DaBaby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DaBaby
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DaBaby in 2025
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Lyndale Kirk |
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| Born | December 22, 1991 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Origin | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
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| Children | 4 |
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Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991), who is known by his stage name DaBaby, is an American rapper. He first started making music in 2014. He released several mixtapes before signing a record deal in 2019.
His first album, Baby on Baby (2019), had a hit song called "Suge". This song became very popular and reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His second album, Kirk (2019), went straight to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It included the popular songs "Intro" and "Bop".
In 2020, DaBaby released his third album, Blame It on Baby. It was his second album to reach number one. The song "Rockstar" featuring Roddy Ricch was a huge success. It stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. The song also earned a nomination for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
He was also a featured artist on hit songs by other musicians. These include "Levitating" by Dua Lipa and the remix of "Whats Poppin" by Jack Harlow. Both songs reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Contents
Early Life
Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 22, 1991. When he was six, his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up there and graduated from Zebulon B. Vance High School in 2010.
After high school, he went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years. He said he went to college mostly to make his parents happy. Growing up, he and his two older brothers listened to famous rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne.
Music Career
2014–2018: Getting Started with Mixtapes
DaBaby began to focus on his music career around 2014. In 2015, he released his first mixtape, called Nonfiction. He then released several other mixtapes, including the God's Work and Baby Talk series. At first, he used the name Baby Jesus but changed it because he felt it was distracting.
His career took a big step forward when he signed with Arnold Taylor. Taylor was the president of the South Coast Music Group record label. He saw DaBaby performing in clubs in North Carolina and helped him build a following. This led to a major recording deal with Interscope Records.
2019: Rise to Fame with Baby on Baby and Kirk
In January 2019, DaBaby launched his own record label, Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment. In March, he released his first studio album, Baby on Baby. The album featured other artists like Offset and Rich the Kid.
Baby on Baby started at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart. Its single, "Suge", became a huge hit. It climbed the charts and reached the top 10. That same year, XXL magazine featured him in its "Freshman Class," which highlights new and promising rappers.
DaBaby was also featured on many popular songs in 2019. These included Megan Thee Stallion's "Cash ..." and Quality Control's "Baby". He was also praised for his verse on the song "Under the Sun" from the Dreamville Records album.
In September 2019, he released his second album, Kirk, which was named after his last name. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The song "Intro" from the album was also very successful. By the end of 2019, DaBaby had 22 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, more than any other artist that year.
2020–Present: Continued Success and Recent Work
In 2020, DaBaby's song "Suge" was nominated for two Grammy Awards. In April, he released his third album, Blame It on Baby. It became his second number-one album. The song "Rockstar" featuring Roddy Ricch was his biggest hit yet. It stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks.
He was also featured on the remix of Jack Harlow's song "Whats Poppin". For a time, "Rockstar" and "Whats Poppin" were numbers one and two on the charts. This made DaBaby one of the few artists to hold the top two spots at the same time. In November 2020, he released an EP called My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G), a tribute to his late brother.
In 2021, DaBaby's feature on Dua Lipa's song "Levitating" became very popular, peaking at number two on the charts. That summer, he made some controversial comments during a performance at the Rolling Loud festival. Because of this, he was removed from the lineup of several other music festivals, including Lollapalooza.
In 2022, he released a mixtape with YoungBoy Never Broke Again called Better than You. Later that year, he released his fourth studio album, Baby on Baby 2.
Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment
| Billion Dollar Baby | |
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| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | DaBaby |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) | Interscope Capitol Labels Group |
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| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment is a record label DaBaby started in 2017. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. DaBaby has said he wants to focus on his label and help create other superstars in the future.
Artists on the Label
- Stunna 4 Vegas
- DJ K.i.D
- Rich Dunk
- KayyKilo
- Wisdom
Musical Style
DaBaby is known for his unique rapping style. A writer for Rolling Stone magazine described his flow as "staccato, precise, and brutal." This means he raps with short, sharp, and powerful syllables. This style makes it sound like he starts rapping even before the beat begins.
DaBaby has said he studied artists like Future, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. He learned from how they grew and changed as artists. He also creates funny and creative music videos, often working with a video production team called Reel Goats.
Personal Life
Kirk has four children: a stepson born in 2014 and three daughters born in 2017, 2020, and 2021.
His father passed away in 2019, shortly after his first album was released. His second album, Kirk, is a tribute to his father. The album cover shows a picture of his father holding him as a baby. His brother, Glen Johnson, died in November 2020.
In 2019, Kirk stated that he is a Christian. In politics, he supported Kanye West in the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Discography
Studio albums
- Baby on Baby (2019)
- Kirk (2019)
- Blame It on Baby (2020)
- Baby on Baby 2 (2022)
Tours
Headlining
- Baby on Baby Tour (2019)
- Kirk Tour (2019)
- Live Show Killa Tour (2021)
- Baby on Baby 2 Tour (2022)
See also
In Spanish: DaBaby para niños
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
