It looks like Lil Baby is ready to dominate another summer. The Atlanta superstar hit the ‘Gram with a snippet of new music and a video that has been in the cut for nearly two years. The song, reportedly titled “Again (Go Hard),” first appeared on Lil Baby’s Instagram page when he and James Harden hung out. However, it appears that he’s finally gearing up to release it as a single in the coming weeks. He shared a teaser of the music video to his page with the caption reading, “I’m Back Going Hard Again [gorilla emoji] I’m Shutting Down My Heart Again.”
Lil Baby rips through the piano-laden production with the grittiness that, unfortunately, felt missing from his last studio album, It’s Only Me. The “Freestyle” rapper’s motivational bars divulge his experiences in the streets and his drive to keep going. Though some may have found It’s Only Me underwhelming, “Again (Go Hard)” seems to signal that he has even more music in the cut that he’s readying for this summer. Paired with a visual of his yacht-sailing adventures with his friends, expect Lil Baby to be an inescapable part of this summer, once again.
With the upcoming release of Lil Baby’s forthcoming single, he seems to hint at having some new music to perform this summer. The rapper will hit the road this summer on the It’s Only Us tour. The 32-date tour kicks off on July 26th in Houston, TX before hitting cities like Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, and more. The rapper will be joined by GloRilla, The Kid Laroi, Gloss Up, Rylo Rodriguez, and Hunxcho. Though no New York or Atlanta dates have been set, Lil Baby is scheduled to perform at Governor’s Ball in June and presumably, will save his homecoming show for his annual birthday bash in December.
The tour announcement came shortly after his latest studio album went platinum. RIAA certified It’s Only Me earlier this month after the project moved 1M copies. Though his forthcoming tour will certainly focus on his latest opus, the fact that he’s teasing new music could be a strong indication that he’s ready to flood the streets once more. Check out the teaser above and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below.
Lil Baby currently holds one of the hottest tickets in hip-hop. He has become one of Atlanta, Georgia’s most successful young new rappers. Dominique Armani Jones, born on December 3, 1994, began his music career in 2017 and quickly gained recognition for his unique flow and gritty lyrics. Lil Baby’s music also explores street life, poverty, and social justice, often drawing from his experiences growing up in Atlanta’s rougher neighborhoods.
Before pursuing music, Lil Baby had a troubled past and spent time in and out of juvenile detention. Young Thug encouraged him to pursue a music career, and he released his debut mixtape, Perfect Timing, in 2017. Critics gave positive reviews about the project. He has since released several successful albums, including Harder than Ever, Street Gossip, and My Turn, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Additionally, Baby received two Grammy nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “The Bigger Picture.” He has also collaborated with many high-profile artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, and DaBaby. His joint album with friend and Chicago rapper Lil Durk, The Voice of the Heroes, was released in 2021. The RIAA certified Lil Baby’s latest album, Its Only Me, Platinum, in October 2022. He’s recorded four studio albums and six mixtapes, and landed nearly four dozen guest verses since he began his career. Here are some of his best songs.
8. “Wants And Needs” – Drake ft. Lil Baby (2021)
“Wants and Needs” is a song from Drake’s Scary Hours 2 EP. The frequent collaborators also wrote the song alongside producers Cardo and Dez Wright. Noah ‘40’ Shebib, Drake’s right-hand producer, also has production credits on the track. The song debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Wants and Needs” was a massive commercial success during its Billboard run, and Lil Baby’s verse is widely considered the standout part of the song.
7. “The Bigger Picture” (2020)
“The Bigger Picture” is a socially conscious song available in the deluxe edition of Lil Baby’s My Turn album. The song was released on June 12, 2020, in the wake of the nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. “The Bigger Picture”also received critical acclaim for its powerful lyrics and Lil Baby’s emotional delivery.
Further, the song peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has also been certified two times Platinum by the RIAA. “The Bigger Picture” received two Grammy nominations in 2021, including Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, which is also a testament to its cultural impact and relevance.
6. “Emotionally Scared” (2020)
“Emotionally Scared” is available courtesy of Lil Baby’s sophomore album, My Turn. The single received critical acclaim and was praised for its honest lyrics and the rapper’s emotional delivery. The song peaked at No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and has also been certified three times Platinum by the RIAA. “Emotionally Scared” also features production from frequent collaborator, Twysted Genius.
5. “Sum 2 Prove” (2020)
Lil Baby released “Sum 2 Prove” in January 2020. The song is also another that makes part of My Turn’s tracklist. “Sum 2 Prove” received wide acclaim and earned Lil Baby several award nominations, including the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop Video and Best Hip Hop Single in 2020. The song also won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video in 2020. Commercially, “Sum 2 Prove” was a massive success, reaching No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying on the list for 19 weeks. Further, the song peaked at No. 7 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Producer Twysted Genius is also credited with production.
4. “Woah” (2019)
“Woah” was released on November 8, 2019, as a single from his album, My Turn. The song was produced by Quay Global, who has worked with Lil Baby on several other tracks, including “Baby” and “Global.” Lil Baby was also praised for his flow and the song’s catchy chorus. Additionally, the song peaked at No. 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been certified five times Platinum by the RIAA.
“Drip Too Hard” is a collaborative hit song with fellow Atlanta rapper Gunna. It’s unclear if the two artists are on good terms these days after reports suggested that Gunna took a plea deal in the case against his label, YSL, and Young Thug. As stated earlier, Thug was the one who introduced Lil Baby to music and is the founder of the YSL record label. This track was released in September 2018 and was included on Lil Baby and Gunna’s collaborative project Drip Harder, which was released later that year. The hit single was also certified Diamond by the RIAA in September 2022 for selling an equivalent of 10 million units globally.
2. “Sold Out Dates” – Gunna ft. Lil Baby (2018)
“Sold Out Dates” was officially released in April 2018 after it leaked on the internet. Turbo and Ghetto Guitar are credited with production. The song also gained significant recognition in the music industry, earning a nomination for the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Collaboration, Duo or Group in 2018. The song also received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the catchy beat and Lil Baby’s melodic flow. Commercially, “Sold Out Dates” performed reached No. 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed on the list for 11 weeks. The song also peaked at No. 32 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
1. “Freestyle” (2017)
“Freestyle” is considered Lil Baby’s sleeper hit. Although released in 2017, the song started gaining global recognition in 2022. Also, the song was released in November 2017 as a promotional single from his mixtape, Too Hard. The track is now a standout from Lil Baby’s early work, further showcasing his lyrical prowess and ability to weave between lyricism and melody.
One of the hottest rappers out of Atlanta continues to see success for his work, even months after its initial drop. Moreover, Lil Baby just got a new platinum plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for his 2022 album, It’s Only Me. The project reportedly reached over 1 million album equivalent units sold in February of this year following its October release. While many might see this as Baby being late to the party or failing to meet these standards sooner, it also goes to show how long-lasting and relevant his work continues to be well after its release.
Not only that, but there might even be a new album from the 28-year-old soon with a very exciting name attached. Recently, producer Black Coffee hinted at Drake releasing a collab album with the “California Breeze” MC soon, although neither artist’s confirmed or denied this as of writing this article. Black Coffee worked heavily on Drizzy’s Honestly, Nevermind, so he’s quite the close source to get this info from. However, only time will tell if it actually manifests into a drop, yet the Toronto superstar’s joint project with 21 Savage certainly inspires hope with its precedent.
Lil Baby Gets Another Platinum Plaque For It’s Only Me
Unfortunately, while It’s Only Me sold very well, it represented a bit of a critical downturn for Lil Baby. Many fans weren’t pleased with the 23-song tracklist and cited a general lack of inspiration or notable songs. Of course, all music is subjective, so many stood by the Quality Control signee and kept bumping his new tracks. Regardless of whether every song is a hit, you can still count on him to deliver rhymes and topics with a bit more detail and grace than the average rapper. As such, maybe a mixed reception will motivate him even more to drop something special as its follow-up.
Meanwhile, it’s hard to imagine that the rapper worries too much about what others think of his musical output. As one of the most successful rappers of his generation from sales to guest verses and beyond, he still holds a strong grip on much of the hip-hop fanbase. Also, he got a lot of respect from his peers, including Lil Uzi Vert who said they’ve “never heard a bad song” from him. With that in mind, he definitely has the backing to keep pushing himself to greatness, and platinum plaques are just the cherry on top. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest updates and news on Lil Baby.
Lil Baby just performed at the 2023 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, and many fans believe that it was an inappropriate appearance. Moreover, he rapped the cut “California Breeze” off his latest album, 2022’s It’s Only Me. While he gave a cleaned-up rendition of the track, many still pointed to the track’s sexually explicit lyrical content. Of course, conversations like these surrounding kids’ proximity to genres like hip-hop are nothing new. Still, it was quite bizarre to see the Atlanta MC try to turn up some 11-year-olds.
Furthermore, Twitter had a field day reacting to the sight and cracking some jokes about it. “Lil Baby performing at a kids choice awards is like Yo Gotti performing at a back to school tour,” one fan remarked. Another wrote, “Y’all worried about Lil Baby Performing at the Kids choice awards but your kids know every word to Glorilla songs and s**t and they are twerking. Ijs like the selective outrage ain’t none of this music kid appropriate now a days let’s be honest!” That “selective outrage” reference is likely from Chris Rock’s latest comedy special, which itself drew some fire online.
“California Breeze” Takes Kids’ Choice Awards By Storm
However, any complaints from online adults don’t concern kids loving the performance onstage. After all, a lot of the show’s target audience isn’t quite at the impressionable teen age that these lyrics could more confidently affect. As such, they were just happy to dance along to the song and not really care about (or fully understand) what Baby was saying. Also, the 28-year-old probably got the gig in the first place because he has young kids of his own. What’s more is that eight-year-old Jason and four-year-old Loyal also attended the awards ceremony alongside their dad.
Meanwhile, Baby’s latest headline appearances stemmed from topics that would’ve torn the Kids’ Choice stage apart. Moreover, Blueface and Chrisean Rock fought recently over Baby contacting Chrisean. Since then, the California rapper adamantly claimed that him, as well as other rappers like Rick Ross, want to get with her. Overall, it’s quite hilarious but also enlightening to see just how many lanes the “Freestyle” artist finds himself in. Regardless, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Lil Baby and check out more reactions down below.
Twitter Reacts To Lil Baby’s Kids’ Choice Performance
Kids choice awards haven’t been for kids since 2020 when they let DAP be performed
Y’all mad at lil baby for preforming his son California Dreams at the #KidsChoiceAward2023 but the this guy , had y’all singing I can’t feel my face , which is def about sniffing that coco and nobody said shit not to mention he won a award for that and it was a kid choice awards… https://t.co/40dA314fA5pic.twitter.com/v4ZFfg3DR9
i had to thug it out and watch Selena Gomez & Miranda Cosgrove back in my day ….. BUT TODAY’S KIDS GET TO WATCH LIL BABY PERFORM AT THE KID’S CHOICE AWARDS THIS YEAR ????? Nickelodeon got some explainin’ to do frl. pic.twitter.com/v2DlQshXPH
In its first week, It’s Only Me achieved staggering numbers. Fans had been dying for Baby’s return for months, and surely showed it when the project first dropped. On the Billboard Hot 100 the week following his release, Baby occupied 25% of the chart. A quarter of the songs on the Hot 100 included Lil Baby, and 21 of them were It’s Only Me songs. Baby was the youngest artists to achieve this feat. The album also ended up selling 216,000 units and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Now, just over four months removed from its release, It’s Only Me has reached another milestone. Typically a signifier for success, the LP reached platinum status on Sunday (Feb. 19), according to Chart Data. Selling 1 million total units in the United States, this is now Baby’s fifth album to go platinum, solo or collaborative. It first went gold in November, but unlike prior tapes Street Gossip and Too Hard, it was able to get over the platinum hump.
One main storyline for the album during its release week was the shots Baby threw at Akademiks. Rapping that Ak “know he ain’t as rich as me” on “From Now On” and “n****s think they can’t get touched” on “Top Priority,” Baby did not hold back. Akademiks took issue with this, responding with: “Lil Baby dissed me instead of Fani Willis (DA of fulton county) and his real opps.. Wat is Rap music.” Regardless of the small beef, Baby still proved to pull off a successful release. It’s Only Me going platinum is just another testament of Baby’s star power, regardless of the critics.
In his second performance of the night, Lil Baby brought an emotional performance of his song, “Forever,” to the Saturday Night Live stage.
During the performance, Lil Baby was dressed in all black, joined by a pianist, who played flawless notes while Lil Baby rapped the melodic It’s Only Me standout. Though the song’s collaborator, Fridayy, who sings on the chorus, wasn’t present during the performance, Lil Baby’s stage presence matched the energy of the hook.
Over the years, Baby’s sound has evolved greatly, and last year’s It’s Only Me cemented him as one of rap’s best acts in the game right now. Albeit a rap superstar, whose career trajectory is only proving that he’s destined for longevity, Baby revealed in a profile for New York Timesthat he will never forget who and what he’s doing it all for — his hometown of Atlanta.
“The main thing that I do still keep with me from Atlanta, when I go everywhere, is me,” he said. “My upbringing, my manners, my way of thinking, my way of living. Everything comes from Atlanta. No matter where I go, I’ll never be able to get distance from Atlanta.”
Tonight (January 28), rapper Lil Baby made his debut on Saturday Night Live. He took to the stage for a performance of “California Breeze” from his third studio album, It’s Only Me.
During his performance, Lil Baby was dressed in a luxurious green vest with matching pants. The rapper was joined by several instrumentalists, including a keyboardist and an electric guitarist, giving the song a rock-style sound. Colorful lights surrounding the stage added to the performance’s electrifying feel.
It’s Only Mereached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon its release last October, and was one of the most streamed albums of 2022. Even having accomplished these remarkable feats, making albums comes as second nature to Lil Baby.
In a recent interview with XXL, Baby revealed that he doesn’t see himself as competing with anyone in the rap game. He prefers to go with his own flow and let the music speak for itself.
“I’m the only person where I’m like I’m tryna outdo, ya feel me? he said. “..I just know to do what I suppose to do and it just like always happens for me that way, feel me? I’ll outdo myself with no problem.”
Lil Baby season is here. After an active last few years where many have likened his run to that of late-2000s Lil Wayne and 2015 Future, the Quality Control artist is ready to unleash his third album, titled It’s Only Me.
In a Friday (September 2) Instagram post, the “Woah” artist shared the album art featuring his own version of Mount Rushmore. Similar to Drake’s lyrics on 2018’s “Survival,” Baby’s Rushmore shows four different iterations of the Atlanta rapper from his infancy until today. Beneath the cloud-adorned structure, he sits on a rock flanked by goats, a nod to his lyrics on Drake’s 2021 record “Wants & Needs” where he says, “I’m not the GOAT but I fit the description.”
His caption reads, “‘ It’s Only Me ‘ 10-14-22 I Kno Its Been Along Time Coming But I’m Coming Harder And Harder …… #worththewait,” which also references his early projects Harder Than Hard, 2 The Hard Way, Too Hard, Harder Than Ever, and his collaborative project with Gunna titled Drip Harder. While Baby is seemingly at the peak of his career, one can only wonder if the use of “Harder And Harder” means he is looking to revert back to his early stages but add a 2022 spin.
Check out the It’s Only Me album art above.
It’s Only Me is out 10/14 via Quality Control/UMG.
(@WordToHollyWood) 
