DijahSB

DijahSB
Pop Montreal, September 23, 2021
Pop Montreal, September 23, 2021
Background information
Birth nameKahdijah Payne
Also known asKzaraw
BornToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresRap, Hip hop
Years active2011-present
LabelsAWAL
Websitehttps://dijahsb.com/

DijahSB is a rapper based in Toronto, Ontario. They released their debut album 2020 the Album in 2020,[1] followed by their second album Head Above the Waters in 2021.[2][3]

Career[edit]

Beginning rapping professionally in 2011, they previously released music under the name Kzaraw and was part of a rap group Class of 93, along with their producer Jermaine “Astro Mega” Clarke.[4][5] They later rebranded as DijahSB, with the name inspired by the Nike SB line of shoes.[6]

In 2016, they released the EP Manic Luxury independently.[7] They released their debut album in the summer of 2020.[8][9] After releasing their first album, DijahSB signed a distribution deal with AWAL, quit their retail job at the Apple Store, and became a full-time musician.[10] Their second album was released in April 2021, entitled Head Above the Waters.[11] In 2021, they were named one of 20 musicians in Now Magazine's "The sound of Toronto in 2021".[5] They have also collaborated with other artists including Harrison, Janette King and Brazilian rapper niLL.[12][13]

Head Above the Waters was shortlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize.[14] The single "Frontin' Like Pharrell" was a nominee for the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.[15] The most recent single Green Line featuring Terrell Morris is released in January 2022.[16]

Personal life[edit]

DijahSB identifies as non-binary.[17][6]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

  • 2020 the Album (2020)
  • Head Above the Waters (2021)
  • The Flower That Knew (2024)

EPs[edit]

  • Blue (2015)
  • Manic Luxury (2016)
  • Girls Give Me Anxiety (2020)
  • Tasty Raps, Vol. 1 (2021)
  • 2022 the EP (2022)
  • Tasty Raps Vol. 2 (2023)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Larry Mullin (July 29, 2020). "DijahSB's Relatable Rhymes Make '2020 the Album' as Timely as It Gets". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30.
  2. ^ Matt Bobkin (April 20, 2020). "DijahSB's Vulnerable Hip-Hop Will Keep Anyone's 'Head Above the Waters'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20.
  3. ^ Joe Hale (April 22, 2021). "Doing Overtime: DijahSB Is Embracing The Hustle". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22.
  4. ^ Safra Ducreay (February 5, 2018). "DijahSB Is One Verse Away From Victory". Vice Media. Archived from the original on 2021-06-03.
  5. ^ a b Trapunski, Richard; Adams, Kelsey; Ritchie, Kevin (May 4, 2021). "The sound of Toronto music in 2021: 20 artists you need to hear now". NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05.
  6. ^ a b Jesse Locke (October 6, 2020). "'I want what I'm saying to hold weight,' says rapper DijahSB; they also want you to dance". Xtra Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-12-05.
  7. ^ Leandre Nawej (July 28, 2016). "Dijah SB Manic Luxury". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07.
  8. ^ Patricia Karounos (March 23, 2021). "Noise Makers: The Canadian Musicians Who Are Turning Heads". Elle Canada. Archived from the original on 2021-03-23.
  9. ^ "Not 'Frontin' Like Pharrell': Dijah SB is the real deal". CBC Music. January 6, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06.
  10. ^ Sumiko Wilson (April 23, 2021). "The Tao of DijahSB". Complex Networks. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23.
  11. ^ Wren Graves (February 19, 2021). "DijahSB announces new album Head Above the Waters, shares "By Myself": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14.
  12. ^ Calum Slingerland (April 21, 2021). "Janette King and DijahSB Find Focus on "Cool Me Down"". Exclaim!.
  13. ^ Calum Slingerland (February 19, 2021). "DijahSB Details 'Head Above the Waters,' Shares Two New Songs". Exclaim!.
  14. ^ David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Megan LaPierre, "SOCAN Songwriting Prize Announces 2021 Finalists". Exclaim!, June 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Duale, Yasmin (February 2, 2022). "DijahSB Drops "Green Line," an Ode to Your Long TTC Commute". Complex. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  17. ^ "DijahSB's bio on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2013-12-10. Retrieved June 3, 2021.