Baker Boy

Danzal Baker (born 31 October 1996), known professionally as Baker Boy, is an Aboriginal Australian rapper, dancer, artist, and actor. A Yolngu man, Baker Boy is known for performing original hip-hop songs incorporating both English and Yolŋu Matha.

Baker Boy
Baker Boy performing at St Jerome's Laneway Festival, 2019
Background information
Birth nameDanzal Baker
Born (1996-10-31) 31 October 1996
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
OriginMilingimbi Island, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper, dancer, artist, actor
InstrumentsVocals, yidaki
Years active2017 (2017)–present
Associated actsKian, Dallas Woods, Yirrmal, Yothu Yindi
Websitewww.bakerboyofficial.com

He was made Young Australian of the Year in 2019, and his song "Cool as Hell" was nominated in several categories in the 2019 ARIA Awards. In 2018, he won two awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards, and was named Male Artist of the Year in the National Dreamtime Awards.

Early years

Born in Darwin, Baker Boy grew up in the Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi and Maningrida.[1] His totem is the Olive Python, his moiety is Dhuwa and his skin name is Burralung / Gela boy.[2]

He studied to Year 12 at Shalom Christian College in Townsville, Queensland, before attending the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane.[3][4] He was able to develop his love of dancing and acting there, and was an original member of the Djuki Mala dance troupe, which toured Australia.[2]

In 2016, Baker appeared on the "Indigenous" episode of Australian award-winning series You Can't Ask That on ABC TV.[5][6]

Music career

In 2017, Baker Boy attracted national attention as the winner of the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards Competition,[7] releasing the singles "Cloud 9" featuring Kian and "Marryuna" featuring Yirrmal in the same year. Both singles were featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown of 2017.[8]

He has performed at festivals such as BIGSOUND, Groovin' the Moo Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival, St Jerome's Laneway Festival, WOMADelaide, and Golden Plains Festival. In 2018, he performed with acts such as Yothu Yindi and Dizzee Rascal.[9][10]

He performed as an opening act for American rapper 50 Cent in January 2018, along with A.B. Original.[11][12]

His third single, "Mr. La Di Da Di" was released in April 2018. "Black Magic," featuring Dallas Woods, was released in July.

On 25 January 2019, Baker released "Cool as Hell"[13] Two days later, "Mr. La Di Da Di" was voted into the 2018 Triple J Hottest 100.

In June 2019, Baker released "In Control".[14] On 7 July, Baker Boy appeared on the children's television show, Play School and performed "Hickory Dickory Dock" as part of NAIDOC Week.[15]

Baker Boy was the headline act at the opening night of the 2019 Tarnanthi exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of South Australia on 17 October 2019, performing outside the Gallery on North Terrace, Adelaide.[16]

Two of his songs made the 2019 Triple J Hottest 100: "Cloud 9" at number 76 and "Marryuna" at number 17.[17][18]

Acting career

Baker made his debut in True History of the Kelly Gang, released in cinemas in early January 2019 and on Stan from 26 January.[19]

Discography
Baker Boy performing at the Riddu Riđđu Festival in Norway, 2018.

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Certifications Album
"Cloud 9"
(featuring Kian)[20]		 2017 TBA[21]
"Marryuna"
(featuring Yirrmal)[22]
"Mr. La Di Da Di"[23] 2018
"Black Magic"
(featuring Dallas Woods)[24]
"Cool as Hell"[25] 2019
"In Control"[27]
"Meditjin"
(featuring JessB)[28]
"Move"[29] 2020
Title Year Album
"Treaty '18"
(Yothu Yindi & Gavin Campbell featuring Baker Boy)		 2018 Non-album single

Music videos
List of music videos
Title Year Director
"Cloud 9"
(featuring Kian)		 2017 None
"Marryuna"
(featuring Yirrmal)		 Daniel King
"Black Magic"
(featuring Dallas Woods)		 2018 BraydenFunFilm
"Cool as Hell" 2019 Gabriel Gasparinatos
"In Control"
"Meditjin"
(featuring Jess B)
"Move" 2020 None

Awards

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Baker Boy has been nominated for one award.[30][31]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 "Cool as Hell" Most Performed Urban Work of the Year Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Baker Boy was nominated for three awards.[32][32][33]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 "Cool as Hell" ARIA Award for Best Hip Hop Release Nominated
ARIA Award for Best Video Nominated
Cool as Hell Tour Best Australian Live Act Nominated

National Dreamtime Awards

The National Dreamtime Awards, (also known as The Dreamtime Awards), are an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
National Dreamtime Awards 2018 "himself"[34] Male Artist of the Year Won

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018[35] "himself" Best New Talent Won
"Marryuna" Film Clip of the Year Won
"Marryuna" Song of the Year Nominated
2019[36][37] "himself" Artist of the Year Won
"Black Magic" Song of the Year Nominated

Young Australian of the Year 2019

Baker Boy was awarded the 2019 Young Australian of the Year award,[38] on the same day as releasing his single "Cool as Hell".[38] He delivered his acceptance speech in both English and Yolngu Matha.[19][39]

References
  1. Howie, Tamara (16 July 2017). "Arnhem Land rapper Danzal Baker making impact on Australian music scene". NT News. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  2. "Baker Boy". triple j Unearthed. 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. Carleton, James (28 May 2017). "Baker Boy: Rapping in an Indigenous language". Radio National. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  4. "Baker Boy". AUM PR + MGMT. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. "You Can't Ask That" (video). ABC iview. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. "ABC series explores the public perceptions of Indigenous Australia". Samaritans. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  7. "Meet Baker Boy, the deadly winner of our Unearthed NIMAs comp". Triple J. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. "Baker Boy has two songs crack Triple J Hottest 100 countdown". NT News. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. "Laneway Adds Pond, Kirin J Callinan, Client Liaison, Stella Donnelly, Baker Boy & More". themusic.com.au. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  10. Israel, Janine (30 December 2017). "Baker Boy rising: from Arnhem Land to sharing a stage with Dizzee Rascal". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. "AB Original & Baker Boy To Join 50 Cent On His Australian Tour". The Music. Street Press Australia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  12. Newstead, Al (9 January 2018). "50 Cent adds A.B. Original and Baker Boy to his Aussie tour". Triple J. ABC. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  13. Cool as Hell - Single by Baker Boy, retrieved 25 January 2019
  14. "In Control - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  15. Tan, Steffanie (8 July 2019). "Baker Boy Did A Mad As Hell Cover Of 'Hickory Dickory Dock' On 'Play School'". Pedestrian. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  16. "Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art + Opening Night". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  17. "1-100: Hottest 100 2017 - triple j". ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 11 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  18. Newstead, Al (28 January 2018). "Baker Boy brings Indigenous language to the Hottest 100 top end". triple j. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  19. Reich, Hannah (25 January 2020). "Baker Boy ends his tenure as Young Australian of the Year by taking Yolngu language and dance further into the mainstream". ABC News (ABC Arts; Stop Everything!). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  20. "Cloud 9 (feat. Kian) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  21. Tuskan, Peter (29 January 2019). "SOTD: Baker Boy brings the heat with "Cool As Hell"". The Music Network. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  22. "Marryuna (feat. Yirrmal) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  23. "Mr La Di Da Di – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  24. "Black Magic (feat. Dallas Woods) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  25. "Cool as Hell – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  26. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2020 Singles". ARIA. 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  27. "In Control – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  28. "Meditjin (feat. JessB) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  29. "Move – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  30. "Tones and I Leads Nominations for 2020 Virtual APRA Awards". Noise11. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  31. "2020 Awards". APRA. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  32. "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  33. "2019 ARIA Award Winners Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  34. "Dream of love, and success will come (pp32-34)" (PDF). AIATSIS The Koori Mail. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  35. "2018 National Indigenous Music Award Winners". National Indigenous Music Awards. NIMA. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  36. "National Indigenous Music Awards unveils 2019 Nominations". National Indigenous Music Awards. July 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  37. "Record Breaking Crowd for the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards!". National Indigenous Music Awards. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  38. "Australian of the Year Awards". www.australianoftheyear.org.au. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  39. Kelly, Barb (25 January 2019). "Baker Boy is named 2019 Young Australian of the Year" (video). ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
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