Lil Baby’s Vulnerabilities Shine on “My Turn”

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Lil Baby released his album “My Turn” on Feb. 28 after a year long break. (Courtesy of Facebook)

Three years ago, few had heard of Lil Baby. Today, he is arguably the hottest rapper in the industry. Already reaching milestones of which most young artists could only dream, his long list of accolades includes a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 Chart, 24 entries on the Hot 100 Chart, Grammy and Billboard nominations and more.

In 2017, his first year on the rap scene, Lil Baby dropped four projects. He followed that up with three more in 2018, including his first studio album “Harder Than Ever.” Seven projects and over 100 songs in two years is a feat for a veteran artist, and it is even more impressive considering Lil Baby did it with virtually no prior rapping experience.

In 2019, though, he took a break and focused on improving his skills as a rapper. He told Billboard he feels he is now at least “20 times” better at rapping than he was when he put out his first studio album. The pressure was high for Lil Baby to shine on his sophomore album, especially considering the year he blew up was the year he didn’t drop any music.

It is clear he made the most of his year off, as Lil Baby returns hotter than ever on “My Turn.” Not only have his technical skills noticeably improved, but his emotional sincerity also has become more evident.

With these improvements, Lil Baby has a track for every listener and vibe on “My Turn.” As he told Billboard, “I put a lot of songs on my album, and I got something that’ll touch everyone. I have songs for the streets, songs for my concert fans, songs the ladies will like and songs that’ll touch people who are really going through it.”

“Sum 2 Prove,” “No Sucker” and “Woah” are for the Lil Baby fans who like to blast their speakers cruising around the city. “Catch The Sun,” which also appeared on the “Queen & Slim” soundtrack, appeals to his female audience with its chill guitar beat. “Gang Signs” is sure to be a club hit, sampling ’90s rap group Three 6 Mafia and featuring multiple flow switches by Lil Baby.

Continuing to push his limits as a rapper, Lil Baby opens up and shows his vulnerable side on the album, particularly on “Emotionally Scarred” and “Can’t Explain.” He reflects on his pre-fame life and the toll his upbringing had on his mindset on these tracks, telling The New York Times he doesn’t miss his old life at all. Lil Baby moves away from the hood rap of his early career and its heavy drug references, hoping to show a more authentic side of himself instead of trying to fit the stereotype of an “Atlanta rapper.”

Lil Baby is anything but the stereotypical rapper, though, and “My Turn” makes it clear that he is more comfortable with himself than ever. Unlike many other rappers’ huge personalities and frequent gimmicks, Lil Baby prefers to keep quiet about his personal life.

His low-key personality is seen through his choice of features on “My Turn,” as they are all within his circle of close friends. Young Thug, whom Baby credits for helping launch his rap career, appears on the Wheezy-produced “We Should.”

Gunna is featured on “Heatin Up,” an early fan favorite, in which the frequent collaborators flex their new lives and cut off their competition in the streets. Lil Baby also collabs with up-and-comers Rylo Rodriguez and 42 Dugg, artists he has signed to his own 4 Pockets Full label.

The only exception to Baby’s close-knit group of collabs is Lil Uzi Vert on “Commercial.” Immediately rising as an album stand out, “Commercial” has a deeper meaning hidden beneath the spectacle of rap’s two biggest artists teaming up. The song is Lil Baby’s commitment to staying true to himself and never going “commercial” despite his rise to stardom.

Along with its team of all-star features, “My Turn” also delivers on the production side from start to finish. Tay Keith reunites with Lil Baby to produce some of the hardest beats on the project, pushing himself outside his trademark bass-heavy sound. He plays around with a summery guitar on the upbeat “Same Thing” and takes notes from the sounds of Atlanta on “Commercial.”

The album also features up-and-coming producers, such as Twysted Genius on four tracks and Hagan (who also produced NBA Youngboy’s most recent chart-topper “Lil Top”) whose energetic piano melody on “Solid” is the perfect outro for Lil Baby’s sophomore project.

Lil Baby proves to the world that it is his turn to shine on his latest project. Set to become his first No. 1 album, “My Turn” will undoubtedly elevate Lil Baby to the top of the rap hierarchy and prove that he is one of the game’s best for 2020 and beyond.