Buddy (rapper)

Simmie Sims III (born September 10, 1993), known professionally as Buddy, is an American rapper, singer, dancer and actor. Previously on the I Am Other label, he is now signed to Cool Lil Company and RCA Records. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Smino and Guapdad 4000.[2]

Buddy
Birth nameSimmie Sims III[1]
Born (1993-09-10) September 10, 1993
Compton, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • dancer
  • actor
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websitecoollilcompany.com

Early life

Introduced to gospel and soul by his father, a preacher and choir director, he began his performance career at age seven by starring in plays and musicals including The Wiz, Oliver With a Twist, and Dreamgirls at Amazing Grace Conservatory. "I grew up as a full-fledged entertainer rather than just somebody trying to rap about stuff," he has said about that experience.[3] When the school became too expensive he withdrew, later attending a high school performing arts program in Long Beach, California.

Musical career

2009–2015: Career beginnings and signing to Star Trak

As a teenager he began recording his own material. In 2009, he got a break when TV music supervisor Scott Vener showed Pharrell Williams an early effort by the 15-year-old Buddy. Impressed, Pharrell began to work with the teenager, and signed him to his I Am Other creative collective and record label.[4] When Buddy was 18, his "Awesome Awesome" was produced by The Neptunes and Pharrell made an appearance in the video.

On March 28, 2012 he released the single "Staircases" produced by Pharrell and featuring Kendrick Lamar.[5]

In 2014, continuing to work with Pharrell, he released his debut mixtape, Idle Time, which featured Kendrick Lamar, Miley Cyrus, Freddie Gibbs, Robin Thicke, Sir Michael Rocks, and others, with production from Pharrell Williams, Chuck Inglish, Boi-1da, Cardo, Blaq, and Polyester among others.[6]

He then embarked on a series of collaborations with various artists, including Nipsey Hussle, BJ The Chicago Kid, Chance the Rapper, Wiz Khalifa, and A$AP Rocky.

2016–17: Ocean & Montana and Magnolia

In November 2016 he put out his own single, "Shine," produced by Mike & Keys and DJ Khalil. It was premiered by hip-hop/R&B tastemaker Carl Chery, with a video directed by Andy Hines featuring a cameo from Nipsey Hussle. The song garnered over 2.7 million streams on Spotify, 12 million on Apple Music, and over 2 million views on YouTube. Buddy described the single as "a ghetto hymn acknowledging inevitable death while showing gratitude for abundant life."[7] On August 17, he released his second EP Magnolia which included features from Boogie, Wiz Khalifa, and Kent Jamz.

His EP Ocean & Montana, produced by the Haitian-Canadian DJ and producer Kaytranada, was released May 19, 2017 by Cool LIL Company. It featured the single "Find Me." The EP's title refers to the intersection in Santa Monica where he lived, sought inspiration, and began collaborating with Kaytranada after leaving his parents' home.[8]

2018–present: Harlan & Alondra

He released his debut full-length album Harlan & Alondra on Cool Lil Company/RCA Records on July 20, 2018. It includes the singles "Black" feat. A$AP Ferg, "Trouble on Central," "Hey Up There" feat. Ty Dolla $ign, and "Trippin'" feat. Khalid. His aim, he has said, was "to paint a well-rounded portrait of my home city", Los Angeles.

In spring 2018 he joined Joey Badass on the Amerikkkana Tour.[9] His summer 2018 tour with A$AP Ferg included performances at Chicago's Lollapalooza festival.

On April 17, 2020, he released a collaboration album with Kent Jamz, titled Janktape Vol. 1.[10]

Discography

Albums
List of albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Harlan & Alondra[11]
Superghetto[12]
  • Released: March 25, 2022
  • Label: RCA
  • Format: CD, Digital download

Collaboration albums
List of collab albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Janktape Vol. 1
(with Kent Jamz)

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Album details
Ocean & Montana
(with Kaytranada)
Magnolia
  • Released: August 25, 2017
  • Label: i Am Other, Columbia
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Album details
Idle Time
  • Released: February 25, 2014
  • Label: i Am Other, Columbia
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Rhy.
[13]
"Hey Up There" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) 2018 38 Harlan & Alondra
"Trippin'" (featuring Khalid)[11] —
"Black" (featuring A$AP Ferg) —
"Pasadena" (featuring Tinashe) 2021 — 333
Song Year Peak chart positions

US

R&B

[14]

 Album
"Favorite"
(Leon Thomas III featuring Buddy)[15]		 2018 17 Genesis

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Dope Dealer" 2012 Reese Reese vs. The World II
"Contact" 2013 Chuck Inglish Droptops
"Dangerous" Chuck Inglish, Jane Jupiter
"Wakebake" Reese DSNRTRAPN
"Song to Fuck To" YMTK, Royce the Choice MPL 2: Murphy Pan's Labyrinth
"Elevators" 2014 Chuck Inglish, Polyester the Saint Convertibles
"Status Symbol" Nipsey Hussle Mailbox Money
"One Time" Sir Michael Rocks Banco
"New Money" 2015 — Dope (Music From The Motion Picture)
"Man Down" 2016 BJ the Chicago Kid, Constantine In My Mind
"Church" BJ the Chicago Kid, Chance the Rapper
"This Is Your Moment" DJ Quik, Problem, Wiz Khalifa, JP Cali Smoov Rosecrans
"I Swear" Warm Brew Diagnosis
"Status Symbol 2" Nipsey Hussle Slauson Boy 2
"Way Hii" ASAP Mob, ASAP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, BJ the Chicago Kid Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends
"Could You Be Love" 2017 Moxie Raia 1996
"Pullup" Cousin Stizz One Night Only
"In-N-Out" Budgie, Chris O'Bannon, Emmavie The Good Book Vol. 2
"CPT" Budgie, Jay Worthy
"Status Symbol 3"[16] 2018 Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap
"Cry" Alison Wonderland Awake
"Lowkey" Cosmo's Midnight What Comes Next
"Don't Hit Me Right Now"[17] 2019 Bas, Yung Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000 & Cozz Revenge of the Dreamers III
"Wells Fargo"[17] JID, Guapdad 4000, EarthGang
"Costa Rica"[17] Bas, JID, Guapdad 4000, Reese Laflare, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, Ski Mask the Slump God
"1993"[17] Cozz, Smino, EarthGang, JID, J. Cole
"Get Away"[18] BJ the Chicago Kid, JID, Kent Jamz 1123
"Not Numb"[19] Childish Major, Olu Dirt Road Diamond
"Late Night"[20] 2020 Cozz, Omen, Landstrip Chip Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut
"Passcode"[20] Ari Lennox, Smino, Mez, Guapdad 4000
"No Chorus"[20] Bas, Guapdad 4000, Dreezy
"Spaceship" Asher Roth Flowers on the Weekend
"Sleepless Nights" Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, Reuben Vincent, Phoelix Dinner Party: Dessert

References
  1. "He is Other – Pharrell's New Artist Buddy, & Why He's "Awesome Awesome"". 15 November 2011.
  2. Duck, Steve. "Interview: Keanu Beats is the Producer Reppin for Australia on 'Revenge Of The Dreamers III'". Complex. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  3. Esteban Serrano / Freddie Jackson, "PHARRELL-SIGNED RAPPER BUDDY TALKS 'SHINE' VIDEO & NEW ALBUM: 'I JUST FEEL LIKE A LIGHT WALKING AROUND'," Fuse, 21 November 2016 (retrieved 22 May 2017)
  4. XXL Staff, "Pharrell Introduces His New Artist Buddy, Premieres Video," XXL Magazine, 20 October 2011 (retrieved 19 May 2017)
  5. Rose Lilah, "Buddy - Staircases Feat. Kendrick Lamar (Prod. By Pharrell) (New Song)," Hot New Hiphop, 28 March 2012 (retrieved 19 May 2017)
  6. Rose Lilah, "Buddy - Idle Time (New Mixtape)," Hot New HipHop, 24 February 2014 (retrieved 18 May 2017)
  7. Lakin Starling, "Buddy Wants To Beam While He’s Still Here In The “Shine” Video," The Fader, 15 November 2016 (retrieved 19 May 2017)
  8. Lakin Starling, "Buddy Floats In His Quest For Solace In The "Find Me" Video," The Fader, 19 May 2017 (retrieved 19 May 2017)
  9. Wandera Hussein, "Joey Bada$$ Announces Amerikkkana Tour Dates," Billboard, 15 Feb 2018 (retrieved 24 July 2018)
  10. "Buddy and Kent Jamz Release Joint Project 'Janktape Vol. 1'". Complex. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  11. Hussein, Wandera (July 9, 2018). "Listen to Buddy's new song "Trippin" with Khalid". The Fader. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  12. "Buddy - Superghetto". Apple Music. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  13. "Buddy Chart History: Rhythmic 40". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  14. "Leon Thomas III Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  15. "Favorite (feat. Buddy) - Single by Leon Thomas III on Apple Music". Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  16. "Status Symbol 3 (Feat. Buddy) by Nipsey Hussle".
  17. "Listen to J. Cole's Dreamville's New Album Ft. Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples, and More". Pitchfork. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  18. "Stream BJ The Chicago Kid's "1123" LP Featuring Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, J.I.D, Offset & More". HipHopDX. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  19. "Dirt Road Diamond by Childish Major".
  20. "Dreamville Share "Revenge Of The Dreamers III Deluxe" Tracklist & Cover Art". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
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