10 Things You Didn’t Know about Smiley

Toronto-based rapper Smiley may not have a huge mainstream following just yet, but that’s all about to change. 2021 is playing out to be the biggest year of his career so far, and he still has a lot more than he plans on accomplishing. He recently signed a deal with Drake’s OVO record label, and the two released a song together. Smiley’s unique style is impossible to ignore, and his lyrics are authentic and intriguing. Now that he has a label behind him, we’ll probably be seeing a lot more from Smiley and his growing fan base is really looking forward to it. The release date for his debut album hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s definitely on its way. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about Smiley.

1. He’s Been Rapping For Almost A Decade

There are a lot of people who think that Smiley is relatively new to the rap game, but that isn’t true. He was doing his thing long before Drake started sharing his music on social media. Smiley began posting rap videos around 2013, and it didn’t take long for him to start gaining attention in the Toronto area.

2. He Was Trapping Before Rap

Becoming a rapper wasn’t always something that Smiley saw for himself. Before he was serious about music, he was trapping. He told Complex, “…once you’re trapping, you don’t really have time for other things, you know? You always just want to be on the road dealing with your wops and stuff. So I never had any time for nothing else.”

3. He’s A Dad

The world may see Smiley as a rising star, but when he’s at home, he’s focused on being a dad. Smiley has a young daughter who he refers to as Lay Lay. Based on some of his Instagram posts, it’s clear that’s a very proud father. Smiley hasn’t shared any information about his daughter’s mother and he appears to be single at the moment.

4. He’s Focused On Getting In Shape

Now that Smiley’s career is really about to take off, he’s had to make some major changes to his lifestyle in order to be able to keep up with the physical demands of constant performances. He has hired a trainer and completely changed up his diet so that he can get in better shape.

5. He Loves Fashion

Fashion and hip-hop have had a very close relationship since the genre’s inception. In some cases, a rapper’s style is almost as important as their music. Fortunately for Smiley’s fans, he doesn’t disappoint in either category. He loves fashion and has a great sense of style. From clothing to accessories, you can bet that he’s going to be wearing the best of the best.

6. He’s A Private Person

Putting all of his business in the streets doesn’t seem to be something that Smiley has any interest in doing. At this point in his career, Smiley hasn’t shared much information about his personal life. However, this could change as he starts becoming more widely known. Or, he may decide to take after Drake and remain low-key.

7. He Loves Inspiring People

Smiley is thankful to be in the position he’s in and he hopes to use his music to do more than keep people entertained. He also wants to make them feel inspired, and so far he’s accomplished that. During his interview with Complex, Smiley said, “It means a lot to me that I’m inspiring people. That actually makes me feel better than anything!”

8. He Was In Jail The First Time Drake Reached Out To Him

Due to the activities, he was involved in earlier in his life, Smiley had some unfortunate run-ins with the law. This eventually led to jail time. In fact, Smiley was in jail on a gun charge when Drake first contacted him via Instagram. When Drake released his Scorpion album, he listed Smiley’s album Buy. or. Bye as one of his inspirations and their relationship grew from there.

9. He Loves Hanging Out By The Water

Even though Smiley is originally from Canada, he is currently living in Los Angeles. As you can imagine, he’s been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and beaches that Southern California has to offer. When he gets free time, you can usually catch him spending time at the beach and soaking up some sun.

10. He’s Thankful For All Of The Love He’s Gotten

Smiley has come a long way since he first started making rap videos with his friends. Although things haven’t always been easy, he’s continued to find ways to keep going and he has no plans of stopping any time soon. He is very grateful for all of the people who have supported his journey and continue to rock with his music.