Blame it on Baby: Review

4.18.20

DaBaby Blame it on Baby Release 4.17.20

This Friday DaBaby dropped his second official studio album, Blame it on Baby. The album comes highly anticipated as DaBaby has been quite vocal about his critics lately. Many have said that all of his songs sound the same, and that DaBaby does not have the skills or talent to change up his flow. Knowing that you really cannot be the best, without versatility and covering all aspects of hip-hop, DaBaby is ready to challenge his haters. Hit single, ‘Shut Up’ comes a few weeks before the album, addressing the haters claim. The first single off of the album ‘Find My Way,’ proves the claims all wrong.

For the first time, this album brings us a different side of DaBaby. We’re used to hearing straight bangers every time. Each time, it is a hit. We don’t hate them, but is there anything more to DaBaby? With his track record of fights and violence, I am not surprised if this is all there is to the man. However, DaBaby has proven his determination to be the best, and thus shares with us his versatility on the new album, Blame it on Baby.

Can’t Stop

The first track on the album sometimes is just a song, like any other. Many times, the intro track is actually called ‘Intro’, and although it doesn’t state that in the lyrics, the content is usually an intense piece of foreshadowing for what we are about to hear on the rest of the album.

DaBaby did something a little bit different here. I do not know if I like it for everyone, but I think it works here and is fun. ‘Can’t Stop’ is a song, addressing DaBaby’s new album. The song literally says things like “new album” and “this is the intro,” while explaining that although people have been criticizing his work as of late, the rapper is not letting up.

Pick Up (FT Quavo)

I would love to hear how this collaboration started, and how they found or decided on this beat. This beat sounds like it was specifically made for a DaBaby and Quavo track. There is a long, steady string and flute sound in the background with some keys, which sounds like a Migos vibe. This is complemented with occasional bass drum which is a DaBaby favorite.

The two together make sense. They both know how to turn the party all the way up. The content of the song would match this attitude, but the delivery is on a bit more chill. I think it is a great collab for DaBaby to have on his resume, given the status of both artists today. However, not an over the top banger here, which I had anticipated for.

Lightskin Sh*t (Future & JetsonMade)

Opposites attract is how I would describe the DaBaby and Future collaboration. DaBaby is always hyped up, twenty-four seven. He’s loud and aggressive through his words and his delivery. Future, basically has zero emotions. His tone and mentality are on chill at all costs. Though their attitudes are different, the content is typically on par, and the two team up to share their loving ways.

In hip-hop, artists claim light skin men are heartbreakers. DaBaby uses his chorus to claim “All pretty bitches need an asshole,” which I think is a line that is going to stick, and exactly where they come up with the title of the track. The flow here mostly sounds like the old DaBaby we’re familiar with. But again, he can’t completely get rid of it here. Future comes in with a more sped up monotone flow. It is a pretty catchy song, and I can see it becoming another hit.

Talk About It

DaBaby’s next solo track talks about his past growing up to his success today. Basically, that he was brought up being taught to always hustle and make your money. Today, he is doing just that as a record-breaking, Grammy nominee artist. He also briefly discusses his run ins with the law, and how that being in the public eye, people think he is repeatedly guilty, and that they just want to see him go back to jail. We have seen DaBaby apologize for certain things, and claim his innocence for others. It is hard to know what to believe, because of the countless run ins with the law we’ve heard about in just this past year. Hopefully, he is doing his best to stay out of trouble, with this next milestone under his belt.

Now, we’re waiting and anticipating something super different from DaBaby on this album. We start to hear him begin to change the flow from verse to chorus a bit. It isn’t too drastic, but it is getting there.

Sad Sh*t

This track is exactly what we expect it to be by the title. DaBaby talks about his relationship with his ex, and well, a bunch of sad shit. It sounds like it may be about his baby mother, but he does say he only “tried” to get her pregnant. DaBaby does have one daughter who talks about dearly in his music, but never about a serious relationship in his life. Contrary to what many may think, it sounds like DaBaby is the one truly wishing to have her back in his life. Or, at least showing that he was deeply hurt by the ending of the relationship.

The chorus is what we never thought we’d hear from DaBaby; singing. He gets deep in his vocals, high pitch lines, and vulnerable emotions in his lyrics. Each of the three verses he goes back to rapping in usual ways, some of it is a bit aggressive. Which he addresses, and claims it is the backlash of his heartbreak. Truly I just think this man needs some peace in his life. If this doesn’t get her back, at least he got it off his chest, which I’m sure was difficult.

Find My Way

‘Find My Way’ is the first single off of the album. We got the song, with a visual right away. The video is long, with a skit prior and after the song. B Simone plays his girlfriend in the video. She loves him, and was totally geeked out by this experience. I absolutely loved it, but that is a whole other story.

The two are cute and playful riding along down a long road in the desert. Things get real when we learn DaBaby teaches her to be his partner in multiple gun-point robbery attempts. She doesn’t love what they are doing, but she loves him and does what he says. After spending a night in a motel, the family management team wakes them up in the middle of the night, and looses to an epic gun battle, as they are aware they have found wanted criminals staying in their establishment.

The song basically is saying DaBaby has done a lot of negative things in his life, but did them all for a better purpose. We hear a lot that rappers used to rob for money to help their families. That is definitely something that has gone down here. Though no doubt is poor behavior, DaBaby says he will never let up a chance at helping his loved ones, no matter what the cost.

I usually do not choose the radio hit as my favorite off of an album, but this song is up there. It is up there, because he also sang this entire song. Though the lyrics are aggressive and sometimes incentive, it is delivered to us in a way that feels like a love song. The chorus and other parts of the verses do touch on the dangerous relationship depicted in the video. Ignorant love songs are my favorite kind, so I did quite enjoy this track.

Rockstar (FT Roddy Ricch)

I love a Roddy Ricch feature, and it can really go two ways. It could be a banger, or it could be something more serious. Roddy’s voice is very unique and he can sing and rap quite well, so I was curious what we would get with this one.

The beat opens with a fast piano, and the bass drums come in once the first verse begins. DaBaby and Roddy both rap and sing on the track. It sounds like a more serious song. Not a super hard party beat, but it is much more than a slow emotional song, as well. Both share stories about how they came up broke and getting in trouble, to becoming rockstars. So, the content is definitely more playful than anything, but with an interesting delivery to it.

There are so many different ways you can tell a story in hip-hop. You can yell on your track, sing your way through it, be aggressive with ad-libs and sound bites. I think the duo did something different here. I’m not sure if it is radio hit, like all other DaBaby and Roddy Ricch songs, but I do like the track.

Jump (FT Youngboy Never Broke Again)

I am not a fan of NBA Youngboy. It is more than just him as an artist, but I feel like he’s very inconsistent with his work, because he is always getting in trouble. My original opinion is that with this duo, this song is likely going to be one of the hardest tracks on the albums. After listening, my opinion stays true, I do think it is one of the two hard, energetic, songs to bump. However, I still do not like NBA Youngboy’s verse.

Youngboy did not say anything memorable in his verse, or the chorus. He continues to talk about killing and being above the law. What else is new? Likely if you’re listening, you won’t really hear what Youngboy is actually saying. You’ll just hear the super quick and energetic beat, his high-pitched distinct voice, and you’ll want to jump to it. DaBaby takes over the second half of the chorus, and provides a lot more content to listen to. Maybe if we replace NBA with NLE, this would be in my top five favorites.

Champion

So now that we know DaBaby can make a slow song, can he make music that is fun without killing a bunch of people? The sound that is like rapping, but almost singing. It’s upbeat and light-hearted, it just feels like summer time. ‘Champion’ gave me these vibes. This song, is DaBaby’s victory lap. He acknowledges the hard work he put in to get to where he is today, and shouts out some of the greats along the way; Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson.

This is something we’ve never heard from DaBaby before. For me, this is the track that shows that he can be versatile. I mean, we’ve heard OT Genasis try to make a love song. It was absolutely horrendous, and DaBaby’s were much better. But, it takes a lot to create a real rap hit, that doesn’t sound like yourself that made you who you are. There is always a risk. People are telling DaBaby, oh you’re not all that, all your songs sound the same. Then, there are people that have switched up their sound, and the fans hate it. That’s not you, we like old you, etc. I really like what DaBaby did with this song. It can easily be a radio hit that you sing along to, and it still bumps. ‘Champion’ is in my top five favorite songs on the album.

Drop (A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie)

I like ‘Drop,’ I think it most similar to ‘Champion’ in regards to the version of DaBaby we get. We have the heart-throb of Highbridge, the King of Charlotte, and London On Da Track, so we already know this is a hit. You probably think A Boogie has the chorus, but actually, DaBaby sings on the chorus. It is bound to have you singing along, snapping your fingers, bobbing your head, windows rolled down, hair blowing in the wind.

The duo might be a surprise at first, but this version of DaBaby and knowing who Artist really is, it makes perfect sense. They both come from hard pasts in rough cities, and turned into the two most loved by females artists in the game, currently. Do not get it twisted, the content of the song is still about running from the law, getting money and pulling ladies, but it’s just that delivery that will pull even more. ‘Drop’ makes my top five list of the album. I can’t get enough of the good vibes hip-hop.

Blame it on Baby

When I previously mentioned that ‘Jump’ was one of the two hardest songs on the album, ‘Blame it on Baby,’ is number one. Of course, the track the album is named after, has to be the best. DaBaby’s first verse begins the second the beat drops, and he goes in.

Critics said that DaBaby can’t switch his flow up. He gave us that in many forms. But on this track, DaBaby changes the beat eight times, on four unique beats. The chorus does not even come in until after the second verse, so DaBaby really got to show off with the multiple changing of beats throughout the song.

This track is mostly just playful rhymes and word play. I don’t think there is too much serious meaning behind the song, other than the fact that DaBaby was showing off what he can really do. I would have to say that it was an absolute success. This is a song I would play in my car daily with the volume up all the way. The DaBaby we all know and love, 2.0. ‘Blame it on Baby’ definitely makes the top five list.

Nasty (Ashanti & Megan Thee Stallion)

DaBaby and Meg have done some songs before, we’ve seen them hanging out in the club before, this collab was expected. Ashanti, I was not expecting, but she absolutely killed it. She didn’t say much on the chorus, but she also has a bridge to close out the song, and her voice is just amazing. I wasn’t sure if she’d get as nasty as DaBaby and Meg, but she did.

DaBaby is usually pretty freaky, but he’s been taking it easy compared to this one. He raps his first verse, and sings a bit more the second verse. It sounds like he is trying to be intriguing, but of course he is just mostly aggressive. So I think this is the song you play when you’re on the way home from the club ready to have fun, before you walk into the bedroom.

I’m not super keen on Megan recently. Maybe it is the duo of them together, but I like her verse. She didn’t really try to be anything she’s not, she just went off. I think that today, the whole women being super nasty in a song is played out. Everyone’s done it, and no one is going to out-do Missy Elliot, just have to put that there. But overall, the trio together put out a dope, ‘sexy’ song.

Amazing Grace

DaBaby had to tell you one more time before you go that he switched the flow. The beat is hard and aggressive, but he remains more chill and relaxed. The energy in his bars picks up in the second verse, but is taken back down again with the chill chorus to close out the song. It is quick, only a minute and thirty. But I think that is exactly what we needed for the outro. A quick recap, DaBaby can switch up the flow and the beat, and he isn’t going anywhere, other than up.