JID
Destin Choice Route (born October 31, 1989), better known by his stage name JID (also stylized J.I.D), is an American rapper. Born and raised in Atlanta, he signed with J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2017. He formed the musical collective Spillage Village with EarthGang in 2010, and later formed the hip hop group Zoink Gang with Smino, Buddy, and Guapdad 4000. His fluent rapping style and usage of wordplay has been frequently acclaimed by music critics. JID gained recognition after self-releasing several projects, including Route of Evil (2012), Para Tu (2013) and DiCaprio (2015). His debut studio album, The Never Story (2017), was met with critical acclaim and contained the single "Never". His second album, DiCaprio 2 (2018), was supported by the singles "151 Rum" and "Off Deez" (with J. Cole), and saw continued critical acclaim. His 2021 single, "Enemy" (with Imagine Dragons)—the opening theme to Netflix's Arcane—peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song. His third and fourth albums, The Forever Story (2022) and God Does Like Ugly (2025), both received further acclaim and debuted within the Billboard 200's top 15; the former spawned the top 40 single "Surround Sound" (featuring 21 Savage and Baby Tate).
JID | |
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_(cropped).png) JID performing in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Destin Choice Route October 31, 1989 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern hip-hop |
| Occupations |
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| Works | |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels | |
| Management | SinceThe80s |
| Member of |
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| Children | 1 |
| Website | jidsv.com |
| Signature | |
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Destin Choice Route (born October 31, 1989), better known by his stage name JID (also stylized J.I.D), is an American rapper.[1][2] Born and raised in Atlanta, he signed with J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2017. He formed the musical collective Spillage Village with EarthGang in 2010, and later formed the hip hop group Zoink Gang with Smino, Buddy, and Guapdad 4000.[3] His fluent rapping style and usage of wordplay has been frequently acclaimed by music critics.
JID gained recognition after self-releasing several projects, including Route of Evil (2012), Para Tu (2013) and DiCaprio (2015). His debut studio album, The Never Story (2017), was met with critical acclaim and contained the single "Never".[4][5] His second album, DiCaprio 2 (2018), was supported by the singles "151 Rum" and "Off Deez" (with J. Cole), and saw continued critical acclaim.[6][7] His 2021 single, "Enemy" (with Imagine Dragons)—the opening theme to Netflix's Arcane—peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song. His third and fourth albums, The Forever Story (2022) and God Does Like Ugly (2025), both received further acclaim and debuted within the Billboard 200's top 15; the former spawned the top 40 single "Surround Sound" (featuring 21 Savage and Baby Tate).
Early life
[edit]Route was born in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents are Carl Louis Route Jr. and Kathy Jean Route.[8][9] The youngest of seven children, he adopted the moniker JID from his grandmother's nickname for him based on his "jittery" behavior.[10] Route grew up listening to Sly and the Family Stone and Earth, Wind & Fire before shifting to the 1990s New York hip-hop scene and rappers such as Jay-Z, Nas and Mobb Deep. He attended Stephenson High School, where he played football as a defensive back.[11][8] During his senior year he dislocated his hip.[12] He later accepted a full athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division I football at Hampton University. Route was redshirted his first year of eligibility and then played two seasons before he was kicked from the team for skipping practices.[13][14][15] Route eventually moved in with Doctur Dot and Johnny Venus, a popular rap duo with the stage name EarthGang who he met while at Hampton University in Virginia.[16]
Musical career
[edit]2010–2016: Career beginnings
[edit]JID released his first mixtape Cakewalk on May 18, 2010. Earlier that year, he formed Spillage Village with EarthGang, Hollywood JB, and Jordxn Bryant.[2] He released his second mixtape, Cakewalk 2 on June 29, 2011. He released his third mixtape, Route of All Evil on June 25, 2012, with guest features from relatively unheard artists EarthGang and Stillz. JID funded his music career working at call centers and delivering pizza before he was booked for live shows.[17][18] On October 22, 2013, his next mixtape was released titled Para Tu. The mixtape was later re-released on December 29, 2017.[19][20][21]
In 2014, he opened up with EarthGang and Bas on Ab-Soul's These Days Tour following the release of Spillage Village's first collaboration project, Bears Like This. On January 26, 2015, he released his first extended play DiCaprio EP.[22] On July 6, Spillage Village released their second collaboration project Bears Like This Too.[23] He also toured with Omen on the Elephant Eyes Tour and Bas on the Too High to Riot Tour. On December 2, 2016, Spillage Village released Bears Like This Too Much with features from J. Cole and Bas, and production from Mac Miller, Ducko Mcfli, Childish Major and J. Cole among others.[24]
2017: The Never Story
[edit]On February 20, 2017, it was announced that he had signed to J. Cole's Dreamville label, first releasing the single "Never". The full-length album, The Never Story was released on March 10, 2017. The album includes guest features from EarthGang, 6LACK, and Mereba, and production from J. Cole, Hollywood JB, Christo, and Childish Major, among others.[25][26] He later released three more music videos from the album: "D/vision", "Hereditary", and "EdEddnEddy".
He was also an opening act for J. Cole on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017 in the North American and European legs.[27] On October 10, JID appeared alongside rappers Cozz, Kodie Shane and Ali Tomineek in a cypher at the BET Hip Hop Awards.[28] In November 2017, JID co-headlined in his Never Had Shit Tour with EarthGang, and guests Lute, Chaz French, and Mereba. It included 15 dates in North America, and continued in 2018, with 19 dates in Europe.[29] On December 13, JID appeared on a remix with Foster The People and Saba called "Pay The Man".[30]
2018–2020: DiCaprio 2
[edit]In June 2018, he was featured on the cover of XXL's 2018 Freshman Class.[31] In July, he was featured on Denzel Curry's "Sirens" from Ta13oo, and was announced he would go on tour with Mac Miller and Thundercat. However, the tour was cancelled due to the passing of Mac Miller.[32] The first single for his second album was released on September 18, titled "151 Rum".[33] On October 3, 2018, JID premiered the song "Working Out" on A COLORS SHOW.[34] On his birthday, his second album DiCaprio 2 was announced with a release date of November 26, 2018, and he revealed the tracklist soon after.[35] The album's second official single, "Off Deez" featuring J. Cole, was released on November 6.[36] Other collaborators on the album include A$AP Ferg, 6LACK, Ella Mai, BJ the Chicago Kid, Method Man and Joey Bada$$, with production mainly coming from his in-house team of Christo, Hollywood JB, J. Cole and Elite, among others.[37]
DiCaprio 2 was released on November 26, 2018, to positive reviews and critical acclaim.[38][39] JID announced the first leg of his headlining Catch Me If You Can tour, which included 34 dates, beginning in January 2019.[40] The supporting acts were revealed to be Reason, Hardo, and Lou The Human. On February 9, JID's show in Ithaca, New York, was shut down by the police due to a visible crack forming in the ceiling underneath the venue where the concert was held.[41] On February 12, 2019, JID announced the second leg of his Catch Me If You Can tour. The tour included 26 dates that started in May, and featured supporting acts Saba, Deante' Hitchcock, and Mereba.[42]
In 2019, JID was part of the Dreamville compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III. The singles "Down Bad" and "Costa Rica" were certified gold by the RIAA.[43] In 2020, as part of Spillage Village, he was featured on the singles "End of Daze" and "Baptize", for their fourth collective album Spilligion.[44][45]
2021–2024: The Forever Story and planned Metro Boomin collaborative album
[edit]JID was featured on Doja Cat's song "Options", included on her Grammy-nominated third album, Planet Her.[46] He later collaborated with Imagine Dragons on the mega-hit[47] "Enemy"; it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100,[48] becoming his highest-charting song.[49]
JID teased his third album, The Forever Story, throughout 2021.[47] The first and lead single from the album, "Surround Sound" featuring 21 Savage and Baby Tate, was released on January 14, 2022.[50] On March 31, he appeared on the Dreamville compilation D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, on the songs "Stick" and "Barry From Simpson".[51] On August 9, JID released the second single from The Forever Story, titled "Dance Now", with Kenny Mason.[52]
The Forever Story was released on August 26, 2022, including guest appearances from Kenny Mason, EarthGang, 21 Savage, Baby Tate, Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, Yasiin Bey, Lil Wayne, Johntá Austin, Ravyn Lenae and Eryn Allen Kane.[53] On September 8, 2022, JID performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert.[54]
On March 28, 2023, American record producer Metro Boomin posted a picture on Twitter that had JID and Metro Boomin in a studio working on music, with the caption "Got a lot of new music coming but when me and @JIDsv drop". JID then would later confirm that he and Metro are working on a collaborative album.[citation needed] On September 1, JID released his third EP titled Blakkboyz present Half Doin Dope/Van Gogh, featuring Lil Yachty and BabyTron.[55] On October 13, JID was featured on Westside Gunn's song "Mamas PrimeTime," along with Conway the Machine off of Gunn's fifth studio album And Then You Pray for Me. On November 9, JID was featured on the opening of the video game Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
On July 12, 2024, JID was featured on Eminem's song "Fuel" off of his twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). On September 20, 2024, JID was featured on Katy Perry's song "Artificial" from her seventh studio album 143.
2025-present: God Does Like Ugly
[edit]On April 18, 2025, JID released the lead single "WRK" from his upcoming fourth studio album, God Does Like Ugly. The song was JID's first solo commercial release since 2022’s The Forever Story. He later announced that the album would be released on August 8, accompanied by a trailer.[56]
On July 4, 2025, JID released GDLU (Preluxe), after announcing it through a freestyle released on YouTube.[57] An EP featuring Eminem, Lil Yachty and 6LACK, it was a build-up to his upcoming album God Does Like Ugly, which featured four tracks that were supposed to be on the album, but were not included eventually.[58] The collaboration with Eminem was also released as a single.[59]
God Does Like Ugly released on August 8 through Dreamville and Interscope, featuring guest appearances from Westside Gunn, Clipse, Vince Staples, Ciara, EarthGang, Don Toliver, Ty Dolla Sign, 6lack, Jessie Reyez, Baby Kia, Mereba, and Pastor Troy,[60] to positive reviews.[61] A preluxe edition was released a day later, including all the songs from GDLU (Preluxe).
Artistry
[edit]Influences
[edit]Growing up, JID's first connection with music was through his parents' collection of classic funk and soul LPs.[62] He names Lil Wayne, Sly and the Family Stone, D'Angelo, Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, Earl Sweatshirt, and Little Dragon as his biggest influences.
He has also expressed admiration for fellow Atlanta natives OutKast, Goodie Mob, Gucci Mane, and T.I and names them as great influences.[63][citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]Route supported Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the 2020 United States Senate elections, performing at a rally for both in 2020.[64]
Route is a father, revealing the announcement in the closing track of his 2025 album God Does Like Ugly.[65]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- The Never Story (2017)
- DiCaprio 2 (2018)
- The Forever Story (2022)
- God Does Like Ugly (2025)
Collaborative albums
[edit]- Revenge of the Dreamers 3 (with Dreamville) (2019)
- Spilligion (with Spillage Village and EarthGang) (2020)
- D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape (with Dreamville) (2022)
- God Doesn't Like Ugly (with Metro Boomin) (TBA)
Tours
[edit]Headlining
- Never Had Shit Tour (with EarthGang) (2017–18)
- Catch Me If You Can Tour (2019)
- Luv Is 4ever Tour (with Smino) (2023)
- Forever & A Day Tour (2023)
- God Does Like World Tours (2025–26)
Supporting
- Elephant Eyes Tour (Omen) (2015)
- Too High To Riot Tour (Bas) (2016)
- I Told You Tour (Tory Lanez) (2016)
- 4 Your Eyez Only Tour (J. Cole) (2017)
- The Swimming Tour (Mac Miller) (2018; cancelled)
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Tour (Logic) (2019)
- American Dream Tour (21 Savage) (2024)
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance | "Down Bad" (with J. Cole, Bas, EarthGang and Young Nudy) | Nominated | [66] |
| Best Rap Album | Revenge of the Dreamers III | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Album of the Year | Planet Her (Deluxe) (as a featured artist) | Nominated | ||
| Berlin Music Video Awards | Best Cinematography | "Surround Sound" | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Best Narrative | "Money" | Nominated | ||
| 2026 | Grammy Award | Best Melodic Rap Performance | "Wholeheartedly" (with Ty Dolla Sign and 6lack) | Nominated | [67] |
| Best Rap Album | God Does Like Ugly | Nominated |
References
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- ^ a b Scott, Carter (January 17, 2018). "Welcome to Spillage Village: Members, Origins, & Music". Central Sauce. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ Duck, Steve. "Interview: Keanu Beats is the Producer Reppin for Australia on 'Revenge Of The Dreamers III'". Complex. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
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- ^ "Review: J.I.D.'s "DiCaprio 2" Serves Up A Creative Cocktail Of Rapping". Hiphopdx.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ a b "Destin Route – Football". Hampton University Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ "Carl Louis Route, Jr. and Kathy Jean Route Bankruptcy Court Docket Sheet". docketbird.com.
- ^ "J.I.D". HotNewHipHop. November 6, 2018.
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- ^ a b Williams, Ian (June 21, 2022). "Everything we know about JID's 'The Forever Story'". Our Generation Music. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
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- ^ Saponara, Michael (August 9, 2022). "JID Shares New Single 'Dance Now' & 'The Forever Story' Album Cover Art". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
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- ^ Carter, Bobby (September 8, 2022). "JID: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Lil Yachty & JID Team Up As BlakkBoyz, Share New Songs "Half Doin' Dope" (Feat. BabyTron) & "Van Gogh": Listen". Stereogum. September 1, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (May 8, 2025). "J.I.D. Announces New Album 'God Does Like Ugly'". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (July 3, 2025). "JID Announces New Mixtape Out Tomorrow, Shares "Beau" & "32 (Freestyle)"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (July 7, 2025). "JID Gears Up for 'God Does Like Ugly' With 'GDLU (Preluxe)'". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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- ^ Horvath, Zachary (August 5, 2025). "JID Reveals The Tracklist For "God Does Like Ugly" With Some Twists". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for God Does Like Ugly - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
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