DaBaby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids DaBaby
DaBaby in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Lyndale Kirk
Also known as	Baby Baby Jesus
Born	(1991-12-22) December 22, 1991 (age 33) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Origin	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop trap
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Billion Dollar Baby Interscope South Coast
Children	4
Signature

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991), known as DaBaby, is an American rapper. He started his music career by releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018. In January 2019, he signed with Interscope Records.

His first studio album, Baby on Baby (2019), included the popular song "Suge". This song quickly became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His second album, Kirk (2019), reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured hit songs like "Intro" and "Bop".

In 2020, his third album, Blame It on Baby, also topped the charts. It featured the song "Rockstar" with Roddy Ricch. This song was a huge success, staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. It also earned a special award for selling many copies. DaBaby also appeared on popular songs like the remix of "Whats Poppin" by Jack Harlow and "Levitating" by Dua Lipa.

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 22, 1991. When he was six years old, his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He spent most of his childhood there. He went to Vance High School, which is now called Julius L. Chambers High School, and graduated in 2010.

He then attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years. He later shared that he went to college mainly to please his parents. Growing up, he enjoyed listening to famous rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne.

Music Career Journey

2014–2018: Starting with Mixtapes

Kirk began to take his music career seriously around 2014 and 2015. In 2015, he released his first mixtape, Nonfiction. He then released several other mixtape series, including God's Work, Baby Talk, Billion Dollar Baby, and Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t. He first performed under the name Baby Jesus. However, he later changed it to DaBaby because he felt the original name was distracting.

He got his big break after signing with Arnold Taylor. Taylor was the president of South Coast Music Group, a record label known for promoting artists. Taylor saw Kirk perform in clubs across North Carolina. Taylor had helped other Southern rap stars like Yo Gotti and Future become famous. Working together, they built excitement for DaBaby's music through mixtapes and club shows.

Through his deal with South Coast, DaBaby signed a short agreement with Jay-Z's Roc Nation for his Blank Blank mixtape in late 2018. This mixtape helped him gain a lot of attention. After many record labels showed interest, DaBaby signed a major recording deal with Interscope Records.

2019: First Albums and Big Hits

DaBaby during an interview in 2018

In January 2019, after signing with Interscope, Kirk started his own music company called Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment. In March 2019, his first studio album, Baby on Baby, was released. This album had thirteen songs and featured other artists like Offset and Rich the Kid.

Baby on Baby reached number 25 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US. The song "Suge" became very popular. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart and quickly climbed into the top 10. DaBaby was also featured on the cover of XXL magazine as one of the top new artists of 2019.

Throughout mid-2019, DaBaby was featured on many hit songs. In July 2019, he appeared on Dreamville's album Revenge of the Dreamers III. His part on the song "Under the Sun" was highly praised. Many people called it his best performance of the year.

In August 2019, he announced his second album would be called Kirk, named after his last name. It was released in September and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. The main song from the album, "Intro", was very successful, reaching number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Around this time, DaBaby also appeared on songs by Post Malone and on remixes for songs by YG, Lizzo, and Lil Nas X.

By the end of 2019, DaBaby had 22 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was more than any other artist that year.

Since 2020: Continued Success

At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020, DaBaby received two nominations for his song "Suge". His third studio album, Blame It on Baby, came out in April 2020. The album was very popular and became his second number-one album. It featured his highest-charting song, "Rockstar", with Roddy Ricch. This song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and also reached number one in the United Kingdom.

In June 2020, DaBaby was featured on the remix for the Jack Harlow song "Whats Poppin". This song reached number two on the Hot 100, while "Rockstar" was still at number one. This made DaBaby one of the few artists to have two songs in the top two spots at the same time. In July, he was featured on "For the Night" by Pop Smoke and Lil Baby. This song debuted at number six on the Hot 100.

In July 2020, DaBaby released a song with his artist Stunna 4 Vegas called "No Dribble". This song was part of the deluxe edition of Blame It on Baby, which came out in August 2020. In November 2020, DaBaby released his first EP, My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G). This EP was a tribute to his late brother, Glenn Johnson. It included songs with Meek Mill and Polo G. DaBaby also contributed to the remix of "Levitating" by English singer Dua Lipa. This remix became very popular in 2021, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

DaBaby in 2021

In January 2021, DaBaby released the song "Masterpiece" along with a music video. In February, he released a remix to SpotemGottem's song Beat Box. He also released the songs "Ball If I Want To" and "Red Light Green Light" in June, and "Giving What It's Supposed To Give" in July.

In March 2022, he released the mixtape Better than You with YoungBoy Never Broke Again. In September, he released his fourth studio album, Baby on Baby 2.

Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment

Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment is an American record label. DaBaby founded it in 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The label currently has five artists signed to it. DaBaby has said he plans to focus on his record label in the future. He hopes to help other artists become superstars. One of his signed artists, Stunna 4 Vegas, is often seen working closely with DaBaby.

Roster

• Stunna 4 Vegas
• DJ K.i.D
• Rich Dunk
• KayyKilo
• Wisdom

Artistry and Style

Music Style

Charles Holmes from Rolling Stone magazine described DaBaby's rapping style. He said it is "staccato," which means it has short, sharp sounds. He also noted that DaBaby's rapping is "precise and brutal." It sounds like he starts rapping even before the music begins. A great example of this style is in his hit song "Suge."

When talking about who influenced his music, DaBaby mentioned artists like Future, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. He said he studied how they grew and improved their music over time.

Music Videos

DaBaby often works with a team called Reel Goats for his music videos. Jessica McKinney from Complex magazine wrote that their videos are always "comedic and fun." They often include funny elements that make them enjoyable to watch.

Personal Life

Kirk has a stepson born in 2014. He also has three daughters, born in 2017, 2020, and 2021.

DaBaby's father passed away in 2019, shortly after his first album was released. His second album, Kirk, is a tribute to his family name. The album cover shows his father holding him when he was a baby.

In 2019, he shared his religious beliefs, stating, "I'm blessed. I'm covered by the blood of Christ."

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)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: DaBaby para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States