Baker Boy facts for kids

"Danzal" redirects here. For people with similar names, see Denzel.

Quick facts for kids Baker Boy OAM
Baker Boy performing at Laneway in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Danzal James Baker
Born	(1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 28) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Origin	Milingimbi Island, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Genres	Australian hip hop R&B soul
Occupation(s)	Rapper dancer artist actor
Instruments	Vocals yidaki
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Universal Music Australia Island Records Australia
Associated acts	Dallas Woods Yirrmal Yothu Yindi

Danzal James Baker (born 10 October 1996), known as Baker Boy, is a talented Yolngu rapper, dancer, artist, and actor from Australia. He is famous for his original hip-hop songs that mix both English and Yolŋu Matha languages. Baker Boy is one of the most well-known Aboriginal Australian rappers.

In 2019, he was named Young Australian of the Year. His song "Cool as Hell" was nominated for several awards at the 2019 ARIA Awards. He also won two awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards in 2018. That same year, he was named Male Artist of the Year at the National Dreamtime Awards. His first album, Gela, came out on 15 October 2021. At the 2022 ARIA Music Awards, he won five awards from seven nominations.

Growing Up

Namila Benson, Jack Charles and Baker Boy at an event in Melbourne, November 2021

Danzal James Baker was born on 10 October 1996 in Darwin, Northern Territory. He grew up in the Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi and Maningrida. He has one brother. His family has a special connection to the Olive python as their totem.

He finished high school in Townsville, Queensland. After that, he went to the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane. There, he developed his passion for dancing and acting. He was also an original member of the Djuki Mala dance group, which toured all over Australia.

In 2016, Baker Boy was part of the "Yolngu Style" music video. This video was made by artists to inspire people to dance and learn about the Yolngu culture. He also appeared on the TV show You Can't Ask That on ABC TV.

Life Outside Music

As of 2020, Baker Boy lives in Bendigo, Victoria. He lives there with his partner, Aurie Spencer-Gill, and his pet bulldog.

He has shared that he wants to inspire Indigenous children in remote communities. He hopes to help them overcome feelings of "shame." A painting of Baker Boy, called Rhythms of heritage, won an award at the Archibald Prize in 2024.

Music Career

In 2017, Baker Boy became well-known across Australia. He won the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) Competition. That year, he released his first singles, "Cloud 9" (with Kian) and "Marryuna" (with Yirrmal). Both songs were very popular on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2017.

Baker Boy performing at the Riddu Riđđu Festival in Norway, 2018.

In 2018, he performed with famous artists like Yothu Yindi and Dizzee Rascal. He also opened for American rapper 50 Cent in January 2018. His third single, "Mr. La Di Da Di," came out in April 2018. "Black Magic" (with Dallas Woods) was released in July 2018.

Baker Boy also performed at the Riddu Riđđu Festival in Norway in 2018. This was his first performance outside of Australia.

On 25 January 2019, Baker Boy released "Cool as Hell." A few days later, "Mr. La Di Da Di" was voted into Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.

In June 2019, he released "In Control." On 7 July, Baker Boy appeared on the children's TV show, Play School. He performed "Hickory Dickory Dock" for NAIDOC Week.

Baker Boy was the main performer at the opening night of the 2019 Tarnanthi art exhibition. This event showcased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Baker Boy also made his acting debut in the movie True History of the Kelly Gang in 2019.

2020–2023: Gela Album

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baker Boy spent time in the studio. He was working on his album Gela. This time allowed him to focus and take things slowly. It was different from his usual busy schedule of shows and studio work.

On 16 September 2020, Baker Boy hinted at a new song on social media. He posted pictures with Dallas Woods and Sampa the Great. On 23 September 2020, they released the single "Better Days."

On 25 September 2021, Baker Boy performed before the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Perth Stadium.

His first studio album, Gela, was released on 15 October 2021. On the album, you can hear Glen Gurruwiwi's singing and Kevin Gurruwiwi playing the yidaki.

Baker Boy has also appeared in TV ads for companies like Menulog and Google.

He performed at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This was part of the handover to the Australian hosts for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

2024: "King" Single

In August 2024, Baker Boy released a new song called "King."

Music Releases

Studio Albums

List of studio albums, with release date and label shown
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	AUS
Gela	Released: 15 October 2021 Label: Island Australia, Universal Music Australia Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming	3

Singles

As the Main Artist

List of singles, with year released, selected certifications and album name shown
Title	Year	Certifications	Album
"Cloud 9" (featuring Kian)	2017		Non-album singles
"Marryuna" (featuring Yirrmal)	2017
"Mr. La Di Da Di"	2018	ARIA: Gold
"Black Magic" (featuring Dallas Woods)	2018
"Cool as Hell"	2019	ARIA: Platinum	Gela
"In Control"			Non-album single
"Meditjin" (featuring JessB)			Gela
"Move"	2020		Gela
"Better Days" (with Dallas Woods and Sampa the Great)	2020		Non-album single
"Ride" (featuring Yirrmal)	2021		Gela
"My Mind" (featuring G Flip)
"Butterflies"
"Survive" (featuring Uncle Jack Charles)
"Wish You Well" (featuring Bernard Fanning)	2022		0TBA
"King"	2024		0TBA

As a Featured Artist

List of singles, with year released and album shown
Title	Year	Album
"Treaty '18" (Yothu Yindi & Gavin Campbell featuring Baker Boy)	2018	Non-album single
"Take Me to the Beach" (Imagine Dragons featuring Baker Boy)	2024	Non-album single

Film and TV Appearances

List of film and television appearances, with year released and role shown
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	The Nightingale	Captured man 1
2019	True History of the Kelly Gang	Uncredited
2019	Play School	Himself	Performed "Hickory Dickory Dock"

Music Videos

List of music videos, with year released and director(s) shown
Title	Year	Director
"Cloud 9" (featuring Kian)	2017	Not known
"Marryuna" (featuring Yirrmal)	2017	Daniel King
"Black Magic" (featuring Dallas Woods)	2018	BraydenFunFilm
"Cool as Hell"	2019	Gabriel Gasparinatos
"In Control"
"Meditjin" (featuring Jess B)
"Move"	2020	Freya Esders

Awards and Achievements

Baker Boy has won many awards for his music and performances. Here are some of the main ones:

AIR Awards

The AIR Awards celebrate independent music in Australia.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Himself	Best Independent Artist	Nominated
	"Marryuna"	Best Independent Single or EP	Nominated
	Himself	Breakthrough Independent Artist	Won

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards recognize great songwriting and music sales in Australia and New Zealand.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2019	"Marryuna"	Song of the Year	Shortlisted
	"Marryuna"	Urban Work of the Year	Nominated
	"Mr La Di Da Di"	Urban Work of the Year	Nominated
	Baker Boy	Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year	Nominated
2020	"Cool as Hell"	Most Performed Urban Work of the Year	Nominated
2021	"Meditjin" - Baker Boy featuring JessB	Song of the Year	Shortlisted
2022	"Ride"	Song of the Year	Shortlisted
2023	"Headphones" (featuring Lara Andallo)	Song of the Year	Shortlisted
	"Wish You Well (featuring Bernard Fanning)	Song of the Year	Shortlisted
	"Wish You Well (featuring Bernard Fanning)	Most Performed Hip Hop/ Rap Work of the Year	Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate the best in Australian music each year.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2019	"Cool as Hell"	Best Hip Hop Release	Nominated
	"Cool as Hell"	Best Video	Nominated
	Cool as Hell Tour	Best Australian Live Act	Nominated
2020	"Meditjin" (featuring JessB)	Best Hip Hop Release	Nominated
	"Meditjin" (featuring JessB)	Best Video	Nominated
	Falls Festival	Best Australian Live Act	Nominated
2022	Gela	Album of the Year	Won
		Best Solo Artist	Won
		Best Hip Hop / Rap Release	Won
	Macario De Souza for "Wish You Well" Baker Boy (featuring Bernard Fanning)	Best Video	Nominated
	Gela Tour	Best Live Act	Nominated
	Adnate for Baker Boy Gela	Best Cover Art	Won
	Pip Norman, Andrei Eremin, Dave Hammer for Baker Boy – Gela	Mix Engineer – Best Mixed Album	Won
2023	Google: Helping You Help Others (72andSunn)	Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement (duration of 2 minutes or less)	Won
2023	Regional Vic Tour	Best Australian Live Act	Nominated

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) gives $30,000 to an Australian artist for a great album.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2021	Gala	Australian Music Prize	Nominated

J Awards

The J Awards are given by the radio station Triple J to celebrate Australian music.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2017	Himself	Unearthed Artist of the Year	Nominated
2021	Gela	Australian Album of the Year	Nominated

MTV Europe Music Awards

The MTV Europe Music Awards honor artists and music in pop culture.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	Himself	Best Australian Act	Nominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards celebrate music from Victoria, Australia.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Himself	Best Solo Act	Nominated
		Best Male Musician	Won
		Best Live Act	Won
		Best Hip Hop Act	Nominated
		Victorian Breakthrough Act	Won
		Archie Roach Award for Emerging Talent	Nominated
	"Marryuna"	Best Song	Won
2019	Himself	Best Solo Act	Nominated
2020	"Move"	Best Victorian Song	Nominated
2020	Himself	Best Solo Artist	Nominated
2021	Himself	Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act	Won
2021	Himself	Best Solo Act	Nominated
2022	Gela	Best Victorian Album	Won
	"Survive"	Best Victorian Song	Won
	Himself	Best Solo Artist	Nominated
	Himself	Best Regional Act	Won

National Dreamtime Awards

The National Dreamtime Awards celebrate achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2018	Himself	Male Artist of the Year	Won

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognize Indigenous Australians in music.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Himself	Best New Talent	Won
	"Marryuna"	Film Clip of the Year	Won
	"Marryuna"	Song of the Year	Nominated
2019	Himself	Artist of the Year	Won
2019	"Black Magic"	Song of the Year	Nominated
2020	Himself	Artist of the Year	Won
	"Meditjin" (featuring JessB)	Film Clip of the Year	Won
	"Meditjin" (featuring JessB)	Song of the Year	Won
2021	Himself	Artist of the Year	Nominated
	"Better Days" (with Dallas Woods & Sampa the Great)	Song of the Year	Nominated
	"Ride" (featuring Yirrmal)	Film Clip of the Year	Won
2022	Himself	Artist of the Year	Won
	Gela	Album of the Year	Won
	"My Mind"	Film Clip of the Year	Nominated

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) celebrate live music in Australia.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	Himself	Live Act of the Year	Won
		Best New Act	Nominated
		Live Hip Hop Act of the Year	Won
		Northern Territory Live Act of the Year	Won
2019		Live Hip Hop Act of the Year	Nominated
2019		Northern Territory Live Act of the Year	Won
2023	Baker Boy	Musicians Making a Difference	Won
2023	Baker Boy	Best Hip Hop Act	Nominated

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

These awards are given by Rolling Stone magazine in Australia for popular culture achievements.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	"Meditjin"	Best Single	Nominated
2022	Gela	Best Record	Nominated

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

This competition celebrates great songwriting and raises money for music therapy.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	"Meditjin"	Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition	2nd

Young Australian of the Year 2019

In 2019, Baker Boy was honored as Young Australian of the Year. He gave his acceptance speech in both English and Yolngu Matha.

Order of Australia Medal

In 2021, Baker Boy received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award recognized his service to the performing arts as a singer and musician.

Performances and Tours

Baker Boy has performed at many big events and venues. These include Yabun Festival (2018), BIGSOUND, Groovin' the Moo, the Woodford Folk Festival, the 2021 AFL Grand Final, Laneway Festival, WOMADelaide, and Golden Plains Festival.

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Baker Boy Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.