Trey La
{{Short description|Ghanaian musician, writer, and social activist}}
{{orphan|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| relations =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| birthname = Charles Selorm Dumenu
| nationality = Ghanaian
| party =
| otherparty =
| spouse =
| children =
| death_place =
| residence = Accra
| alma_mater = Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
University of Education, Winneba
Kumasi Technical University
| occupation =
| profession = musician, writer, and social activist
| cabinet =
| committees =
| restingplace =
| death_date =
| name = Trey La
| order =
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| alt =
| caption =
| office =
| birth_place = Hohoe
| term_start =
| term_end =
| president =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|11|23}}
| portfolio =
}}
Charles Selorm Dumenu{{Cite web |title=Dumenu Charles Selorm honoured by Kwahuman - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/dumenu-charles-selorm-honoured-by-kwahuman/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}} (born on November 23, 1986), popularly known as Trey La, is a Ghanaian musician, writer, and social activist.{{Cite web |last=GNA |date=2022-12-16 |title=Rap sensation Trey La drops nostalgic patriotic flow on "Oh Ghana" |url=https://gna.org.gh/2022/12/rap-sensation-trey-la-drops-nostalgic-patriotic-flow-on-oh-ghana/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Ghana News Agency |language=en-US}} He became well known on TV when he became a finalist of The Next Big Thing In GH Hip-Hop, a TV rap competition on GH One TV in 2012.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Trey La hails life-saving interventions of Ambulance Service in new song |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/music/trey-la-hails-life-saving-interventions-of-ambulance-service-in-new-song.html |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Graphic Online |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=The Next Big Thing in Ghana |url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/19145/the-next-big-thing-in-ghana.html |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}
Early life and education
Trey La was born in Hohoe, in Ghana’s Volta Region, and was raised by his late paternal grandparents, Mr. R.G.K. Dumenu and Paulina Dumenu. His grandfather was an educator. Trey La began his education at Kabore School Complex in Ho and attended Bishop Herman College in Kpando for his secondary education. He earned his first degree from the University of Education, Winneba, in the Central Region. He later pursued a Master of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti Region.{{Cite web |last=Donkoh |first=Ebenezer |date=2017-01-26 |title=Is Okyeame Kwame the Most 'Educated' Ghanaian Rapper? Check This List |url=https://www.nydjlive.com/is-okyeame-kwame-the-most-educated-ghanaian-rapper-check-this-list/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=NY DJ Live |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Music |first=Ghana |date=2018-01-04 |title=Rapper Trey LA becomes a Gynaecologist {{!}} Ghana Music |url=https://ghanamusic.com/news/top-stories/2018/01/04/trey-la-becomes-a-gynaecologist/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |language=en-GB}} He also holds an HND in Secretaryship and Management Studies from Kumasi Technical University.{{Cite web |title=Trey La to break boundaries with 'The Money Trey' EP and book - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/trey-la-to-break-boundaries-with-the-money-trey-ep-and-book/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}
Career
Trey La is a Ghanaian rapper and recording artist. He began his music career with a focus on rap before briefly transitioning into the banking sector, where he worked with Stanbic Bank. In 2011, released the single One Man Army, featuring King Fad and produced by Ghanaian musician E.L. The song featured rap verses in eight Ghanaian dialects.{{Cite web |last=Quist |first=Ebenezer Agbey |date=2022-12-16 |title=Trey La: Ghanaian Musician Who Raps In 8 Languages Releases National Song Titled Oh Ghana - YEN.COM.GH |url=https://yen.com.gh/people/224657-ghanaian-musician-releases-national-song-interesting-background-story/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=yen.com.gh |language=en}}
He gained further recognition through his participation in The Rising Stars of GH Mixtape Album, an annual compilation project curated by Ghanaian-American producer Coptic. The mixtape series featured prominent Ghanaian musicians such as Sarkodie, Samini, Stonebwoy, Kwaw Kese, M.anifest, and C-Real. In 2014, Coptic signed Trey La, leading to the release of The Introduction Mixtape Album. Work subsequently began on his debut studio album, Graaaduation, which featured collaborations with artists from other Africa countries and the United States.{{Cite web |date=2014-08-20 |title=Multi-Platinum Award Winning Producer; Coptic, Signs TREY LA - USL Magazine |url=https://www.uslmag.com/music-artists-djs-and-producers/producers/multi-platinum-award-winning-producer-coptic-signs-trey-la/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.uslmag.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ghana |first=News |date=2014-08-19 |title=Coptic Signs Ghanaian Rapper Trey LA {{!}} News Ghana |url=https://newsghana.com.gh/coptic-signs-ghanaian-rapper-trey-la/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=https://newsghana.com.gh/ |language=en-US}}
Trey La’s discography includes The Introduction Mixtape Album, Passive Religionist, Graaarmy Vol. 1, and the Locally Acquired Foreign Accents (LAFA) EP, The Money Trey EP, Big Things Start Small EP and recently released Kevin Ekow Taylor EP which got a reaction from the controversial broadcaster Kevin Taylor.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Taylor blown away by Trey La's 'Kevin Ekow Taylor' EP - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/kevin-taylor-blown-away-by-trey-las-kevin-ekow-taylor-ep/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-16 |title=Rap sensation Trey La drops patriotic song "Oh Ghana" |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/rap-sensation-trey-la-drops-patriotic-song-oh-ghana.html?template=graphicshowbiznews1&is_preview=on |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Graphic Online |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Debrah |first=Ameyaw |date=2021-08-07 |title=Trey La presents 'LAFA' EP - AmeyawDebrah.com |url=https://ameyawdebrah.com/trey-la-presents-lafa-ep/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |language=en-US}} Trey La has released many singles and has collaborated with several Ghanaian and international artists, including French-Ghanaian singer Bibie Brew.{{Cite web |title=Bibie Brew and Trey LA come with the Unexpected |url=https://ghanagist2.rssing.com/chan-19298024/article6660.html?nocache=0 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=ghanagist2.rssing.com}}
He has also worked with a range of international producers, including Coptic, Oshea (noted for work with Destiny's Child), BD Records (Palestine), DJ Pain 1 (known for productions with Young Jeezy), Anno Domini (associated with 50 Cent), and Legend Beats (linked to Kendrick Lamar).
In addition to his music, Trey La released The Money Trey, a book and EP sharing the same title.{{Cite web |last=Debrah |first=Ameyaw |date=2024-09-28 |title=Trey La Drops Groundbreaking EP "The Money Trey" Alongside Book Release - AmeyawDebrah.com |url=https://ameyawdebrah.com/trey-la-drops-groundbreaking-ep-the-money-trey-alongside-book-release/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |language=en-US}} He is regarded as the first Ghanaian artist to release a book and an album centered on a common theme.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-02 |title=Ghanaian rapper Trey La sets new milestone with release of 'Money Trey' EP |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Ghanaian-rapper-Trey-La-sets-new-milestone-with-release-of-Money-Trey-EP-1953564 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213194633/https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Ghanaian-rapper-Trey-La-sets-new-milestone-with-release-of-Money-Trey-EP-1953564 |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2025-05-10 |work=GhanaWeb |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-23 |title=Trey La becomes first Ghanaian recording artiste to pair an album with book release |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2024/11/trey-la-becomes-first-ghanaian-recording-artiste-to-pair-an-album-with-book-release/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |language=en-US}} He is also considered the second artist in Africa to combine a book and music project, following Nigerian musician Burna Boy, who released a comic book alongside his African Giant album.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Keith Nelson |title=Studio Sessions {{!}} Kel P talks making 'African Giant' in hotel rooms, Burna Boy's next album already being done and more |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2019-12-05/83553/studio-sessions-kel-p-talks-making-african-giant-in-hotel-rooms-burna-boys-next-album-already-being-done-and-more |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=REVOLT}}