Kali Uchis' Boyfriend Is Also a Famous Singer More about Don Toliver & Their Relationship
Kali Uchis and Don Toliver. | Source: Getty Images
Grammy-winning singer Kali Uchis is dating rapper Don Toliver. The relationship between the "Mystery Lady" rapper and the sultry Latina became official in 2021.
When news dropped in 2021 that Kali Uchis' boyfriend is none other than rapper Don Toliver, fans of both stars were stunned. More surprisingly, there were some indications that the relationship might have started as early as 2020.
This was no flash in the pan, and fans wondered how two artists with such different music styles and personalities got together. Uchis and Toliver start out by proving they can make beautiful music together, but they keep their romance so discreet as to be almost a secret.
Don Toliver and Kali Uchis at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awardson April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images
Kali Uchis was born Karly Marina Loaiza in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 17, 1994. Uchis' father is from Columbia, where Uchis spent most of her childhood summers after moving back to care for his ailing mother.
The young Uchis loved music and played the piano and saxophone with a jazz band but had no intentions of singing. Uchis was fascinated with photography, visual art, and creating short films. Later, she'd start singing and recording her music while living in her car.
Toliver shared his admiration and awe for Uchis' talent as a singer and songwriter.
Uchis' music is heavily influenced by her Latin American heritage and passion for doo-wop, 60s music, and R&B. The singer named jazz and blues icons Billy Hollyday and Ella Fitzgerald as influences, as well as salsa singer Ralfi Pagan, among others, a stark contrast to Toliver, whose genre is rap.
How did Kali Uchis and Don Toliver's Relationship Become Public?
The unlikely couple was first suspected when Toliver released a video for his song "Drugs N Hella Melodies," featuring Uchis in June 2021. The sensual video had fans wondering if the two singers were involved, and the revelation followed on June 13, 2021, a day after Toliver's birthday.
The rapper posted a snap on his Instagram account showing himself and Uchis in an intimate moment in the backseat of a car. Toliver captioned the post:
"Best Birthday Ever. I Promise. Thank you All For the B Day wishes🤞🏿"
Uchis replied to the rapper in her Instagram stories, sharing the hope that he'd enjoyed his birthday and calling him a "crazy man." The cat was out of the bag, and Uchis and Toliver were Instagram-official.
What Were Fans' Reactions to Kali Uchis and Don Toliver's Relationship?
As the news about the unlikely romance spread, fans started to react and drop comments on social media. The reactions ranged from outright disbelief to enthusiastic approval. @rapmanor commented on Twitter:
"don toliver with kali uchis..... what am i doing wrong?"
"[Expletive] Kali Uchis and Don Toliver together, the couple I never knew I needed," wrote another surprised fan @Jaydendaye on Twitter.
Uchis replied on her Twitter account to some of the more outraged and offensive fan responses to the relationship announcement by commenting:
"many of you are delusional & that’s why i keep my distance & take nothing personal"
Don Toliver on stage at the 2022 Rolling Loud New York. | Source: Getty Images
Who is Don Toliver?
On closer inspection, Toliver and Uchis' romance doesn't seem that unlikely. As different as their musical influences and styles may be, their music shares two things: passion and integrity.
Don Toliver was born in Houston, Texas, on June 12, 1994. The son of a Swishahouse rapper, Toliver grew up surrounded by rap music, but he only started rapping in 2017 and released his first mixtape, "Playa Familia," in collaboration with Yungjosh93.
A year later, he signed up with Atlantic Records and was featured in the song "Can't Stay" in Travis Scott's third studio album, "Astroworld." Toliver broke through when his song "No Idea" went viral on TikTok.
Toliver signed with Scott's record label, Cactus Jack, and collaborated on Eminem's eleventh studio album on the track "No Regrets." A clear sign that Toliver is well on his way to stardom was the invitation to open for The Weeknd's "After Hours Tour."
Making Music Together
Toliver and Uchis have collaborated on the song
from his album "Life of a Don." The song seamlessly blends their disparate styles and voices into a hypnotic, sensual whole
As for the video, it is a revelation of the intimate bond between the two, especially when Toliver revealed that he considers the album as the soundtrack to his life. In that case, "Drugs N Hella Melodies" is a confession of his relationship with Uchis. Toliver revealed:
“We’re not crazy public or nothing like that, we just vibe. I already had it in my mind to go out there and shoot a video with her incorporated into it, to make it a real-deal situation.”
What Do We Know About Kali Uchis and Don Toliver's Relationship?
Even though they are careful to protect their relationship from public scrutiny, the couple reprised their performance of "Drugs N Hella Melodies" live at Rolling Loud New York 2022, closing with a kiss.
In an interview with #EbrointheMorning #HOT97, Toliver shared his admiration and awe for Uchis' talent as a singer and songwriter and described their brainstorming sessions as intense.
Toliver let slip that he'd traveled with her to MedellĂn, Colombia, and met her family. The rapper stripped the veil off their love with a post on July 17, 2022, wishing Uchis a happy birthday.
The post consisted of a composite video showing snippets of the couple interacting in their everyday life, walking down a corridor backstage at a concert, chasing each other on a beach, and kissing in the parking lot. It looks real, and it looks as if it's going to last.
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