Lil Baby

<p>Superstardom doesn’t come often in Hip-Hop. Sure, new stars pop up practically every day with hit songs, viral dances, and daring new styles, but it’s rare for them to actually transition into real-deal superstardom. Even the biggest Hip-Hop fans would likely be hard-pressed to list off five superstar rappers that debuted within the last five years. However, one artist whose name will almost inevitably be brought up in that conversation <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/442036-lil-baby-doesnt-have-beef-with-migos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is Lil Baby.</a> </p>



<p>Back in 2020, the Atlanta native reached new heights with his sophomore studio album <em>My Turn</em>, which arrived via Quality Control Music and quickly became one of the best-selling albums of the year. Spawning hit singles such as “We Paid,” “Woah,” and “Heatin Up,” <em>My Turn</em> solidified <a href="/profile/lil-baby" class="text-word" target="_blank" >Lil Baby</a> as one of the leaders of the new generation of rappers, an achievement that was illustrated by the high-profile collaborations with <a href="/profile/JCole" class="text-word" target="_blank" >J. Cole</a>, <a href="/profile/lildurk" class="text-word" target="_blank" >Lil Durk</a>, Drake, Kanye West, and <a href="/profile/NickiMinaj" class="text-word" target="_blank" >Nicki Minaj</a> in the years to follow.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2794" height="3392" src="https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?w=843" alt="" class="wp-image-442564" srcset="https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg 2794w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=247,300 247w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=768,932 768w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=843,1024 843w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=1265,1536 1265w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=1687,2048 1687w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1391714184.jpeg?resize=1236,1500 1236w" sizes="(max-width: 2794px) 100vw, 2794px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)</figcaption></figure>



<p>In 2022, Lil Baby became a Grammy award-winning rapper, a repeat <em>Billboard</em> chart-topper, a budding label executive, and a household name to rap fans across countless ages. After <em>My Turn </em>launched him into the superstar stratosphere, expectations for his solo follow-up increased tenfold, and after a considerably longer wait for new Lil Baby music than usual, the self-proclaimed hero is back with his highly anticipated third studio album, <em>It’s Only Me</em>.</p>



<p>Before even diving into the music on the new record, the album cover conveys a lot of what you need to know about <em>It’s Only Me</em>. With painted artwork that’s purposefully similar to the now-iconic cover of <em>My Turn</em> and the background presence of a Mount Rushmore-esque monument that only consists of sculptures of Lil Baby’s likeness over the course of the last five years, it’s evident that <em>It’s Only Me</em> marks the continuation of the path that he’s been carving out for himself. The cover suggests that rather than starting a new chapter of his career, Lil Baby is bringing this era to a close in a noticeably grander fashion. No longer is he the must-watch rapper on the rise, Lil Baby has arrived at the top, and as his new album’s title suggests, he’s in a league of his own. But does the music capture that sentiment as well as the cover art does?</p>



<p>For the most part, yes.</p>



<p>Across 23 tracks and a runtime of one hour and five minutes, Lil Baby is on top of his game on this one. Starting with the intro “Real Spill” — which is arguably leagues ahead of “Get Ugly” in terms of being an impressive and enthralling amuse bouche — Lil Baby gets right to businesses and employs a subdued, lyric-driven delivery that reigns king on <em>It’s Only Me. </em>Later on “Heyy,” he goes on to address this stylistic approach by rapping: “<em>You gotta really pay attention, I&#8217;m not mumblin&#8217;.</em>” While he ended up giving listeners that disclaimer on the fourth track, it’s clear from the onset of this album that Lil Baby has a lot that he’s trying to get off his mind.</p>



<p>On the Sade-sampling intro track “Real Spill,” Baby delivers telling one-liners — like, “<em>Super supertitious, ask my n*ggas, I still pick up pennies</em>” and “<em>They gon&#8217; say that I been actin&#8217; different, I&#8217;m beyond they mental/I moved on from slangin&#8217; drugs and pistols, can&#8217;t be thinkin&#8217; simple</em>&#8221; — that illustrate the Atlanta rapper&#8217;s growth as a man and as a rapper since he dropped off <em>My Turn</em> in 2020. The following track, titled “Stand On It,” picks up the tempo and injects a welcomed dose of energy into <em>It’s Only Me</em>’s opening stretch, but self-aware lyrics like “<em>I&#8217;m tryna touch me a billi&#8217;, still hustle like I&#8217;m on zero/Really done saved some n*ggas, that&#8217;s why they call me the hero</em>&#8221; prove just how <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/440749-lil-babys-its-only-me-production-credits-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">focused and hungry</a> Lil Baby is on his third studio outing.</p>



<p>Even “Heyy,” the abysmally transparent attempt at recreating the viral success of <em>My Turn</em>’s “Woah,” keeps that trend going, as the verses between the less-than-stellar hook are overflowing with memorable lines and funny stories about Lil Baby’s experience with fame. In the song’s second verse, he raps, “<em>They see how we comin&#8217;, think we ghetto/Until they children tell &#8217;em I&#8217;m their hero/Flight attendant said I look familiar/Crack a smile, tell her, &#8216;It&#8217;s a small world</em>,'&#8221; and it makes for a comical moment from an artist who doesn’t typically show the more lighthearted side of his persona inside his music. Interestingly enough, the featured guest on the third track, “Pop Out,” is Nardo Wick, and while Lil Baby’s first verse offered another round of quotable lines — from “<em>You the type of guy that want the &#8216;I&#8217; for rеal, you all so selfish/I&#8217;m the type of guy rеady to die for this shit if it gon&#8217; prevail us</em>” to “<em>We handled the business like gentlemen, I can&#8217;t rock with thugs/Jeff can get ten M&#8217;s if he needed it, you know I rock with Thug</em>” — the “Who Want Smoke?” rapper stole the show with a menacing, yet humorous performance over the stark Trademark, Eza, and ShortyyK-powered production.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrhdOojCbB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrhdOojCbB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrhdOojCbB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by @lilbaby</a></p></div></blockquote><script async src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Heading into the fifth track upon first listen, it didn’t seem like Lil Baby was building enough momentum and loading up the bases with strong enough tracks, but lo and behold, “California Breeze” easily became the first song on <em>It’s Only Me</em> that he knocked out the park. It wasn’t quite a grand slam due to the underwhelming nature of the previous four tracks, but it was the big, impressive moment that the album needed. The atmospheric Murda Beatz and Mars production offered a gripping alternative to the Atlanta rapper’s trap-heavy soundscapes, and — judging from how effortlessly Lil Baby floated over the beat — it’s certainly a style that he should consider exploring more.</p>



<p>From that point on, the Quality Control artist appears <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/440985-lil-babys-its-only-me-first-week-sales-projections-have-landed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fully warmed up</a> and more locked in than he was during the opening stretch, and over the next handful of songs, he plays with different sounds and vibes to deliver more standout tracks such as “Perfect Timing,” “Never Hating,” and “Waterfall Flow.” In the second half of the album, Lil Baby enlists his 4PF signee Rylo Rodriguez for a strong guest spot on “Cost To Be Alive,” which — for nostalgia’s sake — is bolstered by a sample that sounds eerily similar to the sample from J. Cole’s <em>Friday Night Lights</em> mixtape cut “Cost Me A Lot.” With a sensational feature from <a href="/profile/Future" class="text-word" target="_blank" >Future</a> shortly thereafter, it’s worth noting that Lil Baby did an excellent job in curating his features on It’s Only Me. There are only six guest artists spread across a 23-track album, and an overwhelming majority of them — from Nardo Wick to Rylo Rodriguez — are very impressive.</p>



<p>The final stretch of the album, like the opening one, isn’t the most sonically memorable collection of Lil Baby songs, but once again, it cannot be overstated how lyrically robust even some of the less enjoyable songs on <em>It’s Only Me</em> are. Slightly plagued with skippable tracks rather than bad ones, Lil Baby’s latest effort is merely one that benefits immensely from multiple, thorough listens. For the first time on a Lil Baby full-length, the music feels extremely vulnerable and transparent, and where <em>It’s Only Me</em> lacks in fresher and more experimental sounds, it excels as a lyric-driven offering that gives listeners a better idea of who Lil Baby is.</p>



<p>The album officially wraps up with “Russian Roulette,” a hard-hitting track and confident final statement that closes out an impressive, yet somehow underwhelming third studio album from Quality Control’s marquee act.</p>



<p>In the months and years following the release of <em>My Turn</em> and its <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/441820-lil-baby-says-he-wont-be-releasing-deluxe-version-of-its-only-me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unbelievably amazing deluxe</a>, Lil Baby has consistently risen to the occasion whenever an immense opportunity has landed in his lap. From his scene-stealing performance on Drake’s “Wants and Needs” last year to his infectious contribution to Nicki Minaj’s “Do We Have A Problem” earlier this year, Lil Baby has worked tirelessly to put himself in a league of his own, and perhaps <em>It’s Only Me</em> is the result of that. Over the course of 23 tracks, Lil Baby doesn’t worry about grabbing or keeping your attention —&nbsp;he already knows he has it. As a result, Lil Baby’s latest body of work isn’t one of the more exciting albums in his growing catalog, but that isn’t to say that it’s a weak record. Rather than owing its success to flashy features and high-octane production, <em>It’s Only Me</em> is best characterized by its honest — and still incredibly quotable — lyrics, unexpectedly intense moments of introspection, rare moments of stellar sonic experimentation, and a very recognizable growth in Lil Baby as an artist and as a person.</p>



<p>Being the people’s champ is hard work, but on <em>It’s Only Me</em>, Lil Baby holds firm to that title with ease, delivering a worthwhile follow-up to <em>My Turn</em> that his continuously growing fanbase can appreciate.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>Let us know what you think about&nbsp;<em>HNHH</em>‘s review of&nbsp;<em>It&#8217;s Only Me&nbsp;</em>in the comment section below, and give Lil Baby’s latest record your own rating at the original album post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/436851-kid-cudi-taps-don-toliver-2-chainz-more-for-entergalactic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: It&amp;apos;s Only Me" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0FYvMdfTfYJxnJnKs1wDb0?utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
</div></figure>

{"wpid":442137,"content_type":"article","event_group":"content","author":235,"tags":[55603,25538]}