DLow

DLow
Birth name Daryon Simmons
Also known as Bop King
Born (1995-08-15) August 15, 1995
Austin, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Dancer
  • rapper
  • choreographer
Years active 2014–present

Daryon Simmons (born August 15, 1995[1]), better known by his stage name, DLOW[lower-alpha 1], is an American hip-hop dancer, rapper, and choreographer from Austin, Chicago, Illinois. "DLOW" is an acronym that stands for "Determined, Loyal, Optimistic, and Willing to Learn".[2] He became known through his bopping, a type of dance. He has been a regular collaborator of fellow hip-hop dancer and rapper, Lil Kemo (also known as "King Kemo"[3]), since 2013 when they made their first video together. His single, "Bet You Can't Do It Like Me" charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015.

Career

DLOW noticed a dance called "bop" that was becoming popular in Chicago. He then started doing it with his own style.[2] He met Travon Biggs, better known as Lil Kemo, around 2013 and they started dancing together. The first video they made together is called "Dlow and Kemo (Episode 1)", published in May 2013.[4] They gained local popularity and received offers to dance at school functions, parties, and in music videos.[5] DLOW was previously signed by Atlantic Records and now is DLOW is independently managed by Olivia and PJ.[6]

"I'm not happy that it's ["The Dlow Shuffle"] blown up, I'm happy that it's given people something to do. Instead of ...a set of kids [getting] together in a group talking about what they're going to do to this guy or how they're going to do this to this guy, they get together in a group and say, 'let's do The Dlow Shuffle, let's bop.' I'm glad I can turn my city around in a positive way, and that's my whole mindset."

—DLOW, 2014 interview with iGrind[7]

He released the music video for his single, "The Dlow Shuffle", in December 2013, which is also a dance that features bopping.[8] He and Lil Kemo got to perform it with Steve Harvey on his talk show and with the anchors of Fox 32's "Good Day Chicago" in January 2014.[5][9] "The DLow Shuffle part 2" was released in September 2014.[10] He released the music video for his single, "Bet You Can't Do It Like Me" in September 2015. Its accompanying challenge received many renditions online and it charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in November.[11]

Dancing influences

DLOW has listed the dance moves of Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Omarion, and Usher as inspirations. Popular dances like the “Cha Cha Slide”, and the “Cupid Shuffle” influenced him to make his own.[2]

Personal life

DLOW has five siblings. He never met his father and his mother struggled with a drug addiction.[2][12]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
U.S.
 US R&B
2015 "Bet You Can't Do It Like Me" 45 16

I Am DLOW - EP

Notes

  1. ↑ Capitalization varies.

References

  1. ↑ "I Am DLOW on Twitter". Twitter. _IAmDLOW. August 15, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About | DLow". Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ Galil, Leor (August 20, 2015). "Prepare for Friday's Super Fiesta and catch up on all things bop related". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ Galil, Leor (October 1, 2013). "Bopping makes its move". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Borrelli, Christopher (January 31, 2014). "Chicago dancer Lil Kemo ready for bigger breakthrough". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ "I AM DLOW Staff". officialbopkingdlow.com. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  7. ↑ "iGrind Exclusive Interview with Dlow". YouTube. iGRIND4REAL. February 1, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ Galil, Leor (December 13, 2013). "Learn how to bop from the masters". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Galil, Leor (January 17, 2014). "Steve Harvey tries to bop". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ Turner, David (September 15, 2014). "Bop King DLow is Back with "DLow Shuffle Part 2"". The FADER. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ Galil, Leor (December 12, 2015). "Bop king Dlow dances up the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Bet You Can't Do It Like Me'". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bop King DLOW - Respond To Violence - GSU". YouTube. IAmDLOW. February 18, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
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