Lil Baby

Biography

Dominique Armani Jones (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to prominence following the release of his 2017 mixtapes Harder than Hard and Too Hard — the former of which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its lead single, "My Dawg." He signed with Quality Control Music, an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records to release his debut studio album Harder Than Ever×Harder Than Ever18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Intro1:332Spazz1:483I’m Straight3:124Exotic2:425Yes Indeed2:226Leaked3:127Bank3:068Cash3:189Southside2:5310Throwing Shade3:1211First Class3:2112Right Now3:2513Life Goes On4:0714Transporter3:3315Fit In3:3316Boss Bitch2:4417Never Needed No Help3:15 (2018), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Yes Indeed" (with Drake). Later that year, he released the collaborative mixtape Drip Harder×Drip Harder5 October 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Off White VLONE3:072Business Is Business2:423Belly3:124Deep End2:555World Is Yours2:376Underdog3:327I Am2:258Seals Pills2:569My Jeans3:1610Style Stealer3:0511Close Friends3:2412Drip Too Hard2:2613Never Recover3:15 with fellow Georgia-based rapper Gunna, and his solo mixtape Street Gossip×Street Gossip30 November 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Global2:492Pure Cocaine2:343Crush a Lot2:394Time3:025Ready3:336Word on the Street2:527This Week3:168Anyway3:469No Friends3:1210Realist in It3:4211Section 83:2612Chastised2:0313Dreams 2 Reality4:35; the former spawned his second top-ten single "Drip Too Hard×Drip Too Hard12 September 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Drip Too Hard2:26", while the latter peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.
Lil Baby's second studio album, My Turn×My Turn28 February 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Get Ugly2:362Heatin Up2:573How3:024Grace3:235Woah3:036Live Off My Closet2:537Same Thing2:438Emotionally Scarred3:189Commercial3:3410Forever3:2211Can’t Explain3:0112No Sucker3:0913Sum 2 Prove3:2614We Should2:5715Catch the Sun (from “Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack”)3:0216Consistent3:0117Gang Signs2:5018Hurtin2:4419Forget That2:4720Solid3:06 (2020), peaked the Billboard 200 for five weeks, received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and became the best-selling album of that year. It spawned the hit song "We Paid×We Paid1 May 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1We Paid3:01" (with 42 Dugg), as well as the George Floyd protest-inspired single "The Bigger Picture×The Bigger Picture12 June 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Bigger Picture4:13"; both peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, while the latter received two nominations—Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance—at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The following year, his collaborative album The Voice of the Heroes×The Voice of the Heroes4 June 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Voice of the Heroes3:29220403:133Hats Off4:174Who I Want2:535Still Hood3:156Man of My Word2:527Still Runnin2:538Medical3:089How It Feels2:4710Lying3:0211Okay3:3712That’s Facts3:3913Please3:2614Up the Side3:3815If You Want To3:1516Rich Off Pain3:5517Make It Out3:0618Bruised Up3:26 (2021) with Chicago rapper Lil Durk became his second project to peak the Billboard 200, while his guest appearance on Kanye West and the Weeknd's 2021 single, "Hurricane", won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards. His third and fourth albums, It's Only Me (2022) and WHAM (2025), both debuted atop the Billboard 200; the former spawned three Billboard Hot 100 top-ten entries: "California Breeze", "Forever" (featuring Fridayy), and "Real Spill", while the latter album spawned the top-20 single "Dum, Dumb, and Dumber" (with Future and Young Thug).
In addition to a Grammy Award, Lil Baby has won an MTV Video Music Award, two BET Awards, and was named the all-genre Artist of the Year at the 2020 Apple Music Awards. He founded the record label Glass Window Entertainment (known previously as 4PF) as an imprint of Motown and Capitol in 2023; he has signed frequent collaborators 42 Dugg and Rylo Rodriguez.

Early life

Jones was born and raised in the Oakland City neighborhood in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia. He was two years old when his father left the family. His mother raised him and his two sisters. He dropped out of Booker T. Washington High School in ninth grade and committed to drug dealing.
In early 2012, he was charged for possession with intent to sell, among other charges. In 2013, was charged with possession of marijuana of less than an ounce. In 2014, he was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and was incarcerated for two years.

2015–2018: Career beginnings and Harder Than Ever

At age seventeen, Lil Baby was a regular presence in the studio of Atlanta-based Quality Control Records as a drug dealer. Label founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee encouraged him to become a rapper, as he felt Baby had "the swag... the lingo, [and] respect around the city". Fellow rappers Young Thug and Gunna served as Baby's mentors in developing his style. He released his first mixtape, Perfect Timing×Perfect Timing24 August 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Days Off3:032Option4:163Rider3:3649To53:295For You3:416100 Round2:237Grindin3:368Up3:309Racks in3:0810Plug2:5911Our Year2:4712Trust3:21, in April 2017 with appearances from Young Thug, Gunna, and Lil Yachty.
Another mixtape, Harder Than Hard×Harder Than Hard18 July 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1A-Town2:482My Dawg3:333Dates3:144My Drip3:275Minute3:566Life3:347Narcs3:338Ride Or Die3:059Stendo3:2910Large2:1511Pink Slip4:0712Survive Da Motion2:46, followed in August 2017. In October, he released his third mixtape in six months, 2 The Hard Way×2 The Hard Way3 November 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks12 The Hard Way2:542Set Up Shop (remix)4:003Big Tymers3:184Rac Racing3:035My Nigga2:466Whatchu Gon Do3:147Time After Time3:208Chance3:129Really Did It3:13, a collaboration with friend and fellow Atlanta rapper Marlo. A fourth mixtape, Too Hard×Too Hard1 December 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1To the Top3:382Money2:193All of a Sudden2:494Money Forever3:145Best of Me3:176Ride My Wave3:317Hurry2:348Sum More3:119Going for It3:0410Slow Mo3:1511Trap Star3:2312Eat or Starve3:0013Freestyle2:4214Vision Clear2:4015Dive In3:0016Stick on Me3:14, was released in December, led by his hit single "Freestyle" and accompanying music video. It was certified gold by the RIAA in February 2020.
With his career gaining momentum, Baby released his debut studio album, Harder Than Ever×Harder Than Ever18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Intro1:332Spazz1:483I’m Straight3:124Exotic2:425Yes Indeed2:226Leaked3:127Bank3:068Cash3:189Southside2:5310Throwing Shade3:1211First Class3:2112Right Now3:2513Life Goes On4:0714Transporter3:3315Fit In3:3316Boss Bitch2:4417Never Needed No Help3:15, in May 2018. It debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200. The album was supported by the singles "Southside" and "Yes Indeed" (with Drake), the latter peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. "Life Goes On" featuring Gunna and Lil Uzi Vert charted at 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lil Baby formed his own label, 4 Pockets Full (initialized 4PF) in 2017. Rappers 42 Dugg and Rylo Rodriguez are signed to the label. In 2023, the label was renamed to Glass Window Entertainment.

2018–2019: Drip Harder and Street Gossip

After Lil Baby released Harder Than Ever, he released the collaborative mixtape Drip Harder×Drip Harder5 October 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Off White VLONE3:072Business Is Business2:423Belly3:124Deep End2:555World Is Yours2:376Underdog3:327I Am2:258Seals Pills2:569My Jeans3:1610Style Stealer3:0511Close Friends3:2412Drip Too Hard2:2613Never Recover3:15 with Gunna on October 5, 2018. The lead single, "Drip Too Hard×Drip Too Hard12 September 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Drip Too Hard2:26" went on to become certified Diamond by the RIAA and 4× Platinum by Music Canada. The song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The mixtape was released under the labels Quality Control, YSL Records and Motown/Capitol.
In September 2018, Baby appeared on the Adult Swim television series FishCenter Live. In November 2018, he released his mixtape Street Gossip×Street Gossip30 November 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Global2:492Pure Cocaine2:343Crush a Lot2:394Time3:025Ready3:336Word on the Street2:527This Week3:168Anyway3:469No Friends3:1210Realist in It3:4211Section 83:2612Chastised2:0313Dreams 2 Reality4:35. In December 2018, Baby collaborated with Yung Gravy on the latter's single, "Alley Oop".

He starred in the 2019 film How High 2, a sequel to the 2001 stoner film How High, which premiered in April 2019, on MTV. In June 2019, Baby and Future released a single titled "Out the Mud". In July 2019, Lil Baby appeared alongside DaBaby on the single "Baby", released on Quality Control's second studio album, Control the Streets, Volume 2. The song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In November 2019, Baby released his single "Woah" as the lead single for his second studio album My Turn×My Turn28 February 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Get Ugly2:362Heatin Up2:573How3:024Grace3:235Woah3:036Live Off My Closet2:537Same Thing2:438Emotionally Scarred3:189Commercial3:3410Forever3:2211Can’t Explain3:0112No Sucker3:0913Sum 2 Prove3:2614We Should2:5715Catch the Sun (from “Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack”)3:0216Consistent3:0117Gang Signs2:5018Hurtin2:4419Forget That2:4720Solid3:06. The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Baby was featured on YouTuber KSI's track "Down Like That" with Rick Ross and British producer S-X, and performed it for KSI's boxing match against Logan Paul. In November 2019, Baby released a song from the film Queen & Slim titled "Catch the Sun", which subsequently appeared on My Turn.

2020–2022: My Turn, The Voice of the Heroes, and It's Only Me

In January 2020, Lil Baby released the second single ("Sum 2 Prove×Sum 2 Prove10 January 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sum 2 Prove3:25"), for his at-the-time upcoming album, and it reached number 16 on the Hot 100. The album, My Turn×My Turn28 February 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Get Ugly2:362Heatin Up2:573How3:024Grace3:235Woah3:036Live Off My Closet2:537Same Thing2:438Emotionally Scarred3:189Commercial3:3410Forever3:2211Can’t Explain3:0112No Sucker3:0913Sum 2 Prove3:2614We Should2:5715Catch the Sun (from “Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack”)3:0216Consistent3:0117Gang Signs2:5018Hurtin2:4419Forget That2:4720Solid3:06, was released in February 2020, and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It features guest appearances from Gunna, 42 Dugg, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Moneybagg Yo, Young Thug and Rylo Rodriguez. My Turn produced 12 songs that appeared the Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving him a career total of 47 songs on the chart, tying him with Prince and Paul McCartney.
Following the release of the album's deluxe version on May 1, My Turn returned to the top spot on the Billboard 200. In June 2020, Lil Baby released the political track "The Bigger Picture×The Bigger Picture12 June 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Bigger Picture4:13", amid the George Floyd protests. The song debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lil Baby's highest-charting song as a lead artist.
On June 26, 2020, Lil Baby was featured on Lil Mosey's single "Back at It"— which would appear as the lead single of Mosey's deluxe edition of Certified Hitmaker. Lil Baby’s song "We Paid×We Paid1 May 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1We Paid3:01" featuring 42 Dugg from the deluxe reissue of My Turn peaked within the top-ten of the Hot 100. In July 2020, Lil Baby was featured on Pop Smoke's "For the Night", from his posthumous debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. The track reached number six on the Hot 100. In September 2020, My Turn became the first album of the year to be certified double platinum by the RIAA. "The Bigger Picture" received two nominations at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards: Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
In March 2021, Lil Baby performed "The Bigger Picture" at the Grammy Awards in 2021 to mostly positive reviews. The following day, another collaboration with Drake, "Wants and Needs", debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Passing a previous peak and debut with "The Bigger Picture" for Jones, becoming his highest-charting song overall. In June 2021, Lil Baby released his collaborative studio album with Lil Durk, The Voice of the Heroes×The Voice of the Heroes4 June 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Voice of the Heroes3:29220403:133Hats Off4:174Who I Want2:535Still Hood3:156Man of My Word2:527Still Runnin2:538Medical3:089How It Feels2:4710Lying3:0211Okay3:3712That’s Facts3:3913Please3:2614Up the Side3:3815If You Want To3:1516Rich Off Pain3:5517Make It Out3:0618Bruised Up3:26. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
In September 2021, Lil Baby was featured on the song "Girls Want Girls" from Drake's sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy. The song debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, tying their previous collaboration "Wants and Needs" as Baby's highest-charting song overall. On December 16, 2021, Lil Baby was featured on the song “Moved to Miami” by Roddy Ricch from Ricch’s second studio album Live Life Fast— the track would later peak at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. In February 2022, "Do We Have a Problem?" – a collaboration with Nicki Minaj was released, along with a music video starring the two. In March 2022, Lil Baby was announced as one of the headliners for J. Cole's Dreamville 2022 Music Festival. Lil Baby is the subject of the documentary film Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby, directed by Karam Gill, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022 and was released on Amazon Prime Video in August 2022.
In April 2022, Lil Baby released the singles "In A Minute×In a Minute8 April 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1In a Minute3:20", and "Right On×Right On8 April 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Right On3:34", which peaked at number 14 and 13 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. In September, he released the promotional single "Detox×Detox2 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Detox2:41". In October, he released the single "Heyy" as the second single to his forthcoming album It's Only Me. The album released four days later and became his third consecutive number one album.

2023–present: Wham and The Leaks

In January 2023, Lil Baby was featured twice on Trippie Redd's comeback album, Mansion Musik. In March, he appeared as a feature on Nardo Wick's "Hot Boy×Hot Boy31 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hot Boy2:50". In April, he released the previously teased single, "Go Hard×Go Hard3 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Go Hard3:38", before appearing as a feature om Gucci Mane's "Bluffin" in June. In the following month, he released "Merch Madness". On August 18, 2023, Lil Baby was featured on singer Ciara's single "Forever".
Lil Baby began to roll out his fourth studio album in December with the release of "Crazy×Crazy15 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crazy3:12" and "350" which were met with negative critical reception and mediocre commercial performance, leading to delays.
In April 2024, Baby appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's collaborative studio album, We Still Don't Trust You on the album's twenty-first cut, "All My Life". The following month, Baby appeared alongside, "Band4Band", the lead single from UK rapper Central Cee's debut studio album, Can't Rush Greatness (2025). The track peaked at number 3 on the UK singles chart, at number 12 on the Billboard Global 200, and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, before being certified gold by the BPI and platinum by the RIAA.
In November 2024, Baby started to roll out his fourth studio album with the release of the promotional singles, "5AM", "Insecurities×Insecurities15 November 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Insecurities2:07", and "Touchdown×Touchdown6 December 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Touchdown2:32" in December of that year.
On January 3, 2025, Lil Baby released his fourth studio album, WHAM featuring guest appearances from Young Thug, Future, GloRilla, Rylo Rodriguez, Rod Wave, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, moving 140,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, beating out Bad Bunny's sixth album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos by 18,000 units. Shortly after the release of WHAM, Lil Baby announced that he would be releasing Dominique as a companion album to WHAM in the following month. The album was reportedly cancelled in August 2025, with Lil Baby instead announcing an album titled The Leaks×The Leaks3 December 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Lo (I'm da Man)2Mrs. Trendsetter3Guaranteed4When I'm Home5Try to Love6Feels Good74ever Slime8Let's Do It9What She Like10Otha Boy110412Lil Troy13Too Much Longer14Get Along15Violation16St. Tropez17All on Me. After some revision to the track list, Lil Baby officially releases The Leaks to streaming platforms on December 3, 2025, which is also the day of Baby's birthday, where he turns 31.

Personal life

Jones has a son from a relationship with former girlfriend Ayesha. He later dated entrepreneur Jayda Cheaves. She appeared in the music video for his song "Close Friends".
On February 18, 2019, Cheaves gave birth to their son.
In May 2021, Jones visited the White House along with the family of George Floyd on the anniversary of Floyd's murder.
On July 7, 2021, after attending Paris Fashion Week events with basketball player James Harden, Jones was arrested on a drug charge by police in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Harden was stopped but not detained, and both men were soon released. For this offense, Jones agreed to pay a fine.
On August 26, 2024, Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on a concealed weapons charge. He was detained at Clark County Detention Center, and was soon afterwards released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Headlining

The Back Outside Tour (2021)
It's Only Us Tour (2023)
WHAM World Tour (2025)

Co-headlining

One Of Them Ones Tour (with Chris Brown) (2022)