Stefflon Don
{{Short description|British rapper (born 1991)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{confused|Teflon Don}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Stefflon Don
| image = Stefflon Don.jpg
| caption = Don for her press shoot
| birth_name = Stephanie Victoria Allen
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|12|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, West Midlands, England
| origin = Clapton, London, England
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Hip hop
- dancehall
- grime
- R&B{{cite web |last=Adegoki |first=Yomi |title=Stefflon Don: 'I'm never scared to try things' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/13/rapper-stefflon-don-interview-i-am-never-scared-to-try-things |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 August 2022 |date=13 December 2020 |quote=Her discography draws on dancehall, grime, R&B...}}
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2015–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- BMG
- 54 London{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/stefflon-don-signs-to-bmg-for-debut-album-in-2023/086784|title=Stefflon Don signs to BMG for debut album in 2023|website=www.musicweek.com}}
- Quality Control
}}
| website = {{URL|https://officialstefflondon.com/}}
}}
Stephanie Victoria Allen (born 14 December 1991), known professionally as Stefflon Don, is an English rapper. She rose to fame with her 2017 single "Hurtin' Me" (featuring French Montana), which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. In 2016, Allen released her debut mixtape Real Ting, followed by her second, Secure (2018).
Early life and education
Allen was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, and is of Jamaican descent.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/brand-new-for-2017/pictures/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-stefflon-don|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422142110/http://www.mtv.co.uk/brand-new-for-2017/pictures/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-stefflon-don|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2019|title=9 Things You Need To Know About Stefflon Don|date=22 April 2019|access-date=12 November 2019}} She has seven siblings, one of them being rapper Dutchavelli. When she was five years old, Allen's family moved to Rotterdam, South Holland; as a result, she is fluent in Dutch.{{cite web|title=Stefflon Don on bubbling, family and why her house is the place to be|publisher=HungerTV|url=http://www.hungertv.com/feature/stefflon-don-on-bubbling-family-and-why-her-house-is-the-place-to-be/|access-date=16 October 2017}} 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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8099719/stefflon-don-interview-british-jamaican-mc-world-domination|title=Meet Stefflon Don, the British-Jamaican MC Ready for 'World Domination'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=25 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.umusic.ca/2018/08/17/meet-stefflon-don/|title=Meet: Stefflon Don, The British Artist Bridging Dancehall & Hip-Hop|date=17 August 2018|website=Umusic|language=en-US|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028232704/https://www.umusic.ca/2018/08/17/meet-stefflon-don/|url-status=dead}} At the age of 14, she returned to Britain to study at a London school. She worked as a cake decorator and hairdresser before her career in music.
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. "Fashion Killa (Papapapa)" by Mason, released on 16 August 2016, was written by Don and Mason (Iason Chronis). Don made her first appearance on an American song with the track "London" by singer Jeremih,{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/12/14/jeremih-london-video-stefflon-don-krept-konan/|title=Jeremih releases 'London' video featuring Stefflon Don and Krept & Konan|date=14 December 2016}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Kieran |first1=Yates |title=Stefflon Don: 'I'm not going to compromise or not say what I want' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/stefflon-don-rapper-stephanie-allen-interview-not-going-to-compromise |website=The Guardian |date=2 April 2017 |access-date=19 August 2018}} 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.{{cite web |title=Jax Jones feat Demi Lovato & Stefflon Don – 'Instruction' (Live At The Summertime Ball 2018) |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/jax-jones/instruction-stb-18/ |website=Capital FM |access-date=19 August 2018}}
On 15 August 2017, she released the lead single "Hurtin' Me" (featuring 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.{{cite web |last1=Fresh |first1=Mikey |title=Stefflon Don Teams Up With French Montana On "Hurtin Me" |url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/08/stefflon-don-hurtin-me-french-montana/ |website=Vibe |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=17 August 2018}}
On 29 November, Don took home the award for Best Female Act at the 2017 MOBO Awards.{{cite web |last1=Bruce-Jones |first1=Henry |title=Stefflon Don releases new mixtape Secure |url=http://www.factmag.com/2018/08/17/stefflon-don-releases-new-mixtape-secure/ |website=Fact Mag |date=17 August 2018 |access-date=19 August 2018}}
= 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.{{cite news |title=NME's most memorable front covers as it prints for the last time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43322793 |access-date=3 November 2018 |publisher=BBC News |date=9 March 2018}}
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 remix for Mariah Carey's song "A No No" from her 2018 album Caution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df9zXWs36Ro&gl=US&hl=en|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190322073545/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df9zXWs36Ro&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date = 22 March 2019|title = Mariah Carey – A No No (Remix) ft. Stefflon Don|website = YouTube}}
In June 2018, Don was included in the XXL Freshman Class.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/06/2018-xxl-freshman-cover/|title=XXL 2018 Freshman Class Revealed|publisher=XXL|date=12 June 2018|access-date=12 June 2018}} On 17 August 2018, Don released her second mixtape Secure.{{cite web |last=Seabrook III |first=Robbie |date=10 July 2024 |title=Stefflon Don Release her latest Album Island 54 |url=https://naijapickup.com/album/stefflon-don-island-54/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=Np}}
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 the "Girl Power remix" of "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)" by Anne-Marie and Little Mix along with 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.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Dolly |title='Wow!' – Ipswich drummer Nandi on performing at Buckingham Palace Jubilee party |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/nandi-bushell-performs-at-party-at-the-palace-9015872 |access-date=5 June 2022 |work=East Anglian Daily Times |date=5 June 2022 |language=en-GB}}
In June 2023, she visited and paid her respects to the late rapper Sidhu Moose Wala at the village of Moosa in Punjab, India. Don previously collaborated with Sidhu on the song "47" in 2019. It reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2024, Don contributed to soundtrack of Arcane: Season 2, providing vocals for the track "Renegade".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhkMbMZQV1Q |title=Stefflon Don, Raja Kumari feat. Jarina de Marco - “Renegade (We Never Run)” [Official Visualizer] |date=2024-11-09 |last=Riot Games Music |access-date=2024-11-22 |via=YouTube}}
Personal life
She gave birth to her first child, a son named Jaylen, at 17 years old in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/stefflon-don-facts/son/|title=Does Stefflon Don have a son?|website=Capital Xtra|access-date=15 December 2020}}
She is the sister of rapper Dutchavelli.{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/weald/news/i-didnt-need-to-rob-because-of-my-famous-sister-217222/|title=Rapper Stefflon Don's brother 'didn't need to' rob Yalding family 'because of famous sister'|website=KentOnline|date=27 November 2019|access-date=25 June 2020}}
Allen dated Nigerian singer Burna Boy from 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/13/rapper-stefflon-don-interview-i-am-never-scared-to-try-things|title=Stefflon Don: 'I'm never scared to try things'|work=The Guardian|date=13 December 2020|accessdate=20 March 2021}} to 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Why I Broke Up With Burna Boy, Stefflon Don Shares Side Of Story |url=https://independent.ng/why-i-broke-up-with-burna-boy-stefflon-don-shares-side-of-story/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Independent Newspaper Nigeria |language=en-GB}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1257667-burna-boys-bae-stefflon-don-send-n22m-treat-nigerian-mans-sick-mother.html|title=Burna Boy's boo Stefflon Don vows to send N2.2m to treat Nigerian man's sick mom|first=Simbiat|last=Ayoola|date=3 September 2019|website=Legit.ng – Nigeria news.}}
Discography
{{main|Stefflon Don discography}}
Studio albums
- Island 54 (2024)
Mixtapes
- Real Ting (2016)
- Secure (2018)
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and nominations received by Stefflon Don ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result |
| 2017
| {{n/a|Herself}} | {{Won}} |
| rowspan="2"|2018
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Herself}} | {{Won}} |
| BET Awards
| {{nom}} |
| 2019
|Best VFX |Boasty |Nominated |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Stefflon Don|state=autocollapse}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Don, Stefflon}}
Category:Black British women rappers
Category:British dancehall musicians
Category:British hip-hop singers
Category:British reggae musicians
Category:British women hip-hop musicians
Category:English women rappers
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Rappers from Birmingham, West Midlands