Buddy

Simmie Sims III (born September 10, 1993), known professionally as Buddy, is an American rapper, singer, dancer and actor. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Smino and Guapdad 4000.

Early life Introduced to gospel and soul by his father, a preacher and choir director, Buddy began his performance career at age seven by starring in plays and musicals including The Wiz, Oliver with a Twist, and Dreamgirls at Amazing Grace Conservatory. "I grew up as a full-fledged entertainer rather than just somebody trying to rap about stuff," he has said about that experience. When the school became too expensive, he withdrew, later attending a high school performing arts program in Long Beach, California.

Career 2009–2015: Career beginnings and signing to I Am Other As a teenager, Buddy began recording his own material. In 2009, he got a break when TV music supervisor Scott Vener showed Pharrell Williams an early effort by the 15-year-old Buddy. Impressed, Pharrell began to work with the teenager, and signed him to his I Am Other creative collective and record label. When Buddy was 18, he released the song "Awesome Awesome", produced by The Neptunes and Pharrell made an appearance in the video.

On March 28, 2012, he released the single "Staircases" produced by Pharrell and featuring Kendrick Lamar.

In 2014, continuing to work with Pharrell, Buddy released his debut mixtape, Idle Time, which featured Kendrick Lamar, Miley Cyrus, Freddie Gibbs, Robin Thicke, Sir Michael Rocks, and others, with production from Pharrell Williams, Chuck Inglish, Boi-1da, Cardo, Blaq, and Polyester, among others.

He then embarked on a series of collaborations with various artists, including Nipsey Hussle, BJ The Chicago Kid, Chance the Rapper, Wiz Khalifa, and ASAP Rocky.

2016–17: Ocean & Montana and Magnolia In November 2016, Buddy released "Shine", produced by Mike & Keys along with DJ Khalil. It was premiered by hip-hop and R&B tastemaker Carl Chery, along with a music video directed by Andy Hines and featuring a cameo from Nipsey Hussle. The song garnered over 2.7 million streams on Spotify, 12 million on Apple Music, and over 2 million views on YouTube. Buddy described the single as "a ghetto hymn acknowledging inevitable death while showing gratitude for abundant life." On August 17, he released his second EP, Magnolia, which included features from Boogie, Wiz Khalifa, and Kent Jamz.

Buddy's EP Ocean & Montana, produced by Kaytranada, was released May 19, 2017, by Cool Lil Company, and features the single "Find Me". The EP's title refers to the intersection in Santa Monica where he lived, sought inspiration, and began collaborating with Kaytranada after leaving his parents' home.

2018–2021: Harlan & Alondra Buddy released his debut full-length album, Harlan & Alondra, through Cool Lil Company and RCA Records on July 20, 2018. It includes the singles "Black" featuring ASAP Ferg, "Trouble on Central", "Hey Up There" featuring Ty Dolla Sign, and "Trippin'" featuring Khalid. He stated that his aim was "to paint a well-rounded portrait of my home city", Los Angeles.

In spring 2018, Buddy joined Joey Badass on the Amerikkkana Tour. His summer 2018 tour with A$AP Ferg included performances at Chicago's Lollapalooza festival.

On April 17, 2020, he released a collaboration album with Kent Jamz, titled Janktape Vol. 1.

2022–present: Superghetto, Don't Forget To Breathe, and acting Buddy released his second full-length album, Superghetto, on March 25, 2022. He released a deluxe version of the album later that year. During an interview on Apple Music 1, he stated the album was "about the essence [of] growing up in the hood". Mic described the album as "a record that uses its brevity to keep the listener on their heels, that successfully manages to feel as if it's constantly molting and evolving until it cuts off".

On March 28, 2024, Buddy released his third studio album, Don't Forget to Breathe, via the independent Empire Distribution label. Uproxx noted his decision to leave RCA and release the album independently, highlighting a few lines from the album's opening track "Free My Mind" that follows: "I was super ghetto at first / Redefined myself, left the label, bettered my worth / I could sign myself".

On 28 March 2025, he was featured on fellow West Coast rapper YG's song "2004", along with the Gang.

On 3 June 2025, Buddy was announced as part of the cast of the upcoming spin-off television series for Snowfall (2017–2023), set to make his acting debut.

Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected details Title Album details Harlan & Alondra Released: July 20, 2018 Label: RCA Format: CD, Digital download Superghetto Released: March 25, 2022 Label: RCA Format: CD, Digital download Don't Forget to BreatheReleased: March 8, 2024 Label: Empire Format: Streaming, Digital download

Collaboration albums + List of collab albums, with selected details Title Album details Janktape Vol. 1(with Kent Jamz)Released: April 17, 2020 Label: RCA Format: Digital download

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title Album details Ocean & Montana(with Kaytranada)Released: May 19, 2017 Label: i Am Other, Columbia Format: Digital download MagnoliaReleased: August 25, 2017 Label: i Am Other, Columbia Format: Digital download

Mixtapes + List of mixtapes, with selected details Title Album details Idle TimeReleased: February 25, 2014 Label: i Am Other, Columbia Format: Digital download

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album USRhy. "Hey Up There" 2018 38 Harlan & Alondra "Trippin'" Album "Favorite" 2018 17 Genesis "Pasadena" 2021 — 333 "2004" 2025 —

Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Dope Dealer" 2012 Reese Reese Vs The World 2 "Contact" 2013 Chuck Inglish Droptops "Dangerous" Chuck Inglish, Jane Jupiter "Wakebake" Reese DSNRTRAPN "Song to Fuck To" YMTK, Royce the Choice MPL 2: Murphy Pan's Labyrinth "Elevators" 2014 Chuck Inglish, Polyester the Saint Convertibles "Status Symbol" Nipsey Hussle Mailbox Money "One Time" Sir Michael Rocks Banco "New Money" 2015 Dope (Music From The Motion Picture) "Man Down" 2016 BJ the Chicago Kid, Constantine, PJ Morton In My Mind "Church" BJ the Chicago Kid, Chance the Rapper "This Is Your Moment" DJ Quik, Problem, Wiz Khalifa, JP Cali Smoov Rosecrans: The Album "I Swear" Warm Brew Diagnosis "Status Symbol 2" Nipsey Hussle Slauson Boy 2 "Way High" ASAP Mob, ASAP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, BJ the Chicago Kid Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends "Could You Be Love" 2017 Moxie Raia 1996 "Pullup" Cousin Stizz One Night Only "In-N-Out" Budgie, Chris O'Bannon, Emmavie The Good Book Vol. 2 "CPT" Budgie, Jay Worthy "Status Symbol 3" 2018 Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap "Cry" Alison Wonderland Awake "Lowkey" Cosmo's Midnight, Jay Prince What Comes Next "Don't Hit Me Right Now" 2019 Bas, Yung Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000, Cozz Revenge of the Dreamers III "Wells Fargo" BJ the Chicago Kid, JID, Kent Jamz1123 "Not Numb" Childish Major, Olu Dirt Road Diamond "Late Night" 2020 Cozz, Omen, Landstrip Chip Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut "Passcode" Ari Lennox, Smino, Mez, Guapdad 4000 "No Chorus" Bas, Guapdad 4000, Dreezy "Spaceship" Asher Roth Flowers on the Weekend "Sleepless Nights" Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, Reuben Vincent, Phoelix Dinner Party: Dessert