JID

JID—also spelled JID—is the stage name of Destin Choice Route, one of the most successful rappers America has produced in recent years. He was born on October 31, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia. Music was important in his family. He grew up with the swinging sounds of '60s and '70s soul from Earth Wind & Fire and Sly and the Family Stone. His tastes eventually shifted towards hip-hop, after which he quickly aspired to become a rapper himself. Influences that shaped him include Wu-Tang Clan, OutKast, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Nas, and Mobb Deep.

Before the world knew him, he released several mixtapes. He was also active in local projects like Spillage Village and Zoink Gang. His name was becoming increasingly popular in the local scene, and it wasn't long before record labels were interested. In 2017, his solo debut, The Never Ending Story, was released. The album sold well and received many positive reviews. JID stood out with his deft wordplay and fluid rapping style. A year later, his follow-up, DiCaprio 2, was released, featuring the singles "151 Rum" and the J. Cole-featured "Off Deez." Other guests on the album included 6LACK, ASAP Ferg, BJ the Chicago Kid, Ella Mai, Joey Badass, and Method Man. Both the reviews and sales figures for DiCaprio 2 made it clear that JOD was no one-hit wonder.

In 2021, he featured on a single, "Enemy," which he recorded with the band Imagine Dragons. His third album, The Forever Story (2022), again featured a large group of guests: Kenny Mason, EarthGang, 21 Savage, Baby Tate, Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, Yasiin Bey, Lil Wayne, Johntá Austin, Ravyn Lenae, and Eryn Allen Kane. The album yielded the hit "Surround Sound," recorded with 21 Savage and Baby Tate. Once again, there was a lot of attention paid to JID's growth as an artist, both musically and lyrically. He described The Forever Story as his most personal album to date. In 2024, JID himself guested on albums by Katy Perry and Eminem, while Forever & A Day marked the release of his fourth album.