Stefflon Don

Stephanie Victoria Allen (born 14 December 1991), better known by her stage name Stefflon Don, is a British rapper and singer. She rose to fame after her 2017 single "Hurtin' Me" (featuring French Montana) peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2016, Allen released her debut mixtape Real Ting followed by another mixtape, Secure, in 2018.

Not to be confused with Teflon Don.
Stefflon Don
Stefflon Don at Glastonbury Festival 2023
Stefflon Don at Glastonbury Festival 2023
Background information
Birth nameStephanie Victoria Allen
Born (1991-12-14) 14 December 1991
Birmingham, West Midlands, England
OriginClapton, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
Years active2015–present
Labels

Early life and education

Stefflon Don was born in Birmingham, England, and is of Jamaican descent.[3] She has seven siblings, one of them being rapper Dutchavelli. When she was five years old, Allen's family moved to Rotterdam, Netherlands; as a result, she is fluent in Dutch.[3][4] She has been singing and writing music since primary school. At the age of nine, she recorded a "Hard Knock Life" hook for rapper U-Niq. The song was never released, but Allen was surprised to hear her voice on the playback.[5][6] At the age of 14, she returned to Britain to study at a London school.[3][4] She worked as a cake decorator and hairdresser before her career in music.[3]

Career

2015–2017: Career beginnings

Don first surfaced in 2015 by releasing a cover of Wretch 32's "6 Words" and went on to be featured on tracks such as Lethal Bizzle's "Wobble", Sneakbo's "Work" remix, Angel's Hop On and KSI's 2016 song "Touch Down", which appears on the soundtrack of the 2017 film Baywatch.[7] "Fashion Killa (Papapapa)" by Mason, released 16 August 2016, was written by Stefflon Don and Mason (Iason Chronis). Don made her first appearance on an American song with the track "London" by singer Jeremih,[8] and was later featured on Lil Yachty's "Better" from the album Teenage Emotions. On 16 December 2016, Don released her first mixtape titled Real Ting.

In the spring of 2016, Don was signed to 54 London a subsidiary of Universal Music Group that was created just for her.[7] A few months later, she was featured on the dancehall track "Instruction" with Jax Jones and Demi Lovato. The trio performed the song live for the first time in June 2018 at the Summertime Ball.[9]

On 15 August 2017, she released the lead single "Hurtin' Me" with French Montana from her debut EP titled Hurtin' Me – The EP, which reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. The EP was later released on 12 January 2018.[10]

On 29 November, Don took home the award for Best Female at the 2017 MOBO Awards.[11]

2018–present: Secure and current projects

In March 2018, Don appeared on the front cover of the final print edition in the 66-year run of NME.[12]

In March 2018, Don was featured on the remix for American singer Halsey's "Alone" along with American rapper Big Sean. The song peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first entry on the chart and also earned Don her first Dance Club Songs number one. The music video was released on 6 April 2018.

In March 2019, Don was featured on the Mariah Carey remix for the song "A No No" from her 2018 album Caution.[13]

In June 2018, Don was included in the XXL Freshman Class.[14] On 17 August 2018, Don released her second mixtape Secure.[15]

In March 2019, she collaborated with Wiley on the song "Boasty".

In July 2019, her vocals were featured on XXXTentacion's posthumous track "Royalty".

On 25 August 2021, Don was featured on a Kiss My (Uh Oh) Girl Power Remix along with Anne-Marie, Little Mix, Raye and Becky Hill.

On 4 June 2022, she participated in the Platinum Party at the Palace, performing with Jax Jones and Nandi Bushell, to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[16]

In June 2023, she visited and paid her respects to the late rapper Sidhu Moose Wala at the village of Moosa in Punjab, India. Stefflon Don previously collaborated with Sidhu on the song "47" in 2019. It reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

Personal life

She gave birth to her first child, a son named Jaylen, at 17 years old.[17]

She is the sister of rapper Dutchavelli.[18]

In September 2019, she held a giveaway on Twitter after reaching a billion streams as an artist. British artist Shocka reached out to her stating that he was in Nigeria for cancer treatment for his mother. She decided to gift him the money for his mother's treatment.[19]

Allen dated Nigerian singer Burna Boy from 2018[20] to 2022.[21]

Discography
Main article: Stefflon Don discography

Mixtapes

  • Real Ting (2016)
  • Secure (2018)

Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations received by Stefflon Don
Year Award Category Work Result
2017 MOBO Awards Best Female[22] Herself Won
2018 NME Awards Best New Artist[23] Herself Won
BET Awards Best International Act[24] Nominated

References
  1. Adegoki, Yomi (13 December 2020). "Stefflon Don: 'I'm never scared to try things'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2022. Her discography draws on dancehall, grime, R&B and, culturally, any country's inspired by.
  2. "Stefflon Don signs to BMG for debut album in 2023".
  3. "9 Things You Need To Know About Stefflon Don | MTV UK". 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. "Stefflon Don on bubbling, family and why her house is the place to be". HungerTV. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. "Meet Stefflon Don, the British-Jamaican MC Ready for 'World Domination'". Billboard. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. "Meet: Stefflon Don, The British Artist Bridging Dancehall & Hip-Hop". Umusic. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  7. Kieran, Yates (2 April 2017). "Stefflon Don: 'I'm not going to compromise or not say what I want'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  8. "Jeremih releases 'London' video featuring Stefflon Don and Krept & Konan". 14 December 2016.
  9. "Jax Jones feat Demi Lovato & Stefflon Don – 'Instruction' (Live At The Summertime Ball 2018)". Capital FM. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  10. Fresh, Mikey (15 August 2017). "Stefflon Don Teams Up With French Montana On "Hurtin Me"". Vibe. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  11. Bruce-Jones, Henry (17 August 2018). "Stefflon Don releases new mixtape Secure". Fact Mag. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  12. "NME's most memorable front covers as it prints for the last time". BBC News. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  13. "Mariah Carey – A No No (Remix) ft. Stefflon Don". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019.
  14. "XXL 2018 Freshman Class Revealed". XXL. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  15. Seabrook III, Robbie (8 August 2018). "Stefflon Don Channels Lil' Kim on Cover of 'Secure' Mixtape". XXL. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  16. Carter, Dolly (5 June 2022). "'Wow!' – Ipswich drummer Nandi on performing at Buckingham Palace Jubilee party". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  17. "Does Stefflon Don have a son?". Capital Xtra. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  18. "Rapper Stefflon Don's brother 'didn't need to' rob Yalding family 'because of famous sister'". KentOnline. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  19. Ayoola, Simbiat (3 September 2019). "Burna Boy's boo Stefflon Don vows to send N2.2m to treat Nigerian man's sick mom". Legit.ng – Nigeria news.
  20. "Stefflon Don: 'I'm never scared to try things'". The Guardian. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  21. "Why I Broke Up With Burna Boy, Stefflon Don Shares Side Of Story". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  22. "MOBO Awards Best Female". Capital Xtra. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  23. "NME Awards Best New Artist". NME. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  24. "News: Vote: BET Awards Best International Act". BET Africa. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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