• DDG is a rapper initially from Michigan
• He and Halle Bailey have been courting since 2022
• DDG began off as a YouTuber, however has transitioned into producing music full-time

Halle Bailey is the speak of the city because of her function as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which debuts in theaters on Might 26. And whereas Disney fanatics are thrilled to see the live-action remake of the traditional movie, Halle can also be being supported by her boyfriend, rapper DDG. “I’m very proud of her. And I’m just happy to see it,” the 25-year-old artist instructed PEOPLE in Oct. 2022. “I feel like sometimes I’m even more excited than anybody else. Just seeing it and seeing everything that she dreamed of coming to life, it’s really dope.”

Halle, 23, and DDG (whose actual title is Darryl Granberry) first sparked romance rumors in Jan. 2022 after they had been spotted at Usher‘s Las Vegas residency. Since then, they have walked red carpets together and raved about their romance in various interviews. “I’ve by no means been with no person that’s like actually motivated me like [Bailey] do. I’m seeing completely different s–t,” the Michigan native gushed on The Breakfast Membership in Nov. 2022. “I ain’t really been around this type of s–t before, so it’s like, she’s bringing me around s–t that I ain’t really — you know what I’m saying? ‘Oh, this is crazy. This is dope.’ You know what I mean?”

So, who’s DDG? Learn on to study Halle Bailey’s boyfriend of greater than a 12 months.

DDG Gained Fame On YouTube

DDG started his YouTube journey in 2014 when he began vlogging about his life. “I just blogged my life, basically. Show my lifestyle, my family, you know, my vibe,” he defined on The Breakfast Membership. Though he admitted to exhibiting some “corny” issues on his channel, he doesn’t thoughts as a result of he was centered on “making good content, getting the views, [and] making the money”.

DDG recalled that his first test from YouTube was $200, however over the summer season between his freshman and sophomore years at Central Michigan College, he began making 1000’s of {dollars} per 30 days. His wholesome monetary outlook influenced him to drop out of school and transfer to Los Angeles to pursue a profession in content material creation. He has amassed a whopping 2.69 million subscribers on YouTube and moved into the rapping house.

DDG Was His Class Valedictorian

Though he dropped out of Central Michigan College, that doesn’t imply DDG doesn’t take schooling significantly. The truth is, he was his class valedictorian at Worldwide Tech Academy.  “[Academics] are very important, because I was really into school. That’s what a lot of people don’t realize,” he instructed BET throughout a 2019 interview.  “Valedictorian is just about being super competitive and being at the top at all times. It displays my competitiveness. I want to be valedictorian of everything — definitely of the rap game.” DDG’s debut album, launched in 2019, was named Valedictorian.

“I was the class clown, but at the same time I always did my work — so that’s where the good grades came from,” the home-grown rapper additional recalled in a 2021 interview with Billboard. “I think the good grades came from me being competitive. If I feel like somebody’s trying to compete with me, I go even harder.”

DDG Made Music Earlier than His YouTube Fame

DDG stated he at all times knew he needed to pursue Music and even received to create songs rising up as a result of his father was a music engineer of their hometown of Pontiac, Mich. “We had our own little home studio. Me and my brothers used to make, like, songs together,” he recalled on The Breakfast Membership. The “I’m Geekin’” hitmaker stated that after his earlier work received some consideration, he determined to take his music interest significantly.

“I’m in a space now where I want people to get rid of the stigma that I’m a YouTuber,” he defined to PEOPLE throughout their 2019 chat. “I’m really just tryna shake that image and that stigma. Even though I am a YouTuber, I feel like it automatically comes with people not wanting to press play on the music or believing in the music. Or being harder on it. People are harder on me than other artists.” Fortunately, he’s supported by Halle, who starred in his 2022 “If I Want You” music video, wherein they locked lips.

DDG was signed to Epic Data in 2018, however simply two years later based his personal report label, Zooted Music. Zooted “scouts, develops, and grows artists using its tremendous leverage in the digital and music space and produces culturally relevant, super talented artists,” in keeping with its web site.

DDG Has Received A Celeb Boxing Match

.@PontiacMadeDDG scores the win however @itsNateWyatt goes the gap

Order PPV Livestream now: https://t.co/v8vhimCs9I#SocialGloves @HardRockStadium pic.twitter.com/ztSSaQSYni

— LiveOne (@liveone) June 13, 2021

DDG is a person of many abilities, clearly. In June 2021, he gained a celeb boxing match in opposition to musician Nate Wyatt. After his win, DDG gloated that he didn’t even practice for the combat. “I left the strip club last night, I wasn’t even training for this fight,” he smiled. Regardless of his win, he stated Nate put up a great combat and stated he has “a lot of respect” for him. He additionally stated followers shouldn’t count on to see him combat ever once more.

DDG Has Limitless Confidence

“I’m just a really big fan of myself. It might sound conceited,” the “This Summer” rapper admitted when requested by Billboard how he at all times exudes confidence. “If I see myself from a third person point of view, I’m like, ‘I see why these kids love me so much.’ I like to reassure myself like, ‘Man, you got this. You’re doing that, you work hard, you came all the way from this.’ I remind myself every day that I’m doing great. Also, spiritually I’m confident. I feel like God invested in me. I haven’t lost in a long time. Even if I lose, I get it right back — and it’s been like that since I’ve been young.”

He seemingly carried the identical confidence when making his first take care of a report label. After assembly with quite a few labels, he instructed Billboard he received all the pieces he needed in his contract together with the rights to his masters. “I met with every single label you can think of, and I knew what I brought to the table. I came with a good fanbase already, I came with good music and a hit already. I came with everything already,” he famous.

“So to not get what I wanted from a label would just be shooting myself in the foot. It was never about the money,” DDG additional defined. “Before I signed, I already had the money. It’s just good to have a machine behind you and the whole building trying to take you to the next level. I just knew what I brought to the table. I knew what type of deal I wanted and that it should work in my favor.”