Devito (rapper)
David Ljubenović (Serbian Cyrillic: Давид Љубеновић, born on 9 May 1995), better known as Devito, is a Serbian rapper from Kragujevac. Initially a photographer and a music video director, he made his recording debut in 2018. Devito rose to mainstream prominence with the release of his single "Uh" (2019).
Devito Девито | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Ljubenović |
| Born | 9 May 1995 Kragujevac, FR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels |
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He has collaborated with numerous regional artists, including Teodora Džehverović, Jala Brat, Buba Corelli, Relja Popović and Nikolija. Devito has won two regional MAC awards, including the Contribution to Regional Music Award in 2023. He is known for wearing balaclavas in public.[1]
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Ljubenović was born in Kragujevac, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 9 May 1995. He started making music in primary school.[2] After turning 18, Ljubenović became a professional photographer. Subsequently, after moving to Belgrade, he started directing music videos under production company DaVideo and has since worked for regional artists such as Aca Lukas, Milica Pavlović, MC Stojan, Ana Kokić, Sandra Afrika and Vuk Mob.[3][1]
Recording career
In March 2018, he released his debut single under the stage name Devito, titled "Alal vera", featuring Leon.[2] In June the following year, Devito's first major label single "Barbie" was released under Bassivity Digital and IDJTunes. With the release of "Uh" in June 2019, Devito gained more significant popularity and media attention. The music video for the song has collected over 30 million views on YouTube.[4]
In February 2020, Devito released "Koka" for the soundtrack of the Serbian television series Južni Vetar. Subsequently, in June, he collaborated with Teodora Džehverović on "Vudu".[1] The single has amassed over 11 million streams on Spotify and over 100 million views on YouTube, making it the commercially most successful Serbian single of that year.[5] The two have also received the Contribution to the Regional Music Award at the 2023 Music Awards Ceremony for their collaboration. Devito released "Mame mi" in March 2021 for the purposes of the film sequel to Južni Vetar, called Južni Vetar 2: Ubrzanje.[6] In September 2021, Devito held his first solo concert during the Belgrade Music Week festival.[7] In October 2021, he was chosen by Tuborg Open to be featured on the remix of "Get Together" by David Guetta.[8] It was followed by his debut EP, titled Leden, which was released on 12 November under IDJTunes.[9] In December, IDJ TV enlisted Devito as the most streamed Serbian artist on Spotify of 2021.[10]
Public image
Devito is recognized for wearing a white balaclava in his public appearances.[11] In the 2021 interview with Noizz, he stated that that the reason behind it is so that his audience can "truly" connect with his lyrics and music, further explaining: "Regardless of who and what you are, you can live your dreams, if you are ready to fight for them of course".[8]
At the beginning of 2023, Ljubenović showed his public support for the LGBT community in Serbia after he had been accused by rapper Mili of being a closeted gay man.[12][13]
Discography
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRO Billb. [14] | |||
| "Barbie" | 2019 | — | non-album singles |
| "Lila" | — | ||
| "Uh" | — | ||
| "Aligatori" | — | ||
| "Oduzet" | — | ||
| "Magičan Cvet" | 2020 | — | |
| "Bebe" | — | ||
| "Koka" | — | ||
| "Taj Flex" | — | ||
| "Vudu" (with Teodora) |
— | ||
| "Austria" (with Mike Ride) |
— | ||
| "Offline" (with Relja) |
— | ||
| "Nina" | 2021 | — | |
| "Durg Like This" (with The Eurotrip!) |
— | ||
| "Mame Mi" | — | ||
| "Ju" | — | ||
| "Telo" | — | ||
| "Mami" | — | ||
| "Rame" (with Mike Ride) |
— | ||
| "Drip Drip" (with Corona) |
— | ||
| "Roze" (with Jala Brat & Buba Corelli) |
— | ||
| "Verna" | 2022 | — | |
| "Do Zore" (with Relja) |
— | ||
| "Omađiajala" (with Relja) |
2 | ||
| "Marina" | — | ||
| "Ljubav" (with Nikolija) |
— | ||
| "Niko Nece" (with JMTradee) |
— | ||
| "25 milja" (with Igor Buzov) |
— | ||
| "Shake It" (with Jala Brat) |
5 | ||
| "Karamela" (with Jala Brat & Buba Corelli) |
2023 | 2 | |
| "Mili Mili" | — | ||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee/work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Music Awards Ceremony | Male Trap Song of the Year | "Marina" | Won | [15] |
| Drill Song of the Year | "Leden" | Nominated | |||
| New Age Collaboration of the Year | "Omađijala" (feat. Relja) | Nominated | |||
| Contribution to Regional Music | Herself | Won |
References
- "Enigma zvana DEVITO: Ko je momak koji se krije iza fantomke i kako je izgledao na sajtu za druženje". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 2 July 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- N. S. (14 November 2021). ",,Nisam prepotentan, stidljiv sam": Devito otkrio kakav je privatno". Idjtv.nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Mladenović, J. (23 July 2017). "David Ljubenović: Od klinačke priče do spotova sa milionskim pregledima". InfoKG (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- "DEVITO - UH 😤". YouTube. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- M. V. (29 June 2022). ""Vudu" dostigao 100 miliona pregleda! Da li Teodora i Devito spremaju još jedan duet?". Idjtv.nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- "Devito oduševio sve novom pesmom za drugi deo filma "Južni vetar"". Idjtv.nova.rs (in Serbian). 23 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Dejanović, M. (3 September 2021). "Ušće večeras gori: Treperi napravili šou na otvaranju Music Week-a". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Dašić, M. (21 October 2021). "Reper Devito za Noizz o saradnji sa Dejvid Getom i o svojoj karijeri". Noizz.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- "Devito objavio prvi deo albuma "Leden"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- M. V. (2 December 2021). "Ovi naši izvođači su među najslušanijima na platformi Spotify u 2021. godini". IDJ TV (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- Sabotinovski, A. (25 January 2023). "Kolega ga je prozvao za gej aferu, u javnosti krije lice, a evo kako Devito izleda bez maske!". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Jovović, P. (24 January 2023). "Nakon što je kolega pokušao da ga uvredi time da je gej, Devito poslao snažnu poruku podrške LGBT populaciji". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Marinović, N. (25 January 2023). "Osam razloga zašto je Devito najbolji LGBTQ+ saveznik". Zoomer.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
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- For "Omađijala": "Croatia Songs (Week of October 29, 2022)". Billboard. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- For "Shake It": "Croatia Songs (Week of December 31, 2022)". Billboard. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- For "Karamela": "Croatia Songs (Week of January 21, 2023)". Billboard. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Marinović, M. (27 January 2023). "Zvezde novog muzičkog talasa izdominirale drugog dana MAC-a!". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.