Full Name | Jonathan Lyndale Kirk |
Age | 31 |
Birthday | December 22, 1991 |
Born | United States |
Relationship | Single |
Height | 5‘ 8" |
Net Worth | $3M |
Social Media |
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In the world of hip hop today, few rappers have risen to fame as quickly and forcefully as DaBaby. With his signature catchphrases, high-energy performances, and clever lyrics, DaBaby has become one of the most popular and successful rappers of the past few years.
Born Jonathan Lyndale Kirk in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, DaBaby was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He had an interest in music from a young age, but before becoming a rapper, he started off his career in entertainment as a stand-up comedian. It wasn‘t until 2015 that he began pursuing music seriously, releasing his first mixtape NonFiction under the name Baby Jesus. Over the next few years, he continued to build buzz in the North Carolina rap scene, eventually adopting the moniker DaBaby in 2018.
DaBaby Timeline
- 1991 – DaBaby is born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 22
- 2015 – Releases first mixtape NonFiction under name Baby Jesus
- 2018 – Adopts name DaBaby and releases breakout single "Suge"
- 2019 – Drops smash debut album Baby on Baby led by hit "Suge"
- 2019 – Follow-up album Kirk debuts at #1 on Billboard 200
- 2020 – Earns first #1 Billboard single with "Rockstar" featuring Roddy Ricch
The Rise to Fame
DaBaby‘s breakthrough came in 2019 with the release of his hit single "Suge". The song‘s infectious beat and clever lyrics helped it climb to number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. On the heels of this success, DaBaby dropped his debut studio album Baby on Baby later that year. Fueled by the smash hit "Suge" as well as tracks like "Walker Texas Ranger" and "Goin Baby", the album shot to number 7 on the Billboard 200 charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
But DaBaby was just getting started. He followed up his successful debut in 2019 with Kirk, his second studio album named after his last name. Kirk debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, led by the mega-hit "Intro" and popular tracks like "Bop" and "Vibez". With his momentum growing, DaBaby capped off a huge 2019 with award nominations at the BET Hip Hop Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards.
2020 saw no slowdown for the rapper, as he released his third studio album Blame It on Baby that April. Driven by the standout single "Rockstar" featuring Roddy Ricch, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, cementing DaBaby‘s status as one of the most sought-after artists in hip hop. He even landed Grammy nominations for "Rockstar" and "Bop".
Style and Persona
A big part of DaBaby‘s appeal lies in his energetic persona and unique performance style. He often references his signature "DaBaby dance" in his songs and music videos, which involves energetic jerk motions with his shoulders. His live shows are known for being hyper and packed with crowd engagement, with DaBaby constantly dancing across the stage and riling up fans.
Lyrically, DaBaby tends to craft catchy, humorous bars that often tell little stories or tackle heavier subject matter in clever ways. He utilizes a mix of flows and cadences, sometimes switching up his style multiple times within the same song. Some of his lines have become hugely popular with fans, like his "LET‘S GOOO" ad-lib and his "da, da, da, da, da" flow in "Suge".
DaBaby also has a recognizable fashion sense, regularly sporting designer streetwear mixed with some flashy jewelry. His outfits tend to feature a lot of black and white with pops of color. And he‘s almost always wearing a blinding, iced-out smiley face pendant necklace.
Why We Love DaBaby
As a long-time fan, here are just a few of the reasons I‘m so enthralled with DaBaby and his music:
- His songs are instantly catchy and get stuck in your head for days
- He has incredible charisma and stage presence unlike any other rapper
- His videos are creative, hilarious, and always fun to watch
- He raps with a rapid-fire flow that dazzles your ears
- His beats and production are top-notch, futuristic, and hype
DaBaby is one of those magnetic artists that draws you in immediately with his sound, style, and persona. Once you start listening, you just can‘t stop!
Noteworthy Collaborations
While he emerged as a solo act, DaBaby has scored some huge hits when teaming up with other artists. Some collaborations of note include:
- "Cry Baby" with Megan Thee Stallion – This fun track off Megan‘s album Good News peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020.
- "For the Night" with Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin – An unexpected mashup featuring Kirk Franklin‘s choir vocals, this song appeared on Lil Baby‘s album My Turn.
- "Rockstar" with Roddy Ricch – DaBaby‘s biggest hit to date, this smash single off Blame It on Baby hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 2021 Grammys.
- "Levitating" (Remix) with Dua Lipa – DaBaby was featured on a popular remix version of Dua Lipa‘s big hit "Levitating" in 2020.
- "Ball If I Want To" with Post Malone – This laidback track was included on Post Malone‘s 2019 album Hollywood‘s Bleeding.
Accolades and Achievements
Despite only bursting onto the rap scene in 2018, DaBaby has already accomplished a great deal over the past few years:
- 3 top 10 studio albums on the Billboard 200 (Baby on Baby, Kirk, Blame It on Baby)
- 11 top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100
- Number 1 album (Kirk) and number 1 song ("Rockstar") on the Billboard charts
- RIAA 2x Platinum-certified single – "Rockstar"
- Over 5 billion total streams across all music platforms
- BET Hip Hop Award for Best New Hip Hop Artist in 2019
- 3 Grammy nominations
At just 31 years old, DaBaby has quickly become a commercial titan and a force to be reckoned with in the hip hop industry. With his catchy hits, magnetic persona, and proven ability to top the charts, he seems poised to continue his dominance for years to come.
Fun Facts About DaBaby
- He was born in Cleveland but moved to Charlotte as a child, where he was raised by his single mother.
- DaBaby played football and ran track in high school, but he got kicked off the teams due to conduct issues.
- Before his music career, he worked jobs at Walmart and local restaurants.
- He has a daughter named Serenity whom he had when he was just 19.
- Some of his musical influences are Kanye West, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and 2Pac.
- Besides hip hop, he also has an interest in rock music, citing bands like Papa Roach, Nickelback, and Three Days Grace as favorites.
Where to Hear DaBaby‘s Music
Fans can check out DaBaby‘s catalog of albums, mixtapes, singles, and features on all major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music. Some key projects of his to listen to include:
- Baby on Baby (2019)
- Kirk (2019)
- Blame It on Baby (2020)
- My Brother‘s Keeper (with Stunna 4 Vegas) (2020)
- Nonfiction (as Baby Jesus) (2015)
DaBaby often releases music videos on YouTube for his hit singles, which usually showcase his trademark energy and fun persona. He‘s also very active on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, constantly engaging with fans and posting entertaining content.
Conclusion
With his infectious charisma, clever wordplay, and non-stop energy, DaBaby has cemented himself as one of the hottest and most entertaining acts in hip hop today. At just 31, he‘s achieved an incredible amount and doesn‘t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. His future certainly looks bright, and he seems poised to continue dominating the rap game for years to come. So for anyone wanting to catch up on one of the biggest rising stars in music, be sure to tune into the dynamic sounds of DaBaby!