Angolan and Manchester-residing singer, songwriter, and rapper, IAMDDB — born Diana Adelaid Rocha De Brito — is best known for her ability to switch pockets and genres more naturally than other artists.

The 26-year-old first emerged onto the scene with her debut 2016-released single “Leaned Out,” before going on to capture the masses with one of her biggest singles to date in “Shade” a year later. Since then, IAMDDB has continued to deliver a flurry of lo-fi R&B, rap, and trap jams such as “Give Me Something,” “Urban Jazz,” and her latest, rowdy record, “F****d Uppp.”

Fans have caught a buzz off a bunch of well-received projects, that still, to this day, hold stellar replay value – tune into Swervvvv.5, Flightmode Vol. 4 and Hoodrich Vol. 3 for proof of that. But recently, the Angolan artist has taken some time away from the limelight to realign with herself, her feelings and her goals. As a person with such an infectiously positive personality as hers, it’s refreshing to see that even the life of the party needs time to recharge.

It’s safe to say life is good for IAMDDB these days – but sold-out shows and country-hopping won’t change who she is. ‘D’ represents a different side to Manchester and her Angolan roots and stands up for all those who want to achieve greatness as females – especially in such a male-saturated music industry. But aside from just music, IAMDDB is intent on being unapologetically herself, and continue carving out an untouchable legacy in the process.

Joining Hypebeast backstage for a Manchester-based eBay performance for this issue of Sole Mates, Hypebeast speaks with IAMDDB about her life as a Mancunian-Angolan while learning more about how the codes of her style – ranging from the influence of her parents, emotions, and the YEEZY FOAM RNNR – give her the unparalleled aura and artistry she has today.

Hypebeast: How are you doing, are you excited to get on stage?

IAMDDB: I’m good, it’s been a minute since I’ve been back home. It’s great to reconnect with great musicians and a lovely crowd that wants to be here. And it’s great that we can now talk about fly shit – because we’re fly.

Who and what was your first major fashion inspiration? 

My first inspiration was my parents. My daddy was always a fly guy and when he was touring the world, he cared about his presentation, his shoes – his shoes, he loved Texas boots. He loves the buckle on the back. [screams] My daddy was sassy!

And my mum, she was very classy and loved her bracelets, her hair… she would experiment with different styles and she loved the eyeliner – that’s where I get it from. So, I feel like they were my first inspirations and they taught me that you can express yourself through how you dress.

Also, my first two friends, Jennifer and Jasmine Mcking, taught me how to appreciate the importance of being able to put things together. I’ve come to realize that you can be fly, but if you don’t know to construct an outfit, it can look messy.

“These industries want to seem like they are individual, but you can’t have a great fashion show without great music.”

Would you say your mood influences your day-to-day style?

It completely influences it. If I’m not feeling sexy, I won’t put on a slinky dress with heels. Sometimes if I’m feeling like a tomboy and I want to be in baggy clothes and be comfortable, we can do that.

But really, it’s just about expressing the different sides of myself. There are so many different sides and versions of myself, the only ways I can really express all of them is through the way that I dress and through the music I make, and the instruments I choose. My mood is a reflection of my emotions and the things I’m currently going through and the things I have overcome. It all blends into one.

How much do you believe that fashion and music intertwine?

I feel like they are one. These industries want to seem like they are individual, but you can’t have a great fashion show without great music. You can’t have a great music video without great clothes. People like Busta Rhymes, Little Kim, Tupac, Missy Elliot – there are so many icons. And why do we love them? Because their artistry was A1, the sound was A1, and the fashion was always giving. All of these elements help to build the bigger picture and the bigger picture is what the consumers invest in.

If you feel like you can be an artist and not care about your presentation, you’re bugging. It’s important to care, I’m not saying be shallow, but this is how people will react to you as a person and as a brand when they first look at you.

“Fashion influence comes from all over Africa, but Congolese and Angolan people especially… we’re extra.”

For your issue of Sole Mates, you’ve decided to spotlight the YEEZY FOAM RNNR. Why do you like this pair?

I was a late bloomer to the whole YEEZY flex, but when I started tapping in, I was like, oh okay! When I first put them on – I got it. It was the whole comfort level and just feeling like I was floating. When I wear YEEZY’s I feel like I’m floating on the ground.

But I just love how weird and comfortable the shoe is and how not everyone can pull it off. I don’t want to wear a shoe that everyone can wear. I want to wear something that only a certain kind of person can wear. To me, the shoe reflects me as an artist – I’m not for everyone, and that’s okay, but the people that f*ck with me, they’re going to f*ck with me for life. That’s what I think Yeezy is like as a brand, if you get it, you get it. I love authentic vibes and that shoe is authentic – nothing is like it.

How has your style evolved over the years?

I think it has grown with me. At first, I didn’t care about it too much, I wasn’t pulling up to a show to look good, I was pulling up to make sure my vocals are on point and I sound good. I’ve always known how to put an outfit together but I never knew the importance of it until I met the Mckings. When I met them, I realized how much fun you can have with your style and how many different versions of yourself you can create. We speak the same language in a spiritual, emotional, and mental form, it’s so beautiful that you can experience that through fashion.

Have your Angolan roots influenced your fashion taste?

I feel like my roots influence my fashion for sure. Fashion influence comes from all over Africa, but Congolese and Angolan people especially… we’re extra. When we say we’re pulling up, we’re pulling up the best dressed and you’re going to want to be like us because best believe we are fly!

But in the same breath, there’s still so much I need to experiment with from my heritage for what I wear. I want to explore the things that my ancestors were wearing; the patterns, fabrics, the materials they were creating themselves. So yeah, it has influenced me – but there’s so much more I want to discover and indulge in.

What’s next for IAMDDB?

New music! I had to take a break from it for a while – I took two years off and I told myself that as a human, I needed to get straight and when you’re straight as a person, your music naturally elevates. So, I took some time off, and now that I’m back, it’s headshots for the rest of 2022 and until the day I die.