HITMAKER DABABY
The Collabs + Album That Put Him At The Top
Johnathan Lyndale Kirk, better known as DaBaby, has been the hottest new rapper on the charts for the past year. In a genre flooded with artists trying to make their mark, he stands out as a fresh hitmaker whose flow packs a serious punch.
Since signing a seven-figure record deal with Interscope Records in January 2019, Kirk has released three full-length albums. His debut, Baby on Baby, reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 after dropping in March 2019. He followed its release with Kirk in September, which debuted at number one. His latest release, Blame it on Baby, dropped last month and was his secord to debut atop the Billboard chart.
Three Billboard Hot 100 singles came from Kirk’s debut and sophomore albums. His breakout track “Suge”, the name of which references the founder of Death Row Records, earned two Grammy nominations and peaked at number 7. The lead single of Kirk, “INTRO”, has DaBaby’s signature punchy, relentless lyricism softened by a sample from *NSYNC’s rendition of “O Holy Night.”
Like so many recent up-and-coming tracks, DaBaby’s next hit got some help from TikTok. The dance sequence featured in the “BOP” music video quickly caught the attention of the video platform users, eventually inspiring a viral dance challenge. “Bop” reached number 11 on the Hot 100 and is now certified gold
Kirk’s latest hit “ROCKSTAR” comes from his newest release. It features Roddy Ricch, another standout new artist in 2020 and recently peaked at number 9 on the Hot 100.
Collaboration tracks featuring other superstar pop and hip-hop artists have also rocketed Kirk up the charts in recent months. He’s appeared on two tracks with Megan Thee Stallion, the current hottest female voice in rap, including her breakout hit “Cash Shit.” He’s also dropped verses on songs that appeared on the recent albums of both Camila Cabello and Post Malone. Kirk’s latest album includes features from several prominent rappers, including Future and Quavo.
With three albums released in less than 18 months, Kirk’s career has been off to a prolific start. His climb to stardom continues later this year, when he’s scheduled to perform at the rescheduled Coachella Valley and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festivals, along with several solo shows in the UK.
