Baker Boy

Biography

Danzal James Baker (born 10 October 1996), known professionally as Baker Boy, is a Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist. Baker Boy is known for performing original hip-hop songs incorporating both English and Yolŋu Matha and is one of the most prominent Aboriginal Australian rappers.
He was made Young Australian of the Year in 2019, and his song "Cool as Hell" was nominated in several categories in the 2019 ARIA Awards. In 2018, he won two awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards, and was named Male Artist of the Year in the National Dreamtime Awards. His debut album, Gela, was released on 15 October 2021 with the songs Cool as Hell and Meditjin. At the 2022 ARIA Music Awards he won five categories from seven nominations.

Early life

Danzal James Baker was born on 10 October 1996 in Darwin, Northern Territory, and grew up in the Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi and Maningrida. He has one brother. His totem is the Olive python, his moiety is Dhuwa and his skin name is Burralung / Gela boy.
He completed Year 12 at Shalom Christian College in Townsville, Queensland, before attending the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane. He developed his love of dancing and acting there, and was an original member of the Djuki Mala dance troupe, which toured Australia.
In 2016, Baker Boy featured in the video for "Yolngu Style", a modern contemporary dance music video created by a group of artists to inspire the world to dance, move and absorb the Yolngu style. That same year, Baker appeared on the "Indigenous" episode of the first series of Australian television series You Can't Ask That on ABC TV.

2017–2019: Career beginnings

In 2017, Baker Boy attracted national attention as the winner of the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) Competition. releasing the singles "Cloud 9" featuring Kian and "Marryuna" featuring Yirrmal in the same year. Both singles were featured in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2017.

In 2018, he performed with acts such as Yothu Yindi and Dizzee Rascal.
He performed as an opening act for American rapper 50 Cent in January 2018, along with A.B. Original.
His third single, "Mr. La Di Da Di" was released in April 2018. "Black Magic" featuring Dallas Woods, was released in July 2018.
The Yolngu rapper also performed at the Riddu Riđđu Festival in Norway in 2018, his first international performance outside of Australia.
On 25 January 2019, Baker released "Cool as Hell" Two days later, "Mr. La Di Da Di" was voted into Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.
In June 2019, Baker released "In Control". On 7 July, Baker Boy appeared on the children's television show, Play School, and performed "Hickory Dickory Dock" as part of NAIDOC Week.
Baker Boy was the headline act at the opening night of the 2019 Tarnanthi exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of South Australia on 17 October 2019, performing outside the Gallery on North Terrace, Adelaide.
Baker made his acting debut in True History of the Kelly Gang, released in cinemas in early January 2019 and later released on streaming service provider Stan from 26 January.

2020–2023: Gela

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baker spent time in the studio finishing off Gela. The time allowed him to focus and take things slow rather than the usual busy back-to-back shows and then straight into the studio schedule.
On 16 September 2020, Baker began teasing a new song on social media, posting images of himself alongside Dallas Woods and Sampa the Great. On 23 September 2020, Baker released the single "Better Days".
On 25 September 2021, Baker Boy performed as part of the pre-match entertainment at the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Perth Stadium.
On 15 October 2021, he released his debut studio album Gela, on which he is accompanied by Glen Gurruwiwi's vocals and Kevin Gurruwiwi playing yidaki on the track "Announcing the Journey".
Baker has performed in televised advertisements for Menulog and for Google.
Baker performed at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, as part of the handover to the Australian hosts of Victoria 2026.

2024–2025: Djandjay

In August 2024, Baker released the stand-along single "King".
In July 2025, Baker announced the forthcoming release of his second studio album, Djandjay.
In September 2025, Baker Boy released the punk-inspired single "Thick Skin", featuring a "Blak choir" of Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'Anh and Jada Weazel. He performed in the pre-match entertainment at the 2025 AFL grand final as well as accompanying Snoop Dogg on didgeridoo.

Personal life

As of 2020 Baker was residing in Bendigo, Victoria, with his partner Aurie Spencer-Gill and his bulldog.
He has said that he wants to be an inspiration to Indigenous kids living in remote communities, and to combat "shame."
A portrait of Baker, titled Rhythms of heritage, by Matt Adnate won the 2024 Packing Room Prize at the Archibald Prize awards.

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (known informally as the AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Baker Boy was nominated for three categories, and received three more nominations in 2020. He headed the leader board in 2022 with five wins from seven nominations.

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It commenced in 2005.

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

MTV Europe Music Awards

The MTV Europe Music Awards is an award presented by Viacom International Media Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. The commenced in 2005.

National Dreamtime Awards

The National Dreamtime Awards, (also known as The Dreamtime Awards), are an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community.

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music.

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.