D-Aye

Born as Datony Anderson in Montgomery, Alabama, D-Aye grew up surrounded by music and began writing original raps while performing at local venues during high school. His first original material surfaced in 2013 with the arrival of Living Life Fast 1, the initial entry in a series that continued through multiple volumes over the ensuing years. By the release of Living Life Fast 4 in 2016, he had become a central figure in Montgomery's independent rap community, linking up with peers such as Rubberband OG and Super Nard. Additional projects surfaced regularly, among them 2016's Murkgomery's Finest and 2018's Hit Lit, both extending the Living Life Fast sequence. His steady productivity and standing within those circles drew the notice of Island Records, the Universal Music Group subsidiary that offered him a multi-album deal in late 2019. The first track issued under that agreement was the trappy 2020 single "Hunnids," an ominous club cut. D-Aye's precise flow and broad pop sensibility had already carried him from regional notice to this major-label contract, moving directly from his mixtape series to Island Records output.