D SMOKE’s ON FIRE
From Netflix Reality Star to Grammy Nominee
Daniel Anthony Farris, better known as D Smoke, is a 35-year-old rapper who owes his start to Netflix and a drive to succeed.
Farris grew up surrounded by music. As a child, he performed in a family gospel choir. His brother, SiR, earned his recording contract, and his cousin is a seasoned songwriter credited on tracks by Genuwine, The Pussycat Dolls, and more.
His music talent was partially in his genes, but Farris had to hustle to turn his passion into a career. Farris attended UCLA and used his degree to teach Spanish and music theory at Inglewood, CA, High. He self-released his first album, Producer of the Year, in 2006, but failed to attract any record deals at the time.
Farris’ big break came in 2019 when he participated in season one of the groundbreaking Netflix series Rhythm and Flow. The show was the first reality program to focus on hip-hop. Superstar hip-hop artists Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and T.I., judged unsigned and ambitious rappers. The winner earned a $250,000 prize.
Farris took home the money and title of Rhythm and Flow champion and grabbed an energized fanbase. Soon after winning the competition, he self-released an E.P. titled Inglewood High. This time, his work received rave reviews from newfound followers.
Just four months after Farris dropped his E.P., in February 2020, he released his studio Black Habits. This time, his homemade label worked alongside hip-hop giant Empire Distribution. Empire released the early work of so many current rap icons, including Kendrick Lamar, Migos, Rich Homie Quan, and Schoolboy Q.
Black Habits elevated Farris to new heights. Although he’s still an up-and-comer, he’s gaining ground fast. The Recording Academy has noticed his talent, and D Smoke now has two pending Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. We think it’s fair to assume D Smoke has more big things ahead.
