Entertainment Music Who Is Halle Bailey's Boyfriend? All About DDG Halle Bailey and DDG went public with their romance in March 2022 and welcomed a child together in 2023 By Kelsie Gibson Kelsie Gibson Kelsie Gibson is the SEO Editor of PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2021. She was formerly at POPSUGAR, Bustle, Tiger Beat and Her Campus. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 6, 2024 04:37PM EST Close Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Halle Bailey and DDG are parents! The couple welcomed their first child together in 2023 after going public with their relationship in March 2022. Bailey and DDG (whose real name is Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) first sparked romance rumors in January 2022 when they were spotted at Usher's Las Vegas residency together. Since then, the couple has stepped out for a handful of events together, including the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, and spoken highly of each other in interviews. In September 2023, Bailey spoke about DDG in an interview with Cosmopolitan, saying that her relationship has been a big inspiration for her music. The singer explained that love is "something I’m experiencing for the first time, and it’s, like, ‘whoa’ in your brain," adding that "this is my first deep, deep, real love.” From his career to the details of his relationship with Bailey, here's everything to know about DDG. 'The Little Mermaid' Trailer Unveiled by Stars Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy During Oscars 2023 He was his class valedictorian Marc Piasecki/Getty DDG grew up in Pontiac, Michigan, where he graduated from International Tech Academy as valedictorian of his class. The high honor later inspired the title of his 2019 debut album, Valedictorian. "[Academics] are very important, because I was really into school. That's what a lot of people don't realize," he told BET.com in 2019. "Valedictorian is just about being super competitive and being at the top at all times. It displays my competitiveness. I want to be valedictorian of everything — definitely of the rap game." After graduation, DDG enrolled at Central Michigan University, but he later dropped out to pursue a career as an entertainer. He got his start on YouTube Like Halle and her sister Chloe, DDG got his start on YouTube. He started making videos in 2014 sharing an array of content, including YouTube vlogs and his original music. "I'm in a space now where I want people to get rid of the stigma that I'm a YouTuber," DDG told PEOPLE of his career as a rapper. "I'm really just tryna shake that image and that stigma. Even though I am a YouTuber, I feel like it automatically comes with people not wanting to press play on the music or believing in the music. Or being harder on it. People are harder on me than other artists." He founded his own record label After signing with Epic Records in 2018, DDG founded his own record label, Zooted Music, in 2020. Per the label's website, Zooted Music "scouts, develops, and grows artists using its tremendous leverage in the digital and music space and produces culturally relevant, super talented artists." He and Bailey first connected through social media Jeff Spicer/Getty During Essence's September/October 2022 cover story, Halle revealed how she and DDG first connected through social media, noting that she had been "a fan" of the rapper and YouTuber "for years" before he slid into her DMs. "I grew up being on YouTube and would always see the young Black creators and was constantly inspired by them. He was one of them," Halle told the magazine. "I completely forgot about him. But then I saw that he was dropping music, and I really gravitated toward this one song. Coincidentally he messaged me — and the rest is history." While talking to PEOPLE in February 2024, DDG said that he "invited" himself to their first date — dinner and a movie (Dune, to be more specific). "We went to this Ethiopian restaurant, and then I thought that was the end of the date, and then she was like, 'I'm finna go see a movie.' I was like, 'With who?' She was like, 'By myself,' and then I invited myself. And now we here with a baby," he said. He and Bailey went public with their relationship in March 2022 After sparking romance rumors in January 2022, Halle and DDG went Instagram official in March 2022 as the rapper posted a birthday tribute for the Chloe x Halle singer. In June 2022, the two made their red carpet debut as a couple at the BET Awards. That August, Halle briefly opened up about DDG during her Essence cover story. When asked whether she's in love with the rapper, Halle said, "Yes. For sure I am." The duo has made a number of public appearances together since, including attending the 2022 WACO Wearable Art Gala, sitting front row at Milan Fashion Week in 2023 and attending the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in March 2023. Bailey appeared in one of his music videos In addition to showing their love on the red carpet, the two have also shown their love on the small screen. In August 2022, Halle starred in DDG's sultry music video for "If I Want You," where they were shown locking lips. "Everyone go watch 'if i want you' by @ddg it's out now ❣️you might see a familiar face 🤭💗," the singer and actress wrote in an Instagram post to promote the video. This wasn't the last time Bailey was involved with DDG's music. The rapper seemed to reference Bailey in his song "Famous" with lyrics that appeared to address the actress kissing her costar Jonah Hauer-King in The Little Mermaid. "Filmin' a movie now you kissing dudes / You know I love you a lot / I don't give a f--- if that s--- for promo / I don't wanna see this s--- no more," DDG sang. His lyrics also seemed to reference Bailey holding hands with Hauer-King at the U.K. premiere of the movie. "Why is y'all holdin' hands in the photo? / You know I'm insecure, that's a no-no," he continued. He's super supportive of Bailey's career DDG couldn't help but gush about his girlfriend when he spoke with PEOPLE about her role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. "I'm very proud of her. And I'm just happy to see it," DDG said. "I feel like sometimes I'm even more excited than anybody else. Just seeing it and seeing everything that she dreamed of coming to life, it's really dope." He can see himself proposing to Bailey During an interview on The Breakfast Club in November 2022, DDG joked that he's already "married" to Bailey and added that he'd "eventually" like to make it official. "I've never been with nobody that's, like, really motivated me like she do," he said. He and Bailey welcomed a baby boy in 2023 In January 2024, Bailey announced the birth of her and DDG's first child together, son Halo. "Even though we’re a few days into the new year, the greatest thing that 2023 could have done for me, was bring me my son.. welcome to the world my halo the world is desperate to know you," she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the newborn's hand. In a separate Instagram post, DDG called Halo his "biggest blessing by far."