Buddy (rapper)

Simmie Sims III (born September 10, 1993), known professionally as Buddy, is an American rapper, singer, and dancer. 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.

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. When the school became too expensive he withdrew, later attending a high school performing arts program in Long Beach, California.

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. 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.

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.

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

2018–2021: 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. ASAP Ferg, "Trouble on Central," "Hey Up There" feat. Ty Dolla Sign, 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. 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.

2022-present: Superghetto and Don't Forget To Breathe
Buddy released his second full-length album, Superghetto, on March 25, 2022. He released a deluxe version of the album later that year. During an interview on Apple Music 1, Buddy stated the album was "about the essence [of] growing up in the hood". Mic described the album as "a record that uses its brevity to keep the listener on their heels, that successfully manages to feel as if it’s constantly molting and evolving until it cuts off".

On March 28, 2024, Buddy released his third studio album, Don't Forget To Breathe, via the independent Empire label. Uproxx noted his decision to leave RCA and release the album independently, highlighting a few lines from the album's opening track Free My Mind: "I was super ghetto at first / Redefined myself, left the label, bettered my worth / I could sign myself".

As featured artist
R&B

! scope="col"| Album ! scope="row"| "Favorite" (Leon Thomas III featuring Buddy)
 * 2018
 * 17
 * Genesis
 * }