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. Known for wearing balaclavas in public, Devito has never shown his face publicly.[1]
Devito Девито | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Ljubenović |
| Born | 9 May 1995 Kragujevac, FR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels |
|
After a series of standalone singles, Devito released his debut album, entitled Plava krv, in May 2023 to commercial success.
Life and career
editEarly life and career beginnings
editLjubenović 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
editIn 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 12 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] In April the following year, Devito collaborated with Relja Popović on the single "Omađijala", which became his first entry on a Billboard chart, peaking at number two in Croatia. His collaborative singles with Jala Brat and Buba Corelli from late 2022 and early 2023, title "Karamel" and "Shake it", also reached the top five in Croatia.
His debut album, Plava krv, was released on 23 May 2023 under IDJTunes.[11] It peaked at number 2 in Austria and number 5 in Switzerland. The album also peaked at number 7 on the Spotify Top Albums Debut Global chart.[12] With over 200 million listening across all platforms in three months Plava krv was declared the commercially most successful album by a Serbian artist in 2023.[13]
Public image
editDevito is recognized for wearing a white balaclava in his public appearances.[14] In the 2021 interview with Noizz, he stated 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.[15][16]
On 5 October 2023, it was reported that Ljubenović got married.[17]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUT [18] |
SUI [19] | ||
| Plava krv |
|
2 | 5 |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUT [20] |
CRO Billb. [21] | ||
| "Barbie" | 2019 | — | — |
| "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 and Buba Corelli) |
60 | — | |
| "Verna" | 2022 | — | — |
| "Do zore" (with Relja) |
— | — | |
| "Omađijala" (with Relja) |
— | 2 | |
| "Marina" | — | — | |
| "Ljubav" (with Nikolija) |
— | — | |
| "Niko neće" (with JMTradee) |
— | — | |
| "25 milja" (with Igor Buzov) |
— | — | |
| "Shake It" (with Jala Brat) |
— | 5 | |
| "Karamela" (with Jala Brat and Buba Corelli) |
2023 | 23 | 2 |
| "Mili mili" | — | — | |
| "Mafia" (with Voyage) |
66 | 6 | |
| "Ola ola" (with Relja) |
— | — | |
| "Nepogrešivo" (with Jelena Karleuša featuring DJ Hamida) |
— | — | |
| "Nenormalan lik" (with Nikolija) |
2024 | — | 3 |
Other charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT [22] |
CRO Billb. [23] | |||
| "Tu Tu Tu" (with Breskvica) |
2023 | 21 | 1 | Plava krv |
| "Garava" (with Voyage) |
72 | 3 | ||
| "Vajbuje" (with Jala Brat and Buba Corelli) |
— | 5 | ||
| "Rolex" (with Crni Cerak) |
— | 6 | ||
| "Svemir" (with Inas) |
— | 5 | ||
| "Htjela je da zna" (with Relja) |
— | 8 | ||
| "Koji kralj" (with Coby) |
— | 20 | ||
| "Vodi me" (with Teodora) |
— | 25 | ||
| "Nina 2.0" | — | 12 | ||
| "Koketa" | — | 14 | ||
| "Mazna" | — | 19 | ||
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee/work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Music Awards Ceremony | Male Trap Song of the Year | "Marina" | Won | [24] |
| Drill Song of the Year | "Leden" | Nominated | |||
| New Age Collaboration of the Year | "Omađijala" (feat. Relja) | Nominated | |||
| Contribution to Regional Music | Himself | Won |
References
edit- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Vasiljević, N. (23 May 2023). ""Masku ne bih skinuo ni za kakav novac": Devito na promociji svog prvog albuma govorio o privatnosti, verenici, ali i tragedijama koje su nedavno zadesile Srbiju". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "Obara sve rekorde: Devitov album "Plava krv" 7. na listi najslušanijih albuma na svetu!". IDJ TV (in Serbian). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Ovo je najslušaniji album na našim prostorima: Devito projektom "Plava krv" zabeležio nezapamćen uspeh". Nova.rs (in Serbian). 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 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.
- ^ "Oženio se Devito". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^
- For Plava krv: "Devito - Plava krv". Austrian Charts (in Austrian German). Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^
- For Plava krv: "Devito - Plava krv". Schweizer Hitparade (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Peak chart positions in Austria:
- "Discographie Voyage & Devito". Austrian Charts (in Austrian German). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^
- 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.
- For "Mafia": "Croatia Songs (Week of July 2, 2023)". Billboard. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- For "Nenormalan lik": "Croatia Songs (Week of March 30, 2024)". Billboard. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Discographie Devito". Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^
- For "Tu Tu Tu", "Garava", "Vajbuje", "Rolex", "Htjela je da zna", "Koji kralj", "Vodi me", "Nina 2.0", "Koketa" and "Mazna":"Croatia Songs (Week of June 10, 2023)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- For "Svemir":"Croatia Songs (Week of June 24, 2023)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Marinović, M. (27 January 2023). "Zvezde novog muzičkog talasa izdominirale drugog dana MAC-a!". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.