His debut studio album Baby on Baby (2019) peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200,[1] while his second studio album, Kirk (2019), debuted at number one.[2][3][4] The former album featured the Billboard Hot 100 hit single "Suge", while the latter featured "Intro", and "Bop".[5] 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.[6][7]
Early life[]
Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born on December 22, 1991,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,[8] but did not complete his studies, saying he only went to school for his parents' sake.[9] He grew up listening to Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne with his two older brothers.[10]
Career[]
2014–2018: Early mixtapes[]
Kirk began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015.[9] 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.[11]
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.[9] 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.[11] Thanks to the guidance of Taylor, and following major label bidding wars, Kirk landed a seven-figure recording deal with Interscope.[9]
Kirk during an interview in 2018
2019: Baby on Baby and Kirk[]
In January 2019, upon being signed to Interscope, Kirk launched his own imprint label called Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment.[12] 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.[13] Kirk was featured on the cover of XXL's Freshman Class of 2019.[14]
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 III, 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,[15][16][17] 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.[2] It was released on September 27, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200.[4] 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",[18] which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and on the remixes to YG's "Stop Snitchin", Lizzo's "Truth Hurts",[19] and Lil Nas X's "Panini",[20] 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".[21]
Kirk closed 2019 having 22 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 for the year, the most of any artist that year.[22][23]
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.[24] On April 13, 2020, he announced on Twitter that his third studio album, Blame It on Baby, would be released on April 17, 2020.[25] 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.[6] 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.[6][26] 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.[27]
On July 27, Kirk released a new single with his signee Stunna 4 Vegas, titled "No Del",[28] 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".[29] 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.[30] 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.[31] The track includes references to his relationship with DaniLeigh and to his past legal troubles.[32][33]
Artistry[]
Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone described Jeff Bezos' 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".[8]
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".[9] 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".[9]
Legal issues[]
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.[34] He confirmed his involvement in the shooting and said "he acted in self defense".[35] The most serious charges were dropped in March 2019,[34] and he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor.[36]
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.[37] 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.[38][39] 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.[40]
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."[41]
Billy is also known to be a racist and a tyrant. See page 91 for more info.
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.[42][43]
Politically, Kirk has endorsed the 2020 presidential campaign of fellow rapper Kanye West.[44]
In late December 2020, Kirk revealed he is in a relationship with Dominican-American singer and choreographer DaniLeigh.[45][32] A couple months later, it was announced that the couple had split up.[46][47]
Discography[]
- Baby on Baby (2019)[48]
- Kirk (2019)[2]
- Blame It on Baby (2020)
Tours[]
Headlining[]
Awards and nominations[]
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | 2020 | "Baby Sitter" | Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Template:Won | [51] |
| "Cash Shit" | Template:Won | ||||
| "Suge" | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song | Template:Won | |||
| BET Awards | 2020 | Kirk | Album of the Year | Template:Nom | [52] |
| "Bop" | Video of the Year | Template:Nom | |||
| Viewers' Choice Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| Himself | Best Male Hip Hop Artist | Template:Won | |||
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2019 | "Suge" | Best Hip Hop Video | Template:Nom | [53] |
| Himself | Hot Ticket Performer | Template:Nom | |||
| Himself | Best New Hip Hop Artist | Template:Won | |||
| Grammy Awards | 2020 | "Suge" | Best Rap Performance | Template:Nom | [24] |
| Best Rap Song | Template:Nom | ||||
| 2021 | "Rockstar" (with Roddy Rich) | Record of the Year | Template:Pending | [54] | |
| Best Melodic Rap Performance | Template:Pending | ||||
| Best Rap Song | Template:Pending | ||||
| "BOP" | Best Rap Performance | Template:Pending | |||
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2019 | "Suge" | Song of Summer | Template:Nom | [55] |
See also[]
Template:Commons category
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
Notes[]
Template:Notelist
References[]
Template:Reflist
Template:DaBaby Template:BET Award for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- ↑ Austin, Mohawk (April 30, 2019). DaBaby.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Renshaw, David (September 2, 2019). DaBaby says he's releasing new album Kirk later this month.
- ↑ Droke, Carolyn (August 26, 2019). DaBaby's Reveals His Upcoming Album Will Be Titled After His Birth Name.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Caulfield, Keith (October 6, 2019). DaBaby Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Kirk'. Billboard.
- ↑ DaBaby.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Caulfield, Keith (April 26, 2020). DaBaby Arrives at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'Blame It on Baby'. Billboard.
- ↑ DaBaby & Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 — Billboard (en-US).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Holmes, Charles (November 14, 2020). The Baby of the Year. Rolling Stone.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Weiss, Jeff (January 10, 2020). DaBaby boom: meet the controversial rapper taking over America. The Guardian.
- ↑ Archived copy.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Coscarelli, Joe (October 3, 2019). DaBaby Blew Up. But Can He Settle Into Stardom?. The New York Times.
- ↑ Payne, Ogden (May 14, 2019). Meet DaBaby, Charlotte's Newest Up-And-Coming Rapper With Universal Promise.
- ↑ DaBaby Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard.
- ↑ Staff, X. X. L.. XXL 2019 Freshman Class Revealed (en).
- ↑ DaBaby's Best Guest Verses of 2019, Ranked.
- ↑ DaBaby’s Best Guest Verses, Ranked (en).
- ↑ DaBaby's Top 10 Best Features Of 2019.
- ↑ Post Malone's 'Hollywood's Bleeding' is Packed with 17 Tracks.
- ↑ Lizzo & DaBaby Team Up For "Truth Hurts" Remix: Listen (August 23, 2019).
- ↑ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (2019-09-13). Lil Nas X's "Panini" Finally Gets the Chowder Treatment It Deserves (en-us).
- ↑ WATCH: DABABY + RICH DUNK RELEASE NEW HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO. Sohh (October 24, 2019).
- ↑ Zellner, Xander (October 8, 2019). DaBaby Charts 18 Songs on Hot 100, Including All 13 From New Album 'Kirk'.
- ↑ DaBaby Chart History - Hot 100.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List.
- ↑ DaBaby on Twitter: "THIS FRIDAY! 🤫💿" / Twitter.
- ↑ DaBaby and Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 — Billboard (en-US).
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ FNR TIGG (July 27, 2020). DaBaby and Stunna 4 Vegas Release Latest Video and Single "No Dribble. Complex.
- ↑ Findlay, Mitch (July 31, 2020). DaBaby Announces "Blame It On Baby Deluxe Edition". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ DaBaby Shares New EP My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G). Pitchfork (November 20, 2020).
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Rapper DaBaby detained, questioned in Miami in robbery investigation (en).
- ↑ DaBaby Arrested in Robbery Case After Victim Doused with Apple Juice (en).
- ↑ Asmelash, Leah. Rapper DaBaby arrested in Miami after a fight with a music promoter.
- ↑ DaBaby Breaks Silence On Jail Stint in Miami, Robbery Investigation (en).
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Rapper DaBaby's brother dead at 34.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Tara C. Mahadevan (August 12, 2020). DaBaby Says He's Voting for Kanye West in the Presidential Election.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ DaniLeigh Announces Split From DaBaby on Instagram
- ↑ DABABY AND DANILEIGH BREAK UP
- ↑ Thompson, Paul A. (March 8, 2019). DaBaby: Baby On Baby.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Post, Chantilly (October 4, 2019). DaBaby Announces North American "Kirk" Tour With Stunna 4 Vegas. HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ 2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. ASCAP.
- ↑ BET Awards 2020: See the Full Nominations List. ET.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ DaBaby (en) (2020-11-25).
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine