BDii — real name Brian Darden II — has been crushing it on The Voice season 27 ever since receiving a rare four-chair turn from the judges during blind auditions. Life & Style takes a closer look at the crooner, including his impressive athletic history.
Who Is BDii?
BDii is a singer who is originally from Hampton, Virginia. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
BDii was born on September 24, 1992, to parents Brian and Kimberly Darden. He’s the oldest of four children, which include his younger siblings Monee, Briana and Robbie. BDii’s close relationship with his folks was seen during The Voice season premiere in February 2025, as they cheered him on from the side of the stage during their son’s blind audition.
BDii Is a Former Collegiate Basketball Player
BDii was a standout basketball star at Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia. The talented vocalist went on to play college hoops for the Hampton Pirates men’s basketball team at Virgina’s Hampton University.
During his junior year in the 2014-2015 season, BDii played in 35 games for the Pirates, making 20 starts, according to his school athletic bio. The following year, he played in 32 games as a senior.
The college athlete hoped to play professional basketball, but his plans were ruined by an ankle injury. BDii said during his The Voice video introduction that his dad advised him, “You will last but so long in basketball, but your ability to sing, your vocals, is your gift. That can last you as long as you’re alive.”
BDii Became a Hot Commodity During his Blind Audition
When BDii performed on night 3 of The Voice blind auditions on February 17, 2025, his smooth cover of Miguel‘s “Adorn” got all four judges to turn their chairs.
Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, Adam Levine and John Legend all made their pitches as to why BDii should choose them as his coach.
“That was go great,” Adam gushed with a frustrated look on his face as Kelsea blocked him, since she was the only coach left who hadn’t used their block during the course of blind auditions.
“Would you like to discuss that red sign in front of Adam?” John jokingly asked Kelsea.
“I don’t have an artist like you on my team … And I knew he was really, really gonna try and I couldn’t risk it,” the “Miss Me More” artist said about using her block
“I heard a lot of soul, R&B, but I heard a lot of pop in your voice too. I know you’re probably like, ‘Yo, who are you and you sing country music but what do you have to offer me?’” Kelsea told BDii. “Let me tell you, I am actively on country radio and having crossover songs and pushing myself to write in different genres — for other artists and with other artists — ’cause I am so ride or die for music. I don’t believe in boxes, I just believe in music being music.”
Adam stood up and declared, “I am a sad, sad man because you are world class man, You are excellent.” The Maroon 5 frontman told BDii that it was “the ultimate sign of respect” that Kelsea had to use her block to prevent him from landing the contestant.
Michael made a convincing argument for BDii then John was last to make his case. The “All of Me” crooner told BDii that he had the right approach to the Miguel song and pointed out how he personally had previously worked with the R&B star.
John brought up former contestant Mac Royals — whom BDii was familiar with — and noted how he “blossomed on my team” because of good song selections the pair chose.
“We picked songs that really showed his character as an artist and I would love to help you do that on Team Legend,” John added in his pitch.
When it came time to pick his coach, BDii announced, “Just understanding where I come from, I’m gonna go with my boy John,” selecting Team Legend.
