So, let’s talk about this talented rapper and singer who really made a name for himself after dropping his debut mixtape, The First Flight, back in 2009. Yeah, that project actually caught some serious attention and led to him getting signed by Atlantic Records—pretty big deal. Now, when we think about his journey, it’s clear that he’s been around the music scene for a while. He’s also known as the youngest member of the hip-hop collective All City Chess Club, which definitely added to his growing reputation in the industry.
Before all the fame and spotlight, though, life looked a bit different. Born Daniel Dwayne Simmons III, he actually grew up in the public eye thanks to the reality show Run’s House, which aired from 2005 to 2009. Being part of that show gave fans an inside look at his world, but don’t get it twisted—Daniel has always been pretty independent, especially when it comes to his music. In fact, he’s mentioned more than once that he doesn’t rely on family advice for his career moves, even though his dad is none other than Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons. That’s right—Rev Run is his father, so you could say music and fame run in the family.
And speaking of family, Daniel’s got quite the crew at home. He has six siblings: Angela, Vanessa, Russell II, Miley, Victoria, and JoJo. Growing up with so many brothers and sisters probably shaped his perspective, but when it comes to his artistry, Daniel Dwayne Simmons III has carved out his own lane. Definitely one to watch, no doubt.
He was heavily inspired by iconic artists like Jay-Z and Kanye West, which played a big role in shaping his musical style. It was actually his freestyle performance over Nas’ track “Made You Look” that really put him on the map and got people talking. Around that time, he also showed off his entrepreneurial side—back in 2010, he launched a sneaker line named Chivalrous Culture, which reflected his personal flair and vision. He’s always been someone who blends creativity with ambition, and that project was just one example of how he expanded beyond music. He definitely made moves early on that showed he wasn’t just another artist trying to get noticed—he had a plan, and he executed it well.