As we pivot into the Autumn and Winter months, the music world shifts into project mode. Amongst the multitude of artists dropping, the fierce anticipation for a new Lil Baby album has been undeniable. Two years post release of his quadruple platinum album ‘My Turn’ and a year since his collaborative album ‘The Voice Of The Heroes’ with Lil Durk, fans have eagerly awaited newness from the Atlanta boss in long form.
A bountiful 23-tracks, it looks towards features from Nardo Wick, Young Thug, Future, Jeremih, Pooh Shiesty, Fridayy, Est Gee and Rylo Rodriguez. The cover art depicting the phases of Lil Baby/Dominique Jones in a Mount Rushmore type landscape, an image of him on lonesome underneath – nodding to the album’s title, ‘It’s Only Me’.
Currently a force to be reckoned with, Lil Baby boasts several successful ventures this year. Showcased via Amazon Prime commissioned documentary, Untrapped, this summer. The doc exploring his life leading up to his last solo project, this new album now comes in perfect timing. Also, co-producing reality series The Impact ATL, collaborating with the Call Of Duty franchise and picking up awards at the VMA’s and XXL Awards.
Despite sprinkling singles throughout the year, ‘In A Minute’ and ‘Heyy’ are the only previously released tracks to make the LP. ‘Frozen’ and ‘Right On’ other hot 2022 drops from the 27-year-old.
Kicking off in true hip-hop fashion, ‘It’s Only Me’ is headed up by ‘Real Spill’, an introspective song that samples Sade’s ‘The Big Unknown’. Sombre sounding but expertly setting the tone. Moving into ‘Stand On Me’, Baby slightly picks up the tempo, flowing over a Memphis-esque beat with cleverly braggadocious bars.
The first feature of the album comes from Florida’s Nardo Wick, with the pair having previously linked up on ‘Me Or Sum; with Future – a testament to Baby’s eagerness to uplift the new school. ‘Heyy’ next up, released days before the album – on first listen, it serves as a more commercial offering but digging deeper, his lyricism is raw, emulating his smash ‘Woah’.
‘California Breeze’ accompanied by a clean-cut video, the song title, content and visual all tying in together. An ode to how far he has come, the luxury to take step a back and be selective. He floats on the beat, the second verse especially heartfelt. On the flipside is ‘Perfect Timing’ which explores the struggles of making it “started all this sh*t with nothing, ain’t no way that I can lose… I been showing too much love if I keep going my heart will buss.”
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Friend and fellow ATL heavyweight Young Thug delivers a non-stop onslaught of bars on ‘Never Hating’ with Wheezy on production, the two going back-to-back for a freestyle feeling banger. Elusive singer-songwriter Fridayy appears on ‘Forever’, his uniquely toned vocals framing a deep love song.
‘In A Minute’, ‘Everything’, ‘Waterfall’, ‘Danger’ all highlight Baby and team’s top-tier beat selection; meanwhile, tracks like ‘Double Down’, ‘Top Priority’ are giving us authentic Lil Baby.
An all-star line-up, Tay Keith and Murda Beatz provide the instrumental for ‘From Now On’ which calls on a guest verse from Future. A gritty trap fuelled tune, it sounds just how the product of all four talents would, Baby closing out the track with a cool whisper flow.
4PF label member Rylo Rodriguez also gets the call up for the project, the value of the track coming in the collaboration itself. ‘Stop Playin’ one for the less frequenting rap ear, Jeremih’s soulful subdued vocals gracing the hook. A raw instalment, one that immediately feels like it was made with his female fans in mind.
A smooth transition heads us into the final fraction of the project, the GRAMMY Award winning rapper flexing his hook writing prowess with ‘FR’. The final two feature artists on the album are Est Gee and Pooh Shiesty – both tracks skippy and charged with a style only found in the Southern America soundscape.
As the lengthy album comes to end, Lil Baby’s energy shifts back to being more downcast. ‘No Fly Zone’ a classic ‘pain’ track. ‘Russian Roulette’ the outro, it signs him off in a reflective nature just as he started.
This album undoubtedly sees Lil Baby solidify his spot and reaffirm the greatness he’s presented the past few years. Reflectiveness and self-awareness a constant theme; although already highly decorated, it captures the trials of his journey so far whilst celebrating his current success and the gross potential to do even more. The collaborations are authentic and humble, apt for the LP’s subtly intimate nature. Lil Baby has set the tone for his next phase.
8/10
Words: Shanté Collier-McDermott
