DDG revealed that he has struggled with proving his worth as an artist time and time again, only to come to one conclusion-it's not him, it's you.
The 24-year-old rapper released his debut album in 2019, "Valedictorian," which is a nod to his achievement in high school, where he graduated valedictorian in 2015.
He rose to prominence with his hit song "Givenchy," released in 2017. It was the song that made him rise to prominence and land a record deal with Epic Records.
It has been some time since then, but DDG still looks back at his humble beginnings in music and his roots in Pontiac, Michigan, which is perhaps why he opens his new album with a track entitled "Straight Outta Pontiac."
The 16-track album follows his journey as an artist and his struggle to prove himself.
"I'm in a space now where I want people to get rid of the stigma that I'm a YouTuber," he told People Magazine. "I'm really just tryna shake that image and that stigma. [...] People are harder on me than other artists."
Struggle
DDG, born Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., had his start at music through YouTube, where he documented his life and eventually started releasing his music.
And according to him, his start on the video-sharing site has helped him get to where he is now, but also struggles to put himself out there as an artist rather than a YouTuber.
"I feel like people play the blame game these days. It's just pointing the finger, and also, in the same breath, if you don't enjoy my music at this point in my career, it's not me, it's you. I feel like I done proved myself over and over again. [sic]"
He also noted that he no longer feels the need to, and his goal in music-making is putting out music that "sticks over time." "I feel like I'm more of a longevity artist than anything," he added.
Support
However, while he struggled with standing his ground as a new artist, he has not lacked in support. His girlfriend, Disney's The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey, has shown him support, featuring in several of his videos, including an uncredited "It's Not Me, It's You" cut "If I Want You," reports say.
Aside from that, he has also received words of wisdom from Jay-Z, which enforced his earlier statement about the "longevity" of is music.
"JAY-Z told me be original & don't follow trends. Give people what they came for," he shared. I just asked him, because that's all I'd really want from people like that. And I just be wanting advice and gems from people that sit in the position that I would love to be in, at some point in life."
When asked about his action towards Jay-Z's advice, he said "you gotta listen," and he is. He has been applying it, and is now waiting for it work out for him.
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