When it comes to rappers on the rise, few have an metoric explosion quite like Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr. Also known as DDG, the rapper first made his entrance onto the scene as a YouTuber, creating weekly Vlogs under the moniker PontiacMadeDDG. But as his popularity and love for music grew over the years, the rising rapper soon became more focused on music and his next steps.

“I just built such a strong fanbase to where they rock with anything that I do, so it’s just about me making good music and then everyone gravitating towards me and off the love everyone just shares it. I feel like I’m the underdog, people wanna see me win.”

With various collaborations and EP’s in the bank, the rapper dropped his latest mixtape “Die 4 Respect” earlier this year with OG Parker. Encapsulating the Gen Z exuberance and shining a magnifying glass on his private life, the rapper puts on a display of tech-savvy productions and electrifying raps. Venturing in R&B with his passionate single “Treat Me Right”, the rapper flexes his range across the warming production, while still honing in on his solid and signature sound.

“The name came from respect being my most valued trait,” the rapper teases when discussing the project. “I feel like respect is more important than even loyalty. I feel like that comes first before anything, I also feel like I need to be respected in this music industry as well.”

Spending the rest of the year working on a selection of new music, the artist sat down with us virtually breaking down his mixtape, building a cult-like fanbase and his love for the UK music scene.

Check out the interview below now…

Hi DDG, how are you doing?
I’m good, I’m on tour right now on my way to New Mexico for a show. I’m only like 6 cities in, I have 35 more to go. It’s a really long tour so I’m just trying to make sure I stay healthy.

Congratulations on your project, “Die 4 Respect”. Where did the name come from?
The name came from respect being my most valued trait, I feel like respect is more important than even loyalty. I feel like that comes first before anything, I also feel like I need to be respected in this music industry as well.

“Talk us through your career journey. I know that you have been in the industry for two years, how did you go about getting your music recognised?”
I just built such a strong fanbase to where they rock with anything that I do, so it’s just about me making good music and then everyone gravitating towards me and off the love everyone just shares it. I feel like I’m the underdog, people wanna see me win.

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt during your career so far?
I learned that it takes time, being impatient is a bad trait in this business.

And the project comes in collaboration with producer, OG Parker! How did this partnership form?
Yeah we’ve got a lot more songs together, we just locked in one day and then we decided we were gonna go ahead and make the tape. I feel like his beats and my vocals mix well together.

The project features tracks such as “Rule #1”. Which is your favourite offering on the tracklist?
My personal favourite is called ‘Treat Me Right’, I just feel like its a very real and the name of the song comes from being in a relationship or being involved with somebody and it’s like raw feelings that I put into this song, you can just feel the emotion.

Congratulations on your feature on the XXL Freshman class cover! How did it feel to feature alongside the likes of Flo Milli and Toosii for this?
I mean its dope, as XXL somehow seems to be big for us so finally getting on the cover was like a big accomplishment for me. So yeah that was a really really big moment.

If you could collaborate with anyone in the future, who would it be?
The top 3 I would say is Drake, Rihanna and Olivia Rodrigo.

If you could collaborate with anyone in the UK in the future, who would it be?
I rock with Central Cee, thats one of my homies and yeah Stormzy is dope but yeah for the most part those are probably the two people.

What is next for you? Do you have any other projects you are currently working on?
Yeah I’m working on a bunch of different singles right now that I’m trying to put together, I just don’t wanna rush it so I’m in the studio recording the best music I can make and putting it all together into one.

Is this your first tour post pandemic and how has it been being back on the road?
Yeah it’s cool, I’m fully vaccinated so I’m sitting a little more comfortable but it’s been smooth.. it’s like everything back to normal.

So you said earlier you were a bit of the underdog at the beginning, do you still feel like the underdog and do you feel you have that respect you wanted to attain?
Nah I still feel like the underdog but I feel like an enigma, the way that I’m moving right now building a cult fanbase and I feel like its not on the mainstream level to where everybody knows that I make great music.

You said your trying to build a cult fanbase, I remember when you went to the UK for the first time and you performed at Reading and Leeds what was that experience like with the fans, you did a vlog and everyone was super excited and it seemed like they knew a lot of your music, do you feel that was that was the beginning of that?
Performing at Reading and Leeds was my first time in the UK so like that was a big moment for me because I had an early time slot, and me having an early time slot I knew there wasn’t supposed to be a load of people there but then I got on stage and by the end of my set it was packed, they even gave me extra time.

Now that you’re back on tour, whats been the best part of it?
The best part is the new fans, I feel like I did 2 headlines tour myself which is all my fans so I go in there I know they know the music that other people don’t know and they locked in and they know everything word for word, but this is a different experience where I’m opening up for another artist and I get the chance to gain people that don’t know, I feel like that’s very beneficial.

Are you looking forward to coming back to the UK
Yeah I can’t wait, I want to do a night show or a little mini tour out in the UK, that’s what we’re trying to put together so its gonna be lit.