DaniLeigh: 5 Things You Need To Know About The Artist Once Mentored By Prince
Truly immersing herself into the music business, 25-year-old DaniLeigh first popped on the scene at just 18-years-old when she directed a music video for Prince, her late mentor. Given complete creative control, DaniLeigh tied together Prince’s “Breakfast Can Wait,” visual project in 2013 and watched it become a worldwide success when it appeared on BET, MTV and REVOLT.
Before she became a sensation, the South Florida native moved to Los Angeles at 16-years-old. She started out as a dancer confidently knowing that one day she would parlay her singing talent into her secret weapon.
With hits like “Lil Bebe” (feat. Lil Baby), “Levi High” (feat. DaBaby), “Easy” (feat. Chris Brown) and her latest summer musical release “Dominican Mami” (feat. Fivio Foreign), DaniLeigh has become a singing and dancing phenomenon and sports a well-accomplished resume to prove it.
Here are five things you need to know about BET’s Amplified artist of the month
SHE CHOREOGRAPHED DABABY’S VIRAL MUSIC VIDEO “BOP”
DaBaby’s “BOP” video climbed to the charts in 2019 with seamless editing, hilarious characters, a cameo appearance by the sensational dancing group The Jabbawockeez and hard-hitting choreography thanks to DaniLeigh. The singer-songwriter partnered with choreographer Coach Cherry to put together a one-shot style video with three different dance flows.
SHE WAS MENTORED BY PRINCE BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH IN 2016
From letting her take the reigns on his “Breakfast Can Wait,” music video to instilling the value of hard work as her career began to blossom, the late, legendary Prince was more than just a guiding light to DaniLeigh.
“Just working hard because he was just such a hard worker. He taught me a lot about the industry, he told me to be careful of who I sign to make sure it's the right move,” DaniLeigh told Harper's Bazaar. “He told me just to never compromise for anything, stick to being who I am.”
SHE HAS A FLAWLESS YET SIMPLE SKINCARE ROUTINE
With a four-step skincare routine that keeps her face looking fresh, DaniLeigh turns to the Kiehl’s brand to get the job done. Using their Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, facial wash, exfoliator, and moisturizer, the singer-dancer listens to a few jams to vibe to during her beauty routine.
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"Sometimes, I'm on my R&B and chill vibe," she told Marie Claire. "I listen to Jhené Aiko or PartyNextDoor's new albums. Or, I'll listen to some throwbacks like Erykah Badu or Usher. Other days, I could be turning up listening to Future, Young Thug, or DaBaby."
SHE TOURED WITH DEF JAM's JEREMIH, YG, AND BIG SEAN AS DANCER
Before DaniLeigh made a name for herself as a Def Jam artist, she joined the family by dancing back up for some of the banner’s top artists while they were on tour. DaniLeigh said that once it was official that she signed with Def Jam as a singer, the roster welcomed her in with open arms.
SHE ONCE DEDICATED A SPECIAL YOUTUBE PERFORMANCE TO THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
Teaming up with Absolut Vodka, DaniLeigh created a special live four-song performance on her YouTube channel and dedicated the endeavor to the Equal Justice Initiative in support of its efforts to help racial inequality, mass incarceration and excessive punishment.
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“I’m thrilled to partner with [Absolut Vodka] for this live stream performance in support of the Equal Justice Initiative, who are doing incredible work for racial equity and justice in America,” she said.
Want to listen to the latest from DaniLeigh?
Check out DaniLeigh's BET playlist on Pandora here.
