{{short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1994)}} {{distinguish|Danni Leigh}} {{Infobox person | name = DaniLeigh | image = File:DaniLeigh 2020.png | caption = DaniLeigh in October 2020 | birth_name = Danielle Leigh Curiel | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|12|20}} | birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|rapper|dancer|choreographer}} | years_active = 2013–present | height = 5 feet 3 inches | children = 1 | website = {{Official URL}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = R&B | instrument = Vocals | label = Def Jam (former) }} }}
'''Danielle Leigh Curiel''' (born December 20, 1994), known professionally as '''DaniLeigh''', is an <!--Do not add "Dominican", as she was not born there, per MOS:ETHNICITY--> American singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer. Initially appearing as a backup dancer, Curiel began her career by posting covers of popular songs on YouTube before moving to Los Angeles, California, where she began choreographing for other artists and dancing. She made a career breakthrough after working with Prince on the music video for his single "Breakfast Can Wait". DaniLeigh was signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2017, releasing mixtapes and singles starting that year.<ref name="Def Jam bio">{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2019 |title=DaniLeigh in |url=https://www.defjam.com/artists/danileigh |access-date=June 30, 2019 |website=Def Jam |language=}}</ref>
==Early life== Danielle Leigh Curiel was born on December 20, 1994, in Miami, Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaniLeigh bio, age, parents, husband, children, net worth |url=https://www.atinkanews.net/danileigh-bio-age-children-net-worth/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=atinkanews |date=31 May 2023 }}</ref> Her mother, Vicky Curiel, and her father, Vladimir Curiel, are from the Dominican Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Are DaBaby's Ex-DaniLeigh's Parents? |url=https://www.sohh.com/who-are-dani-leighs-parents/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Sohh }}</ref> She was deeply interested in music during her youth, and cites Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Drake, and Rihanna as influences.
She started dancing at the age of 12 and singing at the age of 14, though she was initially too shy to sing in front of others until she received positive feedback.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2019 |title=5 things you didn't know about DaniLeigh |url=https://www.axs.com/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-danileigh-129994 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |website=AXS |language=}}</ref> Though she started posting vocal covers of songs such as Musiq Soulchild's "SoBeautiful" on YouTube, her career did not officially start until she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she made connections and started off as a backup dancer to artists such as Pharrell Williams and Nelly Furtado. She also was part of the pop duo Curly Fryz, which she formed with her sister. She has an older brother, a rapper who goes by the name Brandon Bills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaBaby: DaniLeigh's brother sues rapper for 'permanent injuries' caused by bowling alley brawl |url=https://news.yahoo.com/dababy-danileigh-brother-sues-rapper-104336997.html |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=yahoo!news |date=17 February 2022 }}</ref>
==Career== Curiel was asked by Prince to direct the video for his single "Breakfast Can Wait" when she was 18 years old.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ferreiro |first=Laura |title=Prince Enlists Unknown Teenager to Direct "Breakfast Can Wait" Video |date=25 October 2013 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/prince-enlists-unknown-teenager-direct-breakfast-wait-video-205700055.html |access-date=December 31, 2013 |publisher=Yahoo Music}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=October 11, 2013 |title=Watch Prince's new video 'Breakfast Can Wait' |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-watch-prince-video-breakfast-can-wait-premiere-20131011-story.html |access-date=December 31, 2013}}</ref> Following the video's success, Prince continued mentoring DaniLeigh until his death in 2016. She released her first single "D.O.S.E" in 2015, but her first successful single was "Play", released in 2017. The single is an empowerment song for women and Latinos, and features Mexican-American rapper Kap G.<ref name = "Def Jam bio" />
After signing with Def Jam Recordings, she released her first EP, ''Summer with Friends'', in 2017, followed up by ''The Plan'' in 2018. The latter features appearances by rappers YG, Lil Yachty, Lil Baby, and YBN Nahmir. She later released a few more singles such as "Lil Bebe", which was remixed featuring vocals from Lil Baby, and "Easy", which was remixed featuring vocals from singer Chris Brown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaniLeigh featuring Chris Brown – "Easy" (Remix) |url=https://www.bet.com/video/bet-jams/2019/music-videos/danileigh-featuring-chris-brown-easyremix.html?cid=facebook |access-date=July 1, 2019 |website=BET.com}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She has also made a cameo appearance in the music video for Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer". In late 2019, she choreographed for DaBaby's music video "BOP on Broadway".
In January 2021, the singer issued an apology after posting part of a song called "Yellow Bone" on social media, which was criticized for promoting colorism.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Arielle |title=DaniLeigh's Apology for the 'Yellow Bone' Controversy Only Makes It Worse |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/danileigh-apology-for-the-yellow-bone-controversy |website=Glamour |date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
==Musical style== DaniLeigh incorporates elements of hip hop and Latin music into her primarily R&B-style music.<ref name = "Def Jam bio" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2018 |title=Meet DaniLeigh, the Dominican Rapper & Singer With a Co-Sign From Prince |url=https://remezcla.com/features/music/danileigh-profile/ |access-date=July 10, 2019 |website=Remezcla |language=}}</ref>
==Personal life== Curiel was in a previous relationship with rapper DaBaby that ended in November of 2021. That year on July 17, she announced her pregnancy with their child in an Instagram post.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iamdanileigh Instagram post |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CRceztfldSK/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D&img_index=8 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Instagram }}</ref> Curiel gave birth to a girl, Velour, on August 11, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaniLeigh, DaBaby Come Together To Celebrate Daughter's 2nd Birthday |date=15 August 2023 |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/danileigh-dababy-celebrate-daughter-birthday-1234780750/ |access-date=2024-05-23 }}</ref>
In October 2024, she announced that her father had died from cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iamdanileigh Instagram post |url=https://www.instagram.com/iamdanileigh/p/DAwiLbwTZpt/?hl=en&img_index=1 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Instagram }}</ref>
==Legal issues== ===DaBaby assault=== On November 15, 2021, Curiel was charged with two counts of assault by then-boyfriend DaBaby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaBaby Calls Cops on Baby's Mother, Who Was Charged With Simple Assault |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dababy-danileigh-argument-police-1257872/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=RollingStone |date=15 November 2021 }}</ref> The latter then posted a statement on Instagram moments following the incident, confirming that he just wanted Curiel to be "peacefully removed" from his home. Shortly after, Curiel posted a story on Instagram in response, claiming that she refused to leave because she and her child were staying in Charlotte, North Carolina, and had no friends or family living nearby who could support her. Curiel stated: "[I’ll] learn and [I’ll] grow…And I’m sorry to my baby that her father is kicking her out her home at 3 months."<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaniLeigh and Family Speak Out After Instagram Live Incident With DaBaby |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/danileigh-family-speak-out-instagram-live-incident-dababy |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Complex }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DaniLeigh Talks 'Toxic' Relationship With DaBaby in New Interview |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/danileigh-dababy-dead-to-me-song-interview-1351427/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=RollingStone |date= 10 May 2022 }}</ref> In February the following year, DaBaby and his crew assaulted Curiel's brother Brandon at a bowling alley in Los Angeles after the latter confronted him for the mistreatment of his sister.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video Shows DaBaby and His Crew Physically Attacking DaniLeigh's Brother at Bowling Alley| url= https://www.complex.com/music/video-shows-dababy-crew-physically-attacking-danileigh-brother-bowling-alley|access-date=2022-02-10|website=Complex|language=en|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220210215647/https://www.complex.com/music/video-shows-dababy-crew-physically-attacking-danileigh-brother-bowling-alley|url-status=live}}</ref>
===DUI hit and run=== Curiel was convicted of {{abbr|DUI|driving under the influence}} hit and run and sentenced to five years probation on February 1, 2024. She committed the crimes just before 1 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time May 30, 2023 in Miami Beach, and shortly afterwards was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash including serious bodily injury, driving under the influence and damage to property or person while driving under the influence. The victim was a then-seventeen-year-old, riding what some reports called a moped and others a scooter, who sustained injuries including a lacerated kidney and fractured spine and was transported by emergency services to the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami for treatment. Curiel was reported by multiple witnesses to be weaving through traffic at high speed in a grey Mercedes-Benz G550 before hitting the victim, then continued driving, dragging the victim's moped/scooter under her vehicle for several blocks while witnesses attempted to flag her down.<ref name="USA Today, May 30, 2023">{{cite web |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/05/30/danileigh-arrested-after-driving-under-the-influence-hitting-moped/70269972007/ |title=Singer DaniLeigh arrested for driving under the influence, hit-and-run in Miami |date=May 30, 2023 |first=Morgan |last=Hines |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530193436/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/05/30/danileigh-arrested-after-driving-under-the-influence-hitting-moped/70269972007/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-05-30/danileigh-arrested-dui-miami-beach-hit-and-run |title=DaniLeigh arrested on DUI charge after alleged hit-and-run in Miami Beach |date=May 30, 2023 |first=Christi |last=Carras |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530225107/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-05-30/danileigh-arrested-dui-miami-beach-hit-and-run |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="XXL, May 30, 2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-arrested-dui-hit-and-run-victim-fractured-spine/ |title=DaniLeigh Arrested DUI Hit-and-Run, Victim Suffers Spine Injury |date=May 30, 2023 |first=C. Vernon |last=Coleman II |work=XXL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530185608/https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-arrested-dui-hit-and-run-victim-fractured-spine/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="XXL, May 31, 2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-open-bottle-tequila-hit-and-run-arrest/ |title=DaniLeigh Had Open Bottle of Tequila in Her SUV During Arrest |date=May 31, 2023 |first=C. Vernon |last=Coleman II |work=XXL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531143026/https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-open-bottle-tequila-hit-and-run-arrest/ |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="New York Post, May 31, 2023">{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2023/05/31/singer-danileigh-charged-with-dui-in-hit-and-run-crash-that-fractured-victims-spine/ |title=Singer DaniLeigh charged with DUI in hit-and-run crash that fractured victim’s spine |date=May 31, 2023 |first=Patrick |last=Reilly |work=New York Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601020232/https://nypost.com/2023/05/31/singer-danileigh-charged-with-dui-in-hit-and-run-crash-that-fractured-victims-spine/ |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="XXL, February 2, 2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-sentenced-probation-dui-hit-and-run/ |title=DaniLeigh Sentenced to Five Years Probation for DUI Hit-and-Run |date=February 2, 2024 |first=Joey |last=Ech |work=XXL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202180039/https://www.xxlmag.com/danileigh-sentenced-probation-dui-hit-and-run/ |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="TMZ, August 23, 2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2024/08/23/danileigh-dui-arrest-bodycam/ |title=DaniLeigh DUI Arrest Bodycam Footage, 'I'm A Singer, You Can't Arrest Me!' |date=August 23, 2024 |work=TMZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823230313/https://www.tmz.com/2024/08/23/danileigh-dui-arrest-bodycam/ |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Vibe, August 26, 2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/danileigh-dui-hit-and-run-arrest-footage-quavo-1234908707/ |title=DaniLeigh’s DUI, Hit-And-Run Arrest Bodycam Footage Revealed, Quavo Makes Appearance |date=August 26, 2024 |first=Amber |last=Corrine |work=Vibe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826173743/https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/danileigh-dui-hit-and-run-arrest-footage-quavo-1234908707/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref>
Responding police attempted to pull Curiel over, but she refused at first, requiring multiple attempts. When she eventually pulled over, police noted sluggishness, the strong smell of alcohol and damage to the car possibly arising from the collision. Curiel was detained for investigation, during which she denied the collision and consuming any alcohol, though claimed to be driving from a Memorial Day party. She agreed to standardized field sobriety exercises, which indicated that she may be impaired. A search of her car was conducted by police who found an open bottle of tequila. She was arrested and transported to a police station where she was breathalyzed with results of 0.145% and 0.148% in two tests (meaning a blood alcohol content of 0.145g and 0.148g of alcohol for every 100 {{abbr|ml|milliliter}} of blood), nearly twice the legal limit in Florida of 0.08%. Curiel was issued a US$1000 bond.<ref name="USA Today, May 30, 2023" /><ref name="Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2023" /><ref name="XXL, May 30, 2023" /><ref name="XXL, May 31, 2023" /><ref name="New York Post, May 31, 2023" /><ref name="XXL, February 2, 2024" /><ref name="TMZ, August 23, 2024" /><ref name="Vibe, August 26, 2024" />
On February 1, 2024, Curiel pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor DUI charge and one felony DUI causing serious injury charge in front of a Miami-Dade County judge, while one charge for leaving the scene of a crime and one additional DUI charge were adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, to be dismissed if Curiel completes her probation without violations.<ref name="XXL, February 2, 2024" /><ref name="TMZ, August 23, 2024" /><ref name="Vibe, August 26, 2024" /> Curiel's defense attorney, Michael Catalano, spoke with ''XXL'' stating:<ref name="XXL, February 2, 2024" /> <blockquote>[Curiel] wasn't really at fault in the accident and she didn't know she [hit] somebody, but there was damage to the car. She wants to say, 'I'm really sorry about this,' but [the victim] has a lawyer and we never let people talk because it can be held against them. The truth of the matter is, the gentlemen who got hurt, was at fault in the accident. She's very apologetic about it and feels horrible that somebody got hurt.</blockquote>
The victim filed a civil lawsuit against Curiel.<ref name="XXL, February 2, 2024" /> Since Curiel's conviction, police bodycam and CCTV footage has been released and published, showing her arrest and the collision; Curiel can be heard making repeated comments about her fame as a singer during her detention, investigation and arrest, as well as laughing as she denies her crimes and claiming witnesses are lying.<ref name="TMZ, August 23, 2024" /><ref name="Vibe, August 26, 2024" />
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''The Plan'' (2018) * ''Movie'' (2020) * ''My Side'' (2022)
===Extended plays=== * ''Summer with Friends'' (2017) * ''My Present'' (2019)
===Compilations=== * ''In My Feelings'' (2020)
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles showing year released and album name ! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Year ! colspan="3" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Certifications ! rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US<br /><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=DaniLeigh Chart History: Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/danileigh/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US<br />R&B/HH<br /><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=DaniLeigh Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/danileigh/chart-history/bsi/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS<br /><ref>{{Cite web |title=ARIA Chart Watch #523 |url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2019/5/aria-chart-watch-523/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=auspop |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813091624/https://www.auspop.com.au/2019/5/aria-chart-watch-523/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |"D.O.S.E" | 2015 |— |— |— | | {{Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row" |"In My Feelings"<br /><small>(featuring Kap G)</small> | 2017 |— |— |— | | ''Summer with Friends'' |- ! scope="row" |"Lil Bebe"<br /><small>(featuring Lil Baby)</small> | rowspan="4" |2018 |— |— |— | * RIAA: Platinum<ref name="RIAA">{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=Dani Leigh|access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> | rowspan="2" | ''The Plan'' |- ! scope="row" |"Blue Chips" |— |— |— | |- ! scope="row" |"Life" |— |— |— | | rowspan=4 {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row" |"Easy"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|title=Top 40/R Future Releases|publisher=All Access Music Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716015119/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|archive-date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref><br />{{small|(Solo or featuring Chris Brown)}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chris-brown/chart-history/hsi/|title=Chris Brown Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 7, 2020}}</ref> |79 |34 |84 | * RIAA: 4× Platinum<ref name="RIAA" /> * BPI: Silver<ref name="BPI">{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=DaniLeigh|access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> * MC: Platinum<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canadian single certifications – DaniLeigh – Easy | date=26 January 1994 |url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Easy%20DaniLeigh |access-date=May 28, 2023 |publisher=Music Canada}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |"No Limits" | rowspan="2" |2019 |— |— |— | |- ! scope="row" |"Cravin"<br /><small>(featuring G-Eazy)</small> |— |— |— | |- ! scope="row" |"Levi High"<br />{{small|(featuring DaBaby)}}<ref name="levi">{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Jon |title=DaniLeigh connects with DaBaby for 'Levi High' |url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2020/3/13/21178913/danileigh-dababy-levi-high-song |access-date=March 27, 2020 |work=Revolt |date=March 13, 2020}}</ref> | rowspan="2" |2020 |— |— |— | | rowspan="2" | ''Movie'' |- ! scope="row" |"Dominican Mami"<br />{{small|(featuring Fivio Foreign)}} |— |— |— | |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Award !Year !Nominee !Category !Result !Ref. |- |BET Awards |2020 |Herself |Best New Artist |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 28, 2020 |title=Here Are All the Winners From the 2020 BET Awards |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/bet-awards-2020-winners-list-9410599/ |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:African–Hispanic and Latino American relations Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:American rappers of Dominican Republic descent Category:American singers of Dominican Republic descent Category:American women choreographers Category:American choreographers Category:Urbano musicians Category:American performers of Latin music Category:Dancers from Florida Category:Def Jam Recordings artists Category:Hispanic and Latino American women singers Category:Rappers from Florida Category:Singer-songwriters from Florida Category:21st-century American criminals Category:21st-century American rappers