The livestreaming industry has become a global stage where people can showcase their talents, build an audience, and even rise to fame. Hundreds of creators have already walked this path, and every year brings a new wave of standout livestreaming stars.
The Streamer Awards 2025 are just around the corner, set to take place in Los Angeles and celebrate the year’s top creators. In this article, we take a closer look at Darryl Dwayne “DDG” Granberry Jr. — a well-known American streamer and musician who earned two nominations at this year’s event: Best Music Streamer and Best Breakout Streamer.
Early years of DDG
DDG, short for Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., is an American rapper, streamer, and YouTuber. He was born on October 10, 1997, in Pontiac, Michigan. He attended International Tech Academy, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class.
DDG in 2019 / Photo: genius.com
After high school, he enrolled at Central Michigan University, but he dropped out shortly before his sophomore year when one of his videos went viral. Following his decision to leave college, DDG moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue a full-time career as an entertainer and YouTuber.
In 2014, DDG’s 21-year-old brother, Darion Breckenridge, was shot and killed in his car. The killers were never found. Four years later, in a 2018 interview on DJ Vlad’s YouTube channel, DDG said he knows who was responsible for his brother’s death. The tragedy pushed him to distance himself from “street life” and focus on building a creative career instead.
From that point on, DDG devoted himself entirely to creative work. Before he ever got into streaming, he had already found success in music and entertainment. Today, he runs several YouTube channels with a combined audience of more than 10 million subscribers, where he primarily shares music videos and vlogs. His livestreams, however, take place on Twitch and Kick.
Halle Bailey and DDG in 2023 / Photo: (Scott Garfitt / Invision / Associated Press)
DDG shares a child with singer Halle Bailey, though the couple ended their relationship in October 2024 after three years together.
DDG’s musical career
DDG showed an interest in music from a young age, making tracks in the studio where his father worked as an audio engineer. In 2017, he gained attention with songs like the diss track “Big Boat”, aimed at Lil Yachty, and collaborations with producers like Zaytoven and artists such as Famous Dex. His song “Lettuce” went viral on YouTube, drawing attention from major outlets like WorldstarHipHop.
Same year DDG released his debut EP, Take Me Serious, featuring the single “Givenchy,” which garnered over 25 million views on YouTube and was named a “Bout to Blow” track by Complex. Following this success, he signed a record deal with Epic Records. Subsequent releases, including the EP Sorry 4 the Hold Up and his debut album Valedictorian, further cemented his place in the music industry.
DDG / Photo: Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press
His 2020 single “Moonwalking in Calabasas” became his first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and was later certified platinum. DDG continued to release popular singles and collaborations, including a joint mixtape Die 4 Respect with OG Parker, earning him a spot on the 2021 XXL Freshman List.
In 2022, DDG released the single “Elon Musk” featuring Gunna, notable for being the first music video shot using NASA’s zero-gravity training. Later that year, he dropped his second studio album, It’s Not Me It’s You, featuring artists such as Gunna, NLE Choppa, Polo G, Kevin Gates, and Babyface Ray. In 2022, it was announced that DDG had made the Forbes 2023 30 Under 30 list for music.
DDG’s livestreaming achievements
DDG created his Twitch channel in 2016, but it stayed largely inactive for years. He started streaming more regularly at the end of 2022, though breaks of several weeks or even months were still common. It wasn’t until 2025 that his streams became nearly a daily occurrence.
On Twitch, DDG’s content primarily revolves around music and IRL streams. He rarely hosts traditional gaming sessions but often streams in the Just Chatting category and collaborates with other popular creators, including Adin Ross, Félix “xQc” Lengyel, and Nick “Lacy” Fosco.
DDG and Adin Ross / Photo: PontiacMadeDDG
During his streams, DDG often gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his music creation, handling production and mixing live. He sometimes runs extended streaming events, like HIT-A-THONE, which lasted an entire week in March 2025.
DDG also enjoys sharing his travels: in 2025, he visited cities across the U.S. and Europe, as well as Japan and the UAE, and even spent several days at Paris Fashion Week. Showcasing his lifestyle has become a core part of his channel’s content.
A major milestone in DDG’s livestreaming career was his participation in Streamer University, a project organized by Kai Cenat. During this event, DDG’s stream reached over 207,000 concurrent viewers, setting a new personal record. He also had one of the standout streams at Streamer Prom 2025 in June, drawing more than 109,000 viewers at the same time.
DDG and India Love at Streamer Prom 2025 / Photo: instagram.com/complexmusic
Besides Twitch, DDG also streams on Kick, where he primarily focuses on online casinos and promotes the Stake platform. His Twitch channel boasts over 2 million followers, while his Kick channel currently has around 70,000.
In 2025, DDG ranked fifth among the most-watched American streamers in Twitch’s Music category. The number-one spot went to Maxwell Elliot “plaqueboymax” Scrotum Dent, who is also his competitor in the Music category at the Streamer Awards 2025.
Winners of the Streamer Awards 2025 will be announced on December 6 in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Theatre. The event will be hosted by Blaire “QTCinderella”. You can view the full list of nominations and participants here.
