DaBaby

Biography

DaBaby is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, a rapper from Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally performing under the name Baby Jesus, DaBaby first started gaining traction in mainstream hip-hop in 2019, when he released his debut full-length studio album, Baby on Baby. The record hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and Jonathan followed it up the same year with Kirk. His second album hit No. 1 on the US Albums charts, cementing DaBaby in pop culture history as a massive success.

To learn more about Kirk’s life and the music he makes as DaBaby, keep reading.

Quick Facts About DaBaby

DaBaby has two kids, but is not currently in a relationship with their mother, Meme. Meme has, however, described Kirk as “an amazing father” to both his daughter and son.
DaBaby has been featured on songs by Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, and many other notable artists.
The rapper has won numerous awards, including ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, a BET Award, and several Billboard Music Awards. He’s also been nominated for a slew of Grammys.
DaBaby currently has a net worth of $3 million.

instruments played

Vocalist

Also Known As

Baby Jesus

Associated Acts

DJ K.i.D, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Stunna 4 Vegas

Birth Name

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk

Children

Genres

Hip hop, trap

Labels

Billion Dollar Baby, Interscope, South Coast

Occupations

Rapper, singer, songwriter

Origin

Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.

Website

officialdababy.com

Years Active

2014 - present

Wiki Link

DaBaby’ Origins

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, but he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 22, 1991. After moving to Charlotte, Kirk went to Vance High School, followed by college at UNC Greensboro. Kirk eventually dropped out of college to pursue music. Kirk’s primary musical influences as a teenager were rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne. These artists defined the hip-hop sound of the 2000s, the decade when Kirk was a schoolkid. He was inspired by their iconic rhyming abilities to start rapping himself. In 2014, having dropped out of school, Jonathan started focusing on music. Initially performing as Baby Jesus, he released his first mixtape, Nonfiction, in 2015. He followed up his debut with a string of several more Baby Jesus mixtapes, including Billion Dollar Baby, Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t, and several more in the God’s Work series. DaBaby cites concerns about his original name being distracting as the basis for changing it. He told The New York Times that he was embracing distractions and gimmicks at the beginning of his career, including performing nearly naked in an adult diaper. However, Kirk wanted to make sure that his name didn’t take away from the focus on his music or cause controversy. After releasing a string of numerous mixtapes, Kirk signed to South Coast Music Group thanks to promoter Arnold Taylor. Taylor had seen Kirk performing in North Carolina and recognized his talent. Previously responsible for helping rappers like Future and Yo Gotti make it big, Taylor helped Kirk kick-start his rap career, leading to the release of his debut album, Baby on Baby.

Baby on Baby and Mainstream Success

After signing to South Coast, DaBaby released his first full-length studio album via Interscope in March 2019. The album features production work by Cubeatz, JetsonMade, Nick Mira, and others, as well as guest appearances from Rich the Kid, Stunna 4 Vegas, Rich Homie Quan, and Offset. The album’s singles “Suge” and “Baby Sitter” both made it onto the Hot 100, with “Suge” hitting No. 7 and “Baby Sitter” hitting No. 59. The record went on to be certified Platinum in the United States, and it peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Kirk: DaBaby’s Second Hit Album in a Year

In September 2019, Dababy released Kirk, his second full-length studio album. Released via Interscope and South Coast, the record’s guest appearances include Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, Stunna 4 Vegas, Migos, Kevin Gates, Chance the Rapper, Gucci Mane, and YK Osiris. The record became DaBaby’s first album to hit No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, and its three singles, “Intro,” “Bop,” and “Vibez,” were all major successes as well. Kirk received positive reviews from critics, with Danny Schwartz from Rolling Stone saying that it “shows why [DaBaby is] one of the year’s most compelling breakout stars.”

Blame It on Baby: DaBaby’s Smash-Hit Third Record

Released via Interscope Records, Blame It on Baby is DaBaby’s second record to top the US album charts. The album features production by Dr. Luke, Rocco Did It Again, London on da Track, and others, and it yielded multiple massive hits, including “Rockstar,'' featuring Roddy Ricch and “Find My Way.” Like his previous releases, Blame It on Baby got a positive response from critics. The album was described by NME’s Sam Moore as “Further propelling the rapper’s soaring momentum even during lockdown.” Blame It on Baby has now been certified Platinum by the RIAA. It is DaBaby’s second consecutive Platinum record.