For our latest digital cover story, we got the chance to visit Gunna and Lil Baby on the set for their "Drip Too Hard" music video shoot. This lead single for Drip Harder is a tightly-wound showcase of both their talents; Baby's hook is an infectious earworrm tailor-made for the Billboard charts while Gunna's verse is a surprisingly lyrical showcase of his oft-understated wordplay. The song peaked at an impressive #25 on the Hot 100. Their chemistry on set seemed to reflect this fervent demand for their music as they orchestrated their own fashion show of sorts, one that not only showcased the models at hand, but their own unique drip.
From the outfits that dominated the genre's formative years to N.W.A., Outkast, The Lox and The Diplomats, pitting close collaborators against each other has always been a favorite pastime for hip-hop heads. We've done it ourselves on numerous occasions. But with Baby and Gunna, this task may prove to be more difficult than anticipated. Drip Harder is a carefully curated exhibition of what fans seem to adore from both artists. At 13 tracks, it follows the Super Slimey approach of sequencing, one that undercuts the collaborative efforts with stellar solo standouts from both. Presumably, this method is meant to boost their own respective talents while still delivering on the chemistry promised to the fans.
With such careful consideration placed into the creation of this project, will a head-to-head comparison of the two prove to be useless? Let's see!
As always, make sure to cast your own vote as you scroll through this breakdown.
1. "Off White VLONE (feat. Lil Durk & Nav)"
Considering the extraneous features from Lil Durk and Nav, this is quite a crowded intro. Gunna & Durk go back and forth for the hook and all parties involved get a brief eight bars to flex. However, despite the claustrophobic nature of this opener, it's Baby's detail-oriented verse that cuts through with razor-sharp precision.
Winner: Lil Baby
Favorite Gunna Bars:
Coupe from outer space, trust me, I'm okay
Bought Hi-Tech, paid by the case
You could tell that's Chanel by the lace
You could tell it's a bale by the weight
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
In Dior they call me Mr. Baby, they know who I am
BB belt hold up my pants, Louis pouch hold a FN
Big Balencis, I don't care for fashion, do it 'cause I can
Vlone Forgiato rims, white T-shirt, Amiri Timbs
2. "Business Is Business"
After the feature-heavy opening track, "Business Is Business" is a fast-paced spectacle that sees both rappers putting their best foot forward. Both verses are a bar-heavy barrage of boasts and threats meant to recap their rise thus far. Baby plays with his syllables more than Gunna, but Gunna's delivery proves to be more engaging. It's truly a case of preference, with no clear standout.
Winner: TIE
Favorite Gunna Bars:
You learned how to drip from you watchin' my page
N****s be tossin', somebody decay
Off-White'd the coupe and the inside is beige
I pop this shit like I've been doin' for ages
So many dead faces I got me a grave
YSL, n***a say, "Slatt" every day
I pop me a pill, one got stuck in my throat
This Rollie a Presi', I don't need to vote
Your ho super ready, she at my condo
I stay with that .9, they should call me Marlo
I'm the greatest of all, my emoji is goat
Bouncin' my life, got my back off the rope
Too real can't turn my back on the bros
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
I shoulda playin' linebacker, I want a sack
I got this cheetah print all on my jacket
I got the belt and the shoes to match it
I'm from the hood, I'm keepin' my ratchet
My bitch the baddest, she ain't bougie, she ratchet
I get him flipped, then I buy him a casket
I'm servin' real, I ain't just singin', rappin'
I got on Soldier Re's, they're classics
I got a .31 doin' gymnastics
I sold a brick, it was still in the package
3. "Belly"
"Belly" is an ode to the Hype Williams' film of the same name, a crime drama starring Nas, DMX and a slew of other familiar hip-hop faces. Both Gunna and Baby tackle this ruminative cut with reflective verses that see them counting their blessings. Both having served time at one point, they are acutely aware of how different their lives could have been if not for hip-hop. For Baby's verse, he wields the familiar "Freestyle" flow, the one that initially got him popping. His verse may be more lyrical on paper, but it's Gunna's more subtle flow that really impresses; through his understated delivery, Gunna is able to sneak in multiple tidbits about his rise, including how he used to open up for Playboi Carti.
Winner: Gunna
Favorite Gunna Bars:
I got the sweetest sauce like jelly
Try disrespect me, you all get beheaded
I got the drip, they call me Dripavelli
I held him down, that n**** was my celly
Fuck you fuck n***s, that's what made me heartless
Thank God, came and got me, used to shop at Target
They cut out the coupe before we hit the market
We don't pack our bags 'cause we gon' shop regardless
Backend, I'm back in, paid up for the party
I done came a long way from openin' up for Carti
Shades and my bracelets Cartier Carti
Police's cases, all that we avoidin'
The lean in my cup gettin' more and more muddy
I shown all my love, I've never been a bully
Got every color VLONE hoodie
Just jumped in the game and still I ain't no rookie
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
My mom and them happy, I bought them a mansion
I still rock the fitted, but I don't be cappin'
These camouflage denim like I just went campin'
They still can't believe that I made it, they happy
I been gettin' money before I was rappin'
I'm ridin' in the Wraith like I play with the actors
No pleadin', arraignment, ain't takin' no charges
My young n****'s solid, I know that he got me
He keep his mouth closed, I'ma buy him a foreign
Penthouse, hotel suite whenever we're tourin'
How foreign my tint is, I still rock the Jordan
Packin' out shows, love my fans, they important
And I'm still in the trap, in the hood like a motor
Spend thousands on fragrance, she fuckin' my odor
4. "Underdog"
With Wheezy, June James and a few others assisting Turbo on this cut, "Underdog" proves to be one of the more unique sounding tracks on Drip Harder. Both rappers show up over this twinkling instrumental, and with Gunna on the hook, it's easy to crown him as the MVP here. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that Baby's brief verse is just as effective as Gunna's longer screen time. Throughout his verse, Baby stretches his vocals in new and exciting ways, instilling his verse with a sense of longing that's missing from Gunna's more lackadaisical bars. He sounds like a true underdog, fighting for his chance at a hopeful future.
Winner: Lil Baby
Favorite Gunna Bars:
The only thing I fear is God
You wasn't there when I was locked down in the pot
Went blind, only thing I see is dollar signs
Show me loyalty, I'll let you ride
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
One for all, me and my dawgs stay on call
Got a 4x4, it fit so tall, can't fit in garage
Need a rich bitch, I'm like where is Nicki Minaj
Money comin' in, like I play ball, but I don't play ball
And I'm supercharged, I'm a real dope boy
With designer from my head to my toe, I drip hard
I can't pull up in the hood no more, that's what I grind for
Feds tryna listen in on me, think I'm a drug lord
Had to make it to the finish line without no head start
Man I really came from nothin', all I know is to go hard
Me and Gunna, double R, n****s sendin' slick shots
On the tour bus with them killers, stay on Twitter, bitch boy
5. "I Am"
Drip Harder is executive produced by Turbo, Gunna's most recent go-to producer. For this reason, Gunna seems to handle the hooks on most of the Turbo-produced tracks, setting up Baby to either quietly steal the show or fade to the background with a brief verse. However, on "I Am" it's Baby's go-to Quay Global that provides the soundtrack, and Baby, more familiar with this terrain, handles the hook. This consequently sets Gunna up to slide in with one of his best verses on the album, a verse where he repurposes one of Baby's signature flows to great effect.
Winner: Gunna
Favorite Gunna Bars:
I parked the Bentley inside the garage
I don't know how much head I can dodge
I can get you knocked off with a nod
4 Pockets Full, everyone got a knot
I say this shit from the heart
I knew you weren't real, you weren't there from the start
Anything good in my way came from God
Go get on stage and I get an applause
Damn Yung'un done growed up
Bent the Bentley coupe, they know it's us
My bro took a loss and I picked him up
We stick together, they ain't rich as us
I wanna sit down, she ain't lit enough
Every time I count cash, swear I get a rush
My money long as the yellow bus
It ain't no secret, I'm livin' plush
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
That young n***a shit, we still on it
My dawg goin' through it, I feel for him
She told me she love me, I fell for it
Got real n****s sittin' in jail for it
Buy the pack, I'ma put it in the mail for it
On the hunt for the money, I smell for it
I went big dawg on them, this Tom Ford
That lil' boy shit I ain't goin' for it
6. "Seals Pills"
An atmospheric drug-ballad produced by frequent Gunna collaborators Playmakers, "Seals Pills" is mainly a showcase of Gunna's steadily improving vocal capabilities. Baby's bars are engaging and, once again, may seem more lyrical on paper, but between his anthemic hook, his cleverly ad-libbed verse, and his contributions to Baby's verse, this was always Gunna's song for the taking.
Winner: Gunna
Favorite Gunna Bars:
Blew a ten on a Wednesday, stack these bands
Heard you rent wasn't paid, need a lend
Just like Frito-Lay, I'ma feed my friends
Got white like Nicky Barnes, cop these two door foreigns
My bitch can't be borin', ice on both my arms
Don't approach, I'm armed, flawless diamond charm
All my spots alarmed, big house feel like a dorm
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
Addicted to the awe, me and Gunna double R
Rich rollin', I'm a star, don't take shots from the bar
But I'm ballin' like Lavar
I put drip all in my lingo, I went crazy
Louis Supreme jean jacket for my baby
My kid a walking lick, I put VVS on his neck
Fucked my sidepiece, some new breasts
Fresh off of high speed in that 'Vette
7. "My Jeans (feat. Young Thug)"
A sequel to Slime Language standout "Chanel (Go Get It)", "My Jeans" sees Young Thug once again providing a pitch-perfect hook for his disciples to toy with. With Thug's hook at the forefront, both verses are cut short at only 8 bars each. Still, it's an exciting display of untapped potential. Both Lil Baby and Gunna play with familiar Thugger cadences, attempting to stretch their vocals in the same, effortless manner as their big brother. Baby twists his rhymes, muddles his delivery, and croons out sweet nothings to his future wife. Gunna attempts to morphs Thug's melody into something all his own. We feel as if it's impossible to call this one. It's too well-constructed in its effort to equally showcase both rapper's Young Thug-like versatility.
Winner: TIE
Favorite Gunna Bars:
Top off the Lamb', I get a breeze, yeah
My travel kit is this codeine, yeah
I fell in love with Billie Jean, yeah
But YSL like Wu-Tang with that cream, oh
And I done bought you everything
Boss you up and put your condo in the trees
I bought some Gucci socks so long they can reach my knees
Got a bust down Rollie with big racks inside my jeans, oh
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
I was daydreamin' 'bout money, then I woke up
I be thinkin' all this pimpin' give the world to her
If I ever get the check, give you the world, girl
See us goin' up and down, roller coaster
I'll be the FN, you be my holster
Tell the city 'bout my love, I even post her
Pourin' all this lean in my styrofoam cup
4 Pockets Full, every one of these shows
8. "Drip Too Hard"
As we briefly insinuated in our opening words, "Drip Too Hard" was the perfect lead single because it showcased both Gunna's rapping and Baby's hook-making capabilities. Where one might be predisposed to categorize Baby as the rapper's rapper and Gunna as the swaggering secret weapon, this single proves that they are both capable of switching roles on a whim. Here, Gunna's dexterous verse is filled with breezy internal rhyme schemes that only serve to bolster his trademark shit-talking.
Winner: Gunna
Favorite Gunna Bars:
Every other night, another dollar gettin' made
Every other night started with a good day
I feel like a child, I got boogers in the face
Diamonds dancin' in the dial, like this shit is a parade
I don't want your chain, Young Gu-wunna not a slave
I had to draw the line, too many bitches gettin' saved
TSA harass me, so I took a private plane
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
I'm from Atlanta where young niggas run shit
I know they hatin' on me, but I don't read comments
Whenever I tell her to come, she comin'
Whenever it's smoke, we ain't runnin'
9. "Never Recover (feat. Drake)"
Drake's first collab with Gunna and second with Lil Baby, "Never Recover", the closing track on Drip Harder, is one of the best cuts on the entire project. Following Drake's unapologetic opening verse, Gunna follows suit with a menacing, almost-whispered series of threats that are, somehow, undeniably charismatic. His entire verse is one-long quotable; he's dripping like a leak, leaving a puddle behind him wherever he goes, dressing like a nun in black & white Chanel, surprising young kids with futuristic cars, and flipping the judge off before going on the run (like his mentor). However, despite their best efforts, both Drake and Gunna fail to match the vitriol of Lil Baby's closing verse. "Don't gotta drip, I leave it to Gunna," he declares before rattling off a string of reasons why he's a singular talent in the industry.
Winner: Lil Baby
Favorite Gunna Bars:
Hit Eliantte and left with a puddle
It's me, Drake, and Baby, you know you in trouble
Run up my check, my bitch sprinted the shuttle
Sign plus an M, bought a Benz for my brother
Painted all black, the interior butter
I drip like a leak and that's word to my mother
Yeah, came out the street, gotta sleep with a cutter
Found me a bitch who gon' eat, it's a supper
My dick in her mouth like she teethin' or somethin'
Sound like it could be Drip Season this summer
Ain't no comparin' 'cause we number one
In black and white Chanel, I look like a nun
The police in shock, don't know who got a gun
Don't got what I got 'cause I shop in Milan
It's winter, I still took the top off the don
The kid was surprised that my trunk in the front
I know you a upset they don't shine in the sun
Cuban link look like a box of crayons
I'm still at the lot, tryna cop the Cayenne
I told the judge, "Fuck it", I'm goin' on the run
You want it, my dawgs'll look out for the bond
Favorite Lil Baby Bars:
And I'm gettin' by, let 'em choose sides, we get M's in by the shoe size
I don't fuck with y'all type of kind I done seen all y’all dickride
Bread winner like I'm Kevin Gates and I swear to God, I don't get tired
From the trenches, now I'm goin', spend a whole hundred on a new wristwatch
Don't gotta drip, I can leave it to Gunna
Runnin' this shit, only been out two summers
That 4x4 truck, I post 300
Boy, at whoever, they know how I'm comin'
Ain't got no feelings, I'm here for the money
Treat every club like a Magic on Monday
Niggas ain't rich for real, they gettin' fronted
Gave her a dime, told her fix up her stomach
By the time she get back, I'ma switch up my number
Cap to her friend like I been on her bumper
Lately, I been the topic of discussion
Draco was foreign, they shoot it from Russia
Bad vibes at my show like I'm Usher
If she tell me "No" once, I won't even touch it
All I do is get her out here, abortion
Act like I've been rich, I used to have nothin'
Drizzy hit me up like he got another one
Money ain't even came in from the other one
Fuck it, I'm hot, so I might as well double up
Seem like everything I get on a numba one
They tryna team up to beat me, they huddlin'
The Winner
Okay, time to tally up our votes:
Gunna: 4
Lil Baby: 3
TIE: 2
The winner: Gunna, but only by a hair. As the # of ties indicates, this was truly a neck and neck exhibition of talent. Both Gunna and Lil Baby showed up and showed out, and their equal contributions only adds to the tape's replay value.
Who do you declare winner in this match-up? Cast your final vote below.