Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, born on December 22, 1991, and known professionally as DaBaby, is a prominent American rapper. He began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015.
DaBaby's journey in the music industry is marked by significant milestones and collaborations. Here's a look at his rise to fame and some key aspects of his career:
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born in Cleveland, Ohio. At age six, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he spent most of his early years. In 2015, he started off his music career by releasing Nonfiction, his debut mixtape.
He 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.
Signing with Interscope Records and Early Success
Kirk got his big break after signing to Arnold Taylor, the president of the South Coast Music Group label. Taylor saw Kirk perform around North Carolina clubs at the time he [Taylor] was launching his label.
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In January 2019, upon being signed to Interscope, Kirk launched his own imprint, Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment.
In March 2019, Kirk's debut studio album Baby on Baby, was released via Interscope Records and South Coast Music Group in a joint venture with both labels. Baby on Baby debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US.
Chart-Topping Albums and Hit Singles
DaBaby's career took off with several hit songs and successful albums.
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.
In July 2019, Kirk was featured on Dreamville's compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III, on the opening track, "Under the Sun".
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In August 2019, he announced that his second album would be titled Kirk, named after his surname. It was released in September, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
Its lead single, "Intro", was 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", which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and on the remixes to YG's "Stop Snitchin", Lizzo's "Truth Hurts", and Lil Nas X's "Panini", released in May, August, and September 2019, respectively.
In June, Kirk was featured on the remix for the Jack Harlow 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.
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In July, Kirk was featured on "For the Night" by Pop Smoke and Lil Baby, which debuted at number six on the Hot 100.
His second studio album, Kirk (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the hit singles "Intro" and "Bop". That same year, he guest appeared on the singles "Enemies" by Post Malone and "Cash Shit" by Megan Thee Stallion.
His third album, Blame It on Baby (2020), became his second to peak the chart and spawned the single "Rockstar" (featuring Roddy Ricch), which spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the wake of that year's George Floyd protests.
In 2020, he guest performed on the remix of "Whats Poppin" by Jack Harlow and the single "Levitating" by Dua Lipa, both of which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Later Career and Projects
DaBaby continued to release music and collaborate with other artists.
In November 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, NoCap, Toosii, and Polo G.
Kirk contributed a feature on the remix of "Levitating" by English singer Dua Lipa. In January 2021, DaBaby released the single "Masterpiece" alongside a music video for the track directed by Gemini Visions.
The track includes references to his relationship with DaniLeigh and to his past legal troubles. In February, DaBaby released a remix to SpotemGottem's single Beat Box, along with a music video.
In March 2022, he released the mixtape Better than You with YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Musical Style and Influences
Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone described Kirk's 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".
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".
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".
DaBaby often collaborates with Reel Goats.
Personal Life and Controversies
DaBaby's personal life has also been a subject of public interest.
Kirk's father died in 2019 shortly after the release of his debut studio album. Regarding his religious beliefs, he stated in 2019 that "I'm blessed." He dated fellow American rapper and singer DaniLeigh in 2020. The couple split in February 2021.
In November 2018, Kirk shot a 19-year-old man in the abdomen at a Walmart in Huntersville, North Carolina. 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 an arrest warrant out in Texas stemming from a battery charge. According to TMZ and other outlets, members of his crew allegedly assaulted and robbed a music promoter who only paid Kirk $20,000 of the $30,000 he was owed for a performance in Miami. Reports state that he and his associates allegedly took $80 cash, an iPhone 7, and a credit card from the promoter.
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."
Controversies
In July 2021, Kirk faced backlash for remarks largely regarded to be homophobic. While performing at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 25, he said, "[If] you didn't show up today with HIV/AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that'll make you die in two to three weeks, then put a cellphone light in the air. Ladies, if your pussy smell [sic] like water, put a cellphone light in the air.
Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment
Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment is an American record label founded by DaBaby in 2017, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
DaBaby spoke about intending to focus on the record label saying "I won't be rapping in five years; I won't be rapping."
Discography Highlights
Here's a table summarizing some of DaBaby's key albums and their chart performance:
| Album Title | Year | Billboard 200 Peak | Notable Singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby on Baby | 2019 | 25 | N/A |
| Kirk | 2019 | 1 | Intro, Bop |
| Blame It on Baby | 2020 | 1 | Rockstar |
| My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G) | 2020 | - | - |
| Better than You | 2022 | - | - |
