Rapper
Baby DC was born
Derek Coleman in Oakland, CA, on January 7, 1986; weaned on the music of
N.W.A.,
Too $hort, and
Kool Moe Dee, he began rapping as a toddler, and entered a professional career at age five. After
Too $hort invited
Baby DC to perform at a San Jose barbecue attended by a crowd of 3,000 people, the youngster began making live appearances across the country; the first artist to appear on
Too $hort's Bay Leaf imprint, the 12-year-old issued his debut album,
School Dayz, in 1998. ~ Jason Ankeny