in Series 2, Episode 14 ("Rude Boy Friend") on Netflix alongside Wale Ojo, Daniel Davids, Yetunde Oduwole which he co-directed and it, later on, became an ultimate fan favorite.

Furthering his career on TV, De La Cruz was featured in the MTV show '' Judge Geordie Season 1'', expressing the problems and altercations he faced with his best mates. The episode featuring his friends Waffle King & Xvr Blck was initially a prank pulled by the bunch but Vicky Pattison was totally unaware.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Syko'' (2019)
* ''23'' (2021)

EP

* ''Pagans'' (2016)
* ''Cameleon'' (2024)
* ''Nasti'' (2024)

Joint EP

* ''How You Getting On'' with Sh Quille (2024)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:De La Cruz, Ryan
1996 births
Living people
Democratic Republic of the Congo songwriters
21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers
English-language singers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Grime music artists
English male rappers
English hip-hop musicians
Black British male rappers
21st-century British male singers
21st-century English singers
21st-century British rappers
Pop rappers
English Christians