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.
3. “Drip Too Hard” - Lil Baby & Gunna (2018)
"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.