After three years since his album ‘It’s Only Me,’ Lil Baby returns with ‘WHAM.’ The album has 15 tracks and features a handful of artists such as Glorilla, Future, 21 Savage, and more. The title itself stands for “who hard as me,” likely as a callback to his earlier bodies of work ‘Harder Than Hard,’ ‘2 the Hard Way,’ ‘Too Hard,’ ‘Harder Than Ever,’ and ‘Drip Harder.’
The album opens with “Listen Up.” The track has a grand and theatrical feeling utilizing orchestral strings, paired with his rapping, creating an interesting juxtaposition. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, having both dramatic and dark moments, as well as moments of pride and success.
Immediately following, we get “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber” featuring Young Thug and Future, which has quickly become a fan favorite, following Lil Baby’s typical style of melodic rap and a bass-heavy trap beat. The trio flex their lifestyles, showcasing their confidence in themselves as they reap the benefits of success.
Moving forward, “By Myself” featuring Rod Wave leans back into the emotional side of the album. The track tells a story, initially conveying themes of betrayal, frustration, and fear. However, as it progresses, there is reflection of those who helped the artists on their journey of success, conveying themes of perseverance and gratefulness.
“Say Twin” is another track that overall captures the theatrical vibe of the album. The beat has an ominous feel to it, emphasizing loyalty and confidence amongst him and his inner circle. The overall message of the track is saying that those outside of his circle cannot claim to be among them based on their superiority over others; They value each other highly.
The album closes on a more emotional note with “Streets Colder.” The Atlanta rapper gets candid about the dark side of the streets and how it seemingly gets worse and worse. He touches on the impact of crime, drugs, lies, and trusting the wrong people; This level of vulnerability is an aspect of Lil Baby’s music that fans enjoy.
If you are looking for a diverse album with a variety of themes, be sure to check out ‘WHAM’ below!
