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Dax (rapper)

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Dax
Birth nameDaniel Nwosu Jr.
Born (1994-03-22) March 22, 1994 (age 30)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
  • actor
  • poet
Years active2016–present
Labels

Daniel Nwosu Jr. (born March 22, 1994), professionally known by his stage name Dax (often stylized in all caps), is a Nigerian-Canadian rapper and singer-songwriter.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Daniel Nwosu Jr. was born to immigrant Nigerian parents on March 22, 1994, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Nwosu grew up in Ottawa and moved to Wichita, Kansas to attend university. Nwosu attended Casper College in Casper, Wyoming during the 2013-2014 school year, where he played on the basketball team. He later transferred to play Division-1 basketball for the Montana Grizzlies during the 2014-15 season. He then attended the Newman University, where he played guard for the Newman Jets basketball team.[4][5]

He initially wrote poetry and was a motivational speaker prior to pursuing a rap career. During his time at Newman University, he worked as a janitor, a job where he says that he was able to develop his poetry and rap skills during downtime.[6][7]

Career

[edit]

After receiving positive feedback from a basketball teammate about his poetry in 2016, he began releasing and promoting music through his SoundCloud account, releasing his mixtape 2pac Reincarnation Vol 2: As Told By Dax in 2017. He rose to prominence after the release of the official music video for his song "Cash Me Outside" featuring Danielle Bregoli.[8]

In August 2018, he released his first EP, entitled It’s Different Now which features guest appearances from other rappers including O.T. Genasis and Futuristic. The following year, he was featured on Hopsin's song "You Should've Known".[9] In June 2019, Dax went on "It goes up" tour with Tech N9ne and then later announced his first solo headlining tour "It's Different Now Tour" via Instagram and embarked on his tour in October across America and Canada.[10]

In 2020, he released a 7-track EP, I'll Say It for You, which received generally positive reviews and was preceded by the single "Dear God".[11][12] Later that year he released two more singles, "Faster" featuring Tech N9ne and "I don't want another sorry" featuring Trippie Redd.[13][14][15] In April 2020, he released the single "Coronavirus (State Of Emergency)", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

In July 2021, Dax released a sequel to "Dear God" called "Child of God".[17] In the following month, he announced his debut studio album and released "Propaganda" featuring Tom Macdonald as album's lead single.[18] The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart and at number 9 on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart.[19][20] In early October 2021, album's third single "40 Days, 40 Nights" featuring Nasty C was released.[21][22] On October 15, 2021, his debut studio album Pain Paints Paintings was released digitally through Living Legends Entertainment.[23]

On March 11, 2022, he released a new single titled "Dear Alcohol", which was written about alcoholism. It debuted at number 9 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and at 28 on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart, and was eventually certified Platinum by both the RIAA and Music Canada.[24][25][26] On June 10, 2022, he released a country music crossover remix for the song featuring vocals from country singer Elle King.[27] In August of that same year, Dax signed a record deal with Records, LLC and Columbia Records.[28]

He received a nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards.[29] In October 2023, Dax released a country music crossover remix of his song "To Be a Man" featuring Darius Rucker, the song topped the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart in the United States.[30][31]

In April 2024, Dax announced he was opening for Joyner Lucas's Not Now I'm Busy tour, which he became a headliner in. In that same year, he performed at several state fairs.[32][33]

Artistry

[edit]

Style and influence

[edit]

Initially, Dax did not take rap seriously because of his interest in basketball but there was a phase where he grew up listening to Tupac. He was never really a hip-hop enthusiast but he started listening when Drake took over the scene. Dax has also cited artists like 50 Cent and Lil Wayne. He compares his style to artists such as Tech N9ne, Eminem, and Hopsin.[8]

Feuds

[edit]

KSI

[edit]

On November 18, 2018, KSI appeared on the What's Good? Podcast, where he called out various internet rappers. In the interview KSI said both Quadeca and Dax were worse than him at rapping. Quadeca went on to post a full diss track against him on November 23, 2018, called "Insecure". Shortly after, Dax also responded with his own diss track, which was a remix of Eminem's diss track toward Machine Gun Kelly, "Killshot". KSI then responded to Dax and Quadeca's track with a reaction video, also accompanied by a diss track called "Ares".[citation needed]

He challenged Dax to a private boxing match, with Dax accepting but repeatedly delaying it. He then later appeared on Deji's diss track "Unforgivable" against KSI.[34][35]

Tory Lanez

[edit]

On January 24, 2019, Tory Lanez claimed through a tweet that he is the "best rapper alive".[36] Dax responded by posting a video on YouTube, featuring a diss track titled "I'm Not Joyner Or Don Q" aimed at him.[37] Lanez posted a video on Instagram in response in which he pressures Dax to apologize for the diss track. Dax addressed the situation in interviews with DJ Akademiks, Impaulsive, and No Jumper, saying that apologizing was the right thing to do because he did not want a fight to break out.[38]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Pain Paints Paintings[39]
From a Man's Perspective
  • Released: December 6, 2024
  • Label: Records Label / Columbia Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title EP details
It's Different Now
  • Released: August 22, 2018
  • Label: Daniel Dax Entertainment
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming
I'll Say It for You
  • Released: March 13, 2020
  • Label: Living Legends Entertainment, RBC, BMG
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
What Is Life?
  • Released: August 18, 2023
  • Label: Records Label / Columbia
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

[edit]
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Album details
2Pac Reincarnation Volume 2: As Told By Dax
  • Released: January 15, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles as a lead artist,
showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Bub.
[24] 		US
Cou.
[25] 		US
R&B/HH
"Be Your Fucking Self" 2017 — — — Non-album singles
"Self Proclaimed" — — —
"Snapchat" — — —
"I Want" — — —
"Plan B" 2018 — — —
"Don't Wanna Die Today" — — —
"YourWorthIt.org"
(with Hopsin) 		— — —
"No Respect"[40]
(featuring Futuristic) 		— — — It's Different Now
"She Cheated Again" — — — Non-album singles
"Dear Black Santa" — — —
"You Should've Known"
(with Hopsin) 		2019 — — —
"Self Proclaimed 2" — — —
"My Last Words" — — —
"No Cappin" — — — It's Different Now
"All Night Long" — — —
"Did It First" — — —
"Wack Ass Rappers" — — — Non-album singles
"Did It First" — — —
"I Been That"
(featuring Emiway Bantai) 		— — —
"Wack Ass Rappers 2" — — —
"Killshot 2" — — —
"Dear God" — — — I'll Say It for You
"Self Proclaimed 3" — — — Non-album singles
"Dear Santa" — — —
"Book of Revelations" 2020 — — — I'll Say It for You
"Joker" — — — Non-album singles
"Godzilla" (Remix)[42] — — —
"Black Lives Matter" — — —
"Faster"
(featuring Tech N9ne) 		— — —
"Gotham" — — —
"Joker Returns" — — —
"Grinch" — — —
"I Don't Want Another Sorry"
(featuring Trippie Redd) 		— — —
"Coronavirus" — — —
"Killshot 3" 2021 — — —
"Self Proclaimed 4" — — —
"Apocalypse" — — —
"Dear Mom" — — —
"Rap Demi-God"[43] — — —
"The Next Rap God" — — —
"The Next Rap God 2" — — —
"Why So Serious" — — —
"Propaganda"
(featuring Tom MacDonald) 		— — —[a] Pain Paints Paintings
"40 Days 40 Nights"
(featuring Nasty C)[44] 		— — —
"Dear Alcohol" 2022 9 28 — What Is Life?
"Depression" — — — Non-album single
"To Be a Man"
(solo or featuring Darius Rucker) 		2023 12 32 — What Is Life?
"God's Eyes" — — —
"The Abyss" — — —
"A Real Man" 2024 — — — From a Man's Perspective
"Lonely Dirt Road" — — —
[edit]
List of singles as a featured,
showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"The One"
(Jon Jupiter featuring Dax) 		2017 non-album singles
"Checks"
(Millian featuring Dax)
"Thank God"
(Alectra featuring Dax) 		2018
"Ain't Ready for Us"
(James Zoudy featuring Dax)
"Believe"
(DizzyEight featuring Dax and Ali Tomineek)
"Dedicated"
(The Jackal featuring Dax)
"On My Feet"
(Bizkit featuring Dax, Roshon and Wav3pop)
"Set Off"
(HipaGriff featuring Dax and Yung Swift)
"Highlight"
(Kanino featuring Dax and Stitches)
"Situations"
(Pretty Russell featuring Dax)
"Trilla (Halloween)"
(Fendi Frost featuring Dax)
"Unforgivable"
(Deji featuring Jallow, Dax and Crypt)
"Dream Chaser"
(Scru Face Jean featuring Dax) 		2019
"Don't Fold"
(Nix featuring Dax)
"Four Horsemen"
(Crypt featuring Quadeca, Dax and Scru Face Jean)
"War!"
(Quadeca featuring Dax) 		Voice Memos
"MAGA"
(PeacefulPinder featuring Dax and Mica) 		non-album singles
"Perspective"
(AlfhaSam featuring Luix and Dax)
"Deadly Combination"
(Crazy Peppsta featuring Dax)
"Man Down"
(CHVSE featuring Dax and PFV)
"Feel It in My Veins"
(BigNik featuring Dax)
"Another Day"
(T. Chandy featuring Dax)
"Everything"
(Enkay47 featuring Dax)
"I Been That"
(EMIWAY BANTAI featuring Dax)}
  1. ^ "Propaganda" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart.[19]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref
2023 CCMA Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year — Nominated [47]
Top Selling Canadian Single Of The Year "Dear Alcohol" Won [48]
2024 Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year — Pending [49]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dax". RECORDS CO. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Dax". Columbia Records. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. ^ II, C. Vernon Coleman (30 March 2020). "Dax's Pitch for 2020 XXL Freshman". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  4. ^ "Daniel Nwosu Jr. - Men's Basketball". Newman University Athletics. Archived from the original on 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  5. ^ "How Nigerian-Canadian rapper Dax went from shooting hoops to selling records". Rolling Out. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Janitor, musician, basketball star, Newman's Daniel Nwosu Jr. does it all". kansas. Archived from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  7. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Dax: I was a Night Janitor for 2.5 Years, it's The Best Job for New Rappers". VladTV. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  8. ^ a b Berry, Peter A. (18 March 2020). "The Break Presents: Dax". XXL Magazine. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ Jahmal, Karlton (January 30, 2019). "Hopsin & Dax Step Into The World of "Bird Box" For "You Should've Known" Visuals". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  10. ^ Mims, Taylor (28 August 2019). "Rising Hip-Hop Artist Dax Sets First Headlining Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Dax Takes the Shot With New EP "I'll Say It For You"". Complex. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  12. ^ Callwood, Brett (26 November 2019). "Dax Talks Going Viral and Having Faith". LA Weekly.
  13. ^ "Dax & Tech N9ne Form Unholy Union On "Faster"". HotNewHipHop. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. ^ HCamrone (3 January 2021). "Rapper Dax enlists Trippie Redd in new song "I Don't Want Another Sorry"". NOW Entertainment.
  15. ^ "How Dax and Trippie Redd Linked Up for New Single "I Don't Want Another Sorry"". Complex. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  16. ^ Kaufman, Gil (15 April 2020). "Dax Go In on COVID-19 in Hard-Hitting 'Coronavirus' Rap". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Dax Starts The Road To His Debut Album With The 'Child Of God' Video". UPROXX. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  18. ^ "DAX Releases Propaganda Featuring Tom Macdonald The First Single From His Debut Album | Slikouronlife". Slikouronlife. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  19. ^ a b "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Rap Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Nasty C stuns on new collab with rapper Dax". GQ. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Rappers Nasty C & Dax set the net ablaze with '40 days, 40 nights' track". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Dax Delivers Fresh Debut Album, "Pain Paints Paintings"". HotNewHipHop. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Dax Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Dax Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Dax Reflects On His Relationship With Liquor On "Dear Alcohol"". HotNewHipHop. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Dear Alcohol feat. Elle King - Single by Dax". Spotify. Records Label, LLC / Columbia. June 10, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  28. ^ "How Dax combined faith, honesty and poetry into a 'recipe for healing'". CBC. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  29. ^ "2023 CCMA Awards Nominations, Performers Announced". iHeartRadio Canada, July 13, 2023.
  30. ^ Fuentes, Emily (1 February 2024). "Dax Talks Working With Darius Rucker, The Impact Their Track "To Be A Man" Has Had & More". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Billboard Country Update - November 6, 2023" (PDF). Billboard. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  32. ^ Staff, Democrat (2024-03-20). "Hip-hop & rap artists Ludacris, Dax to perform at Missouri State Fair". Sedalia Democrat. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  33. ^ Rish, Jessica. "Crossover artist Jelly Roll shares stories of his life at the Iowa State Fair". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  34. ^ "KSI confirms next Youtube boxing fight and opponent - and fans love it". Mirror. 25 February 2019.
  35. ^ "KSI and rapper Dax arrange boxing match during heated argument". Dexerto. 24 February 2019.
  36. ^ "Tory Lanez Tweets Then Deletes Apology For Saying He Was The Best Rapper Alive". HipHopDX. 7 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Tory Lanez Runs Up On Dax Following Diss Record: "Apologize, Bro"". HipHopDX. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  38. ^ "Canadian Rapper Dax Talks About Tory Lanez Pulling Up and Demanding Apology". Complex. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  39. ^ Paul "Big Homie" Duong (15 October 2021). "Album: Dax 'Pain Paints Paintings'". Rap Radar. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  40. ^ "Dax - "No Respect" ft. Futuristic (Official Music Video)". Dax. September 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  41. ^ "Canadian certifications – Dax". Music Canada. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Dax Unleashes Fiery Remix Video for Eminem's 'Godzilla'". Billboard. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  43. ^ Cho, Regina (2021-01-14). "Dax remixes Eminem's "Rap God"". REVOLT. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  44. ^ "Rappers Nasty C & Dax set the net ablaze with '40 days, 40 nights' track". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  45. ^ a b "American certifications – Dax". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Canadian certifications – Dax". Music Canada. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  47. ^ "2023 CCMA Awards Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. July 13, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023.
  48. ^ "Official 2023 CCMA Awards Presented by TD Winners". Canadian Country Music Association. September 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023.
  49. ^ "2024 CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
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