Derrick Milano

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Derrick Milano

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Derrick Carrington Gray{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/908242450 |title=BOY MEETS WOLF |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 29, 2023}}

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|12|24}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| origin = Orlando, Florida, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|rap|pop}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Songwriter|rapper|singer}}

| instrument =

| years_active = 2013{{ndash}}present

| partner = Blac Chyna ({{abbr|eng.|engaged}} 2024){{cite web |url=https://people.com/blac-chyna-is-engaged-to-derrick-milano-after-onstage-proposal-howard-university-8731040 |title=Blac Chyna Engaged to Derrick Milano After Onstage Proposal at Howard University |website=People |date=October 19, 2024 |access-date=October 22, 2024}}

| label = Epic

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Megan Thee Stallion|Nicki Minaj|Juicy J}}

| website =

}}

Derrick Carrington Gray (born December 24, 1993), known professionally as Derrick Milano, is an American songwriter, rapper, and singer. Raised in Philadelphia and Delaware, he moved to Florida to pursue entertainment studies at Full Sail University.{{Cite web|last=Cormier|first=Ryan|title=This Concord High grad co-wrote Beyoncé 'Savage' remix verse and won a Grammy for it|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2021/03/23/billboard-has-called-derrick-milano-hip-hops-favorite-secret-weapon/4739384001/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-19|website=The News Journal|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422104914/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2021/03/23/billboard-has-called-derrick-milano-hip-hops-favorite-secret-weapon/4739384001/ |archive-date=April 22, 2021 }} He began his musical career as a recording artist in 2013 before shifting focus to songwriting work in 2019.

Milano has written songs for artists including Justin Bieber, Pop Smoke, Nicki Minaj, and Megan Thee Stallion. In 2021, he won Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing the single "Savage Remix" by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-22|title=Derrick Milano|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/derrick-milano/287404|access-date=2021-05-19|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}}

Early life and education

Derrick Gray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Virginia and Jeff Gray. Gray first gained experience in music as a member of his church's choir.{{Cite web|last=Ju|first=Shirley|date=2021-04-05|title=Derrick Milano Wrote Hits For Beyonce, Nas And Megan Thee Stallion. Now He's Betting On Himself|url=https://allhiphop.com/features/derrickmilano/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-19|website=AllHipHop|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405210143/https://allhiphop.com/features/derrickmilano/ |archive-date=April 5, 2021 }} His family moved to Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, when he was in seventh grade, and he attended Hanby Middle School, Brandywine High School, and Red Lion Christian Academy, before graduating from Concord High School in 2012. While in high school, Gray would battle rap with friends and was a member of the school choir.

After graduating from high school, Gray attended college in Florida, including at Valencia College{{Cite web|last=Gillespie|first=Ryan|date=2014-09-25|title=Q&A with Future opening act Derrick Milano|url=http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/story/entertainment/2014/09/25/derrick-milano-to-perform-at-ucf/16213451/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420201748/http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/story/entertainment/2014/09/25/derrick-milano-to-perform-at-ucf/16213451/|archive-date=2017-04-20|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Central Florida Future}} and Full Sail University, where he was involved in Business Professionals of America.{{Cite magazine|last=Cho|first=Regina|title=From Megan Thee Stallion to Pop Smoke, How Derrick Milano Became Hip-Hop's Favorite Secret Weapon|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9334485/derrick-milano-interview|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-19|magazine=Billboard|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502064253/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9334485/derrick-milano-interview |archive-date=May 2, 2020 }}

Career

= Early career (2013{{endash}}2018) =

Milano began his music career while in college, where he distributed mixtapes for his music. His breakout success came with the release of the "trap-happy" single "#ThatAintYaBitch",{{Cite web|date=2016-08-23|title=Premiere: Derrick Milano Wreaks Havoc In "What Else?" In New Video|url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/08/premiere-derrick-milano-wreaks-havoc-in-what-else-in-new-video/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026154028/http://www.vibe.com/2016/08/premiere-derrick-milano-wreaks-havoc-in-what-else-in-new-video/|archive-date=2020-10-26|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Vibe}} which he released on SoundCloud in May 2014.{{Cite web|title=Derrick Milano - #ThatAintYaBitch|url=https://soundcloud.com/derrickmilano/derrick-milano-thataintyabitch|access-date=2021-05-19|website=SoundCloud}} As a result of the single's success, he was invited to open for artists playing shows at Orlando-area venues, including for rappers Young Thug and Future. Following this early success, a dispute with his management made releasing and promoting music challenging for Milano.Taylor, Maxwell. "Interview: Derrick Milano Discusses the 'A1 Mixtape' and the Magic of Dance Videos". Respect. September 1, 2016.

= Writing and Grammy (2019{{endash}}present) =

{{multiple image

| footer = Milano won a Grammy in 2021 for his work in co-writing "Savage Remix", which is performed by Megan Thee Stallion (first image) and features Beyoncé (second image).

| image1 = Megan Thee Stallion 2019 2.jpg

| alt1 = Megan Thee Stallion in 2019.

| width1 = 180

| image2 = Beyoncé at The Lion King European Premiere 2019.png

| alt2 = Beyoncé in 2019.

| width2 = 180

| align = right

}}

Milano's first writing experience came on Kevin Gates' 2019 album I'm Him.{{Cite web|title=Derrick Milano {{!}} Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derrick-milano-mn0003692454/credits|access-date=2021-05-19|website=AllMusic|language=en}} In May 2019, Juicy J, who Milano first connected with when he was in high school, invited Milano to help with Megan Thee Stallion's song "Simon Says". This led to an uncredited writing opportunity on "Hot Girl Summer", another song by Megan Thee Stallion, which was released in July 2019.

Milano continued to work with Megan Thee Stallion, co-writing "Savage Remix",{{cite web|title=Savage Remix (feat. Beyoncé)|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/139494755/credits|access-date=2021-05-19|via=Tidal}} which features Beyoncé and was released in April 2020. In March 2021, Milano won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for his work as a co-writer on "Savage Remix".

As of March 2021, Milano was working on his debut album, which will include tracks featuring Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, and Wiz Khalifa and is scheduled to be released later in 2021.

In 2023, Milano was featured on a remix to Ciara's song "Da Girls". It was released on May 12, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0pnWRskIbltP9jNpDqW3yJ?si=BCIgu742TymRMslee5ewjg|title=Ciara - Da Girls (Versions)|website=Spotify|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=May 14, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ciara/status/1657057557934948354?cxt=HHwWhIC2kbnEhv8tAAAA|title=I made this for all Da Girls around the world! Shout out to the amazing artists that have joined me on this journey! Da Girls (Versions) OUT NOW On all platforms!! Dance Mix ft @TheLayBankz, R&B Slow Mix ft @DerrickMilano, Da Girls Mix ft @lolabrooke718 & @LadyLondon 🫶🏽 Ya'll!!|website=Twitter|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=May 14, 2023}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year !Awards !Category !Nominated work !Result !{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2021 \|Grammy Awards \|Best Rap Song \|"Savage Remix" \|{{won}} \|style="text-align:center;"\|

class="wikitable"

Year

!Awards

!Category

!Nominated work

!Result

!{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|{{won}}