DaBaby

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991),[lower-alpha 1] better known as DaBaby (formerly known as Baby Jesus), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Charlotte, North Carolina.[5][6][7] After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, [8] DaBaby rose to mainstream prominence in 2019.[9]

This article is about the rapper. For the region in Chad, see Dababa.
Not to be confused with Lil Baby.

DaBaby
Kirk during an interview in May 2018
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Lyndale Kirk
Also known asBaby Jesus
Born (1991-12-22) December 22, 1991[lower-alpha 1]
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.[3]
OriginCharlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present
Labels
Associated acts
Children2
Websiteofficialdababy.com

His debut studio album Baby on Baby (2019) peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200,[10] while his second studio album, Kirk (2019), debuted at number one.[11][12][13] The former album featured the Billboard Hot 100 hit single "Suge", while the latter featured "Intro", and "Bop".[14] His third studio album, Blame It on Baby (2020), became his second consecutive number-one album in the US. It also included DaBaby's highest-charting song, "Rockstar" featuring Roddy Ricch, which spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[15][16]

Early life

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born on December 22, 1991,[lower-alpha 1] in Cleveland, Ohio. He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1999, where he spent most of his early years. He attended Vance High School where he graduated in 2010. He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years,[17] but did not complete his studies, saying he only went to school for his parents' sake.[8] He grew up listening to Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne with his two older brothers.[18]

Career

2014–2018: Early mixtapes

Kirk began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015.[8] In 2015, he started off his music career by releasing Nonfiction, his debut mixtape. He later followed this up with his God's Work mixtape series, Baby Talk mixtape series, Billion Dollar Baby, and Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t. He initially performed under the name Baby Jesus, which he eventually changed out of concern that it had become a distraction.[19]

Kirk got his big break after signing to Arnold Taylor, the president of the South Coast Music Group label, a big radio promoter. Taylor saw Kirk perform around North Carolina clubs at the time he [Taylor] was launching his label. Taylor had been responsible in the early rise of Southern rap stars including Yo Gotti and Future.[8] Once they started working together, the team kept building buzz around the South with mixtapes and club shows, while Kirk was finding his sound. Through his deal with South Coast, Kirk signed a short-lived distribution deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation for his Blank Blank mixtape that would prove to be his breakout in late 2018.[19] Thanks to the guidance of Taylor, and following major label bidding wars, Kirk landed a seven-figure recording deal with Interscope.[8]

2019: Baby on Baby and Kirk

In January 2019, when Kirk signed with Interscope, he began his own imprint label called Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment .[20] On March 1, 2019, Kirk's debut studio album Baby on Baby, was released via Interscope Records. He is also signed to South Coast Music Group and has a joint contract with both labels. The thirteen-track project features guest appearances from Offset, Rich Homie Quan, Rich the Kid and Stunna 4 Vegas. Baby on Baby debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US. The song "Suge" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 87 on the chart dated April 13, 2019, and later reached the top 10, on the chart dated June 8, 2019.[21] Kirk was featured on the cover of XXL's Freshman Class of 2019.[22]

Kirk featured on various hit songs throughout mid-2019, including Megan Thee Stallion's "Cash Shit" and Quality Control's "Baby", both of which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. On July 5, 2019, Kirk was featured on Dreamville Records' newly released compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers, on the opening track, "Under the Sun". He received acclaim for his guest feature, with various publications ranking it as his best verse of 2019,[23][24][25] including Complex magazine calling it a "defining breakout moment for a new rap superstar".

In August 2019, he announced that his second album would be titled Kirk, a tribute to his last name.[11] It was released on September 27, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200.[13] Its lead single, "Intro", was also successful, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Around that time, Kirk also made notable appearances on singles such as Post Malone's "Enemies",[26] which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and on the remixes to YG's "Stop Snitchin", Lizzo's "Truth Hurts",[27] and Lil Nas X's "Panini",[28] released on May 24, August 23, and September 13, 2019, respectively. On October 24, he made a cameo appearance in the music video for up-and-coming rapper Rich Dunk's breakthrough single "High School".[29]

Kirk closed 2019 having 22 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 for the year, the most of any artist that year.[30][9]

2020–present: Blame It on Baby, "Rockstar" and My Brother's Keeper

At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, held in 2020, Kirk received two nominations, both for "Suge", in the categories Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.[31] On April 13, 2020, he announced on Twitter that his third studio album, Blame It on Baby, would be released on April 17, 2020.[32] The album received mixed to positive reviews, but achieved commercial success, debuting atop the Billboard 200 with 124,000 album-equivalent units, becoming Kirk's second number-one album.[15] It also produced his highest-charting song, "Rockstar", featuring Roddy Ricch, which spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached number-one in the United Kingdom. [15][33] In June, Kirk was featured on the remix for the Jack Harlow's song, "Whats Poppin", which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 while "Rockstar" was still at the top. This made DaBaby the 20th act to occupy the chart's top 2 positions, and the first since Ariana Grande in 2019. In July, Kirk was featured on "For the Night" by Pop Smoke and Lil Baby, which debuted at number six on the Hot 100. As a result, DaBaby became the seventh act to chart at least three songs in the top six simultaneously.[34]

On July 27, Kirk released a new single with his signee Stunna 4 Vegas, titled "No Dribble",[35] included on the deluxe edition of Blame It on Baby, which was released on August 4, 2020, and described by DaBaby as a "brand new album".[36] On November 20, 2020, DaBaby released his debut EP, My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G). It pays tribute to his late brother, Glenn Johnson, and features appearances from Meek Mill and Polo G, among others. [37] Kirk also contributed a feature on the remix of "Levitating" by English singer Dua Lipa. Though the remix was released in late 2020, the song began climbing up the charts and eventually peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2021.

On January 15, 2021, DaBaby released a new single titled "Masterpiece" alongside a music video for the track directed by Gemini Visions.[38] The track includes references to his relationship with DaniLeigh and to his past legal troubles.[39][40]

Artistry

Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone described Kirk's flow as a "staccato, precise, and brutal rapping style, a syllable-crushing force delivered with such forward momentum it often gives the illusion that he starts rapping before the beat begins". The most famous example of this being his breakthrough hit "Suge".[17]

Speaking on his influences, Kirk has said he studied artists like Future, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, who he says "came up and consistently progressed". He further elaborated: "I've studied all the genius marketers throughout the rap game. I borrow from anybody with something to offer". Jeff Weiss of The Guardian favorably compared to Kirk to Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Missy Elliott and Ludacris, noting the similarities in their musical styles which include "inventive rap stylists unafraid to make videos full of funny parodies and rubber-faced camera goofs".[8] According to Weiss, Kirk "reflects an anachronistic approach to the rap game. If the charts are filled with opiated threnodies about addiction and sadness, he eschews singing in favor of raps that could take your head off". Kirk has said "I can't sing, but I'll hit some notes here and there".[8]

Kirk was involved in an incident in Huntersville, North Carolina where a 19-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and died soon after.[41] He confirmed his involvement in the shooting and said "he acted in self defense".[42] The most serious charges were dropped in March 2019,[41] and he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor.[43]

In January 2020, Kirk was detained and questioned in Miami in connection with a robbery investigation. He was later arrested after authorities found he had a warrant out in Texas. The warrant stemmed from a battery charge.[44] According to TMZ and other outlets, members of his crew allegedly jumped and robbed a music promoter who only paid Kirk $20,000 of the $30,000 he was owed for a performance in Miami.[45][46] Reports state that he and his associates allegedly took $80 cash, an iPhone 7, and a credit card from the promoter. Kirk was charged with battery and released from Miami-Dade County jail 48 hours later.[47]

During Kirk's 2020 "Up Close N Personal" tour, he slapped a female fan on his way to the stage for a performance in Tampa, Florida. The crowd responded by booing, and he left the venue without performing any songs. He said that he struck her because she placed her phone too close to his face while taking a video with the flash on. In a video posted on Instagram, Kirk said, "I do apologize that there was a female on the other end. I think by this time, you know it's a well known fact that male or female, I would've responded the same exact way."[48]

Personal life

Kirk has two children. His daughter was born in 2017 and his second child was born in 2020. Kirk's father died in 2019 shortly after the release of Kirk's debut studio album. His sophomore album is a tribute to his last name and contains a picture of his father in the cover. Kirk's brother, Glen Johnson, died in November 2020, at 34 years old from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.[49][50]

Politically, Kirk has endorsed the 2020 presidential campaign of fellow rapper Kanye West.[51]

In late December 2020, Kirk revealed he is in a relationship with Dominican-American singer and choreographer DaniLeigh.[52][39]

Discography
Main article: DaBaby discography

Tours

Headlining
  • Baby on Baby Tour (2019)[54]
  • Kirk Tour (2019)[55]

Awards and nominations
Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards 2020 "Baby Sitter" Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won [56]
"Cash Shit" Won
"Suge" Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song Won
BET Awards 2020 Kirk Album of the Year Nominated [57]
"Bop" Video of the Year Nominated
Viewers' Choice Award Nominated
Himself Best Male Hip Hop Artist Won
BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 "Suge" Best Hip Hop Video Nominated [58]
Himself Hot Ticket Performer Nominated
Himself Best New Hip Hop Artist Won
Grammy Awards 2020 "Suge" Best Rap Performance Nominated [31]
Best Rap Song Nominated
2021 "Rockstar" (with Roddy Rich) Record of the Year Pending [59]
Best Melodic Rap Performance Pending
Best Rap Song Pending
"BOP" Best Rap Performance Pending
MTV Video Music Awards 2019 "Suge" Song of Summer Nominated [60]

See also

Notes
  1. Mecklenburg public records show DaBaby's birth date as being December 21, 1991.[1] However, DaBaby has stated his birth date is December 22, 1991.[2]

References
  1. "Jonathan Lyndale Kirk Public Records". Mecklenburg Public Records. August 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  2. DaBaby [@DaBabyDaBaby] (November 11, 2019). "My birthday on the 22nd bro 😂" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. Kirk, Joshua (March 27, 2019). "Who is DaBaby? The Charlotte rapper hip-hop heads are buzzing about". KultureHub. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  4. "The Best Songs of 2019 (So Far)DaBaby, "Suge"". Complex. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  5. "BMI | Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  6. Hamilton, Fred. "Dababy | History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  7. Breihan, Tom (January 16, 2019). "DaBaby Is 2019's Funniest, Weridest Rapper". Stereogum. Archived from the original on April 30, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  8. Weiss, Jeff (January 10, 2020). "DaBaby boom: meet the controversial rapper taking over America". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  9. "DaBaby Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. Austin, Mohawk (April 30, 2019). "DaBaby". Do-512. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  11. Renshaw, David (September 2, 2019). "DaBaby says he's releasing new album Kirk later this month". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. Droke, Carolyn (August 26, 2019). "DaBaby's Reveals His Upcoming Album Will Be Titled After His Birth Name". Uproxx. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  13. Caulfield, Keith (October 6, 2019). "DaBaby Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Kirk'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  14. "DaBaby". Spotify. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  15. Caulfield, Keith (April 26, 2020). "DaBaby Arrives at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'Blame It on Baby'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  16. "DaBaby & Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 — Billboard". apple.news. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  17. Holmes, Charles (November 14, 2020). "The Baby of the Year". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. Coscarelli, Joe (October 3, 2019). "DaBaby Blew Up. But Can He Settle Into Stardom?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 16, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  20. Payne, Ogden (May 14, 2019). "Meet DaBaby, Charlotte's Newest Up-And-Coming Rapper With Universal Promise". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  21. "DaBaby Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  22. Staff, X. X. L. "XXL 2019 Freshman Class Revealed". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  23. "DaBaby's Best Guest Verses of 2019, Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  24. "DaBaby's Best Guest Verses, Ranked". Complex. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  25. "DaBaby's Top 10 Best Features Of 2019". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  26. "Post Malone's 'Hollywood's Bleeding' is Packed with 17 Tracks". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  27. "Lizzo & DaBaby Team Up For "Truth Hurts" Remix: Listen". August 23, 2019. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  28. Pulliam-Moore, Charles (September 13, 2019). "Lil Nas X's "Panini" Finally Gets the Chowder Treatment It Deserves". io9. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  29. "WATCH: DABABY + RICH DUNK RELEASE NEW HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO". Sohh. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  30. Zellner, Xander (October 8, 2019). "DaBaby Charts 18 Songs on Hot 100, Including All 13 From New Album 'Kirk'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  31. "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  32. "DaBaby on Twitter: "THIS FRIDAY! 🤫💿" / Twitter". Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via Twitter.
  33. "DaBaby and Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 — Billboard". apple.news. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  34. Trust, Gary (July 13, 2020). "DaBaby's 'Rockstar' Rules Hot 100 For Fifth Week, Pop Smoke's 'For the Night' Debuts in Top 10". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  35. FNR TIGG (July 27, 2020). "DaBaby and Stunna 4 Vegas Release Latest Video and Single "No Dribble". Complex. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  36. Findlay, Mitch (July 31, 2020). "DaBaby Announces "Blame It On Baby Deluxe Edition"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  37. "DaBaby Shares New EP My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G)". Pitchfork. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  38. Elibert, Mark (January 15, 2021). "DaBaby Shoots Flashy 'Masterpiece' Video After Proclaiming To Be 1 Of 2 'Best Rappers Alive'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  39. Marie, Erika (January 15, 2021). "DaBaby Brags About His Lady On 'Masterpiece' Single". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  40. Hussey, Allison (January 15, 2021). "DaBaby Shares New Song 'Masterpiece': Listen". Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  41. Marusak, Joe (April 17, 2019). "Rapper DaBaby's gun charge dismissed in connection with fatal NC Walmart shooting". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  42. Coleman II, C. Vernon (March 30, 2019). "Charges Dropped Against DaBaby for Deadly Walmart Shooting". XXL. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  43. Maruszak, Joe (June 28, 2019). "Charlotte Observer". Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  44. "Rapper DaBaby detained, questioned in Miami in robbery investigation". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  45. "DaBaby Arrested in Robbery Case After Victim Doused with Apple Juice". TMZ. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  46. Asmelash, Leah. "Rapper DaBaby arrested in Miami after a fight with a music promoter". CNN. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  47. "DaBaby Breaks Silence On Jail Stint in Miami, Robbery Investigation". TMZ. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  48. "DaBaby apologises for hitting female fan". BBC News. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  49. "Rapper DaBaby's brother dead at 34". Fox News. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  50. Eustice, Kyle (November 8, 2020). "DaBaby Deactivates His Instagram Account Following Older Brother's Suicide". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  51. Tara C. Mahadevan (August 12, 2020). "DaBaby Says He's Voting for Kanye West in the Presidential Election". Complex. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  52. Zidel, Alex (December 28, 2020). "DaniLeigh Takes DaBaby Relationship To The Next Level". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  53. Thompson, Paul A. (March 8, 2019). "DaBaby: Baby On Baby". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  54. "DaBaby announces Baby on Baby 2019 tour". AXS. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  55. Post, Chantilly (October 4, 2019). "DaBaby Announces North American "Kirk" Tour With Stunna 4 Vegas". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  56. "2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards". ASCAP. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  57. "BET Awards 2020: See the Full Nominations List". ET. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  58. "Cardi B Leads 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards With 10 Nominations". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  59. "DaBaby". GRAMMY.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  60. Lynch, Joe (August 19, 2019). "2019 VMAs Reveal Three New Fan-Voted Categories, Pre-Show Performers: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.