Lil Baby, an American rapper, has an estimated net worth of $8 million. His debut studio album, “Harder Than Ever,” released in 2018, was certified Platinum and reached #3 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. His next album, “My Turn” (2020), topped the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, also going 3x Platinum. Throughout his career, Lil Baby has collaborated with several well-known artists, including Gunna, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, Gucci Mane, Offset, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, and Lil Durk. Notably, Lil Baby directed the music video for “On Me” and also worked on Rylo Rodriguez’s music videos in 2020. He is best known for hit singles like “Yes Indeed” (with Drake), which went 6x Platinum, and “Drip Too Hard” (with Gunna), which went 9x Platinum, both reaching the top 10 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart.
Born Dominique Armani Jones on December 3, 1994, in Atlanta, Georgia, Lil Baby faced early challenges. His father left when he was only two years old, and he was raised by his mother alongside two sisters. He dropped out of Booker T. Washington High School during his freshman year. In 2012, Lil Baby encountered legal trouble and was arrested on multiple charges, including possession with intent to sell. Initially, his lawyer advised a two-year plea deal, but Lil Baby hired a new lawyer, who helped him secure a program that only required a one-year sentence. During his time in the program, Lil Baby was involved in an altercation with another prisoner, leading to him serving the original two-year sentence. After his release in 2014, Lil Baby’s rap career took off, first under Quality Control Music and later with his own label, 4PF (4 Pockets Full).
Career Beginnings
Lil Baby’s journey into music began with the release of his debut mixtape, “Perfect Timing,” in April 2017. Later that year, he followed it with “Harder Than Hard,” “2 The Hard Way” (with Marlo), and “Too Hard.” The mixtape “Too Hard” went Gold and peaked at #80 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. It also made it to #33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The standout single from the mixtape, “Freestyle,” was certified 2x Platinum and has amassed over 400 million views on YouTube. Another hit from the project, “All of a Sudden” (featuring Moneybagg Yo), went Platinum and reached #20 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. In 2018, Lil Baby released his first studio album, “Harder Than Ever,” which included the Gold single “Southside” and the 6x Platinum hit “Yes Indeed.”
Following his initial successes, Lil Baby released several more successful mixtapes. In 2018, he dropped “Drip Harder” with Gunna and “Street Gossip.” “Drip Harder” went Platinum, and “Street Gossip” was certified Gold. Both mixtapes ranked in the top 10 of the “Billboard” 200 chart. “Drip Too Hard” (with Gunna), a single from “Drip Harder,” reached 9x Platinum, while “Close Friends” earned a 4x Platinum certification. The rapper’s rising fame extended into 2019 when he appeared as himself in the MTV film “How High 2” and performed on “Wild ‘N Out.” His hit singles “Woah” and “Phone Down” (with Stefflon Don) added to his growing popularity.
My Turn and Beyond
On February 28, 2020, Lil Baby released his second studio album, “My Turn,” which became his biggest commercial success. The album featured Platinum singles like “Sum 2 Prove,” “Emotionally Scarred,” and “The Bigger Picture.” Twelve songs from “My Turn” charted on the “Billboard” Hot 100. One of the standout moments of 2020 was the release of “The Bigger Picture,” a powerful protest song inspired by the George Floyd protests. Lil Baby donated the proceeds from the song to various causes, including Black Lives Matter and The National Association of Black Journalists. The track reached #3 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 and earned Lil Baby two Grammy nominations. Later that year, he appeared on Drake’s “Wants and Needs,” which peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. Lil Baby’s collaboration with Lil Durk, “The Voice of the Heroes,” reached #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart in June 2021. He followed this success with the release of his third studio album, “It’s Only Me,” in 2022, which also debuted at #1.
Personal Life
Lil Baby’s personal life has garnered significant attention. In 2016, he began dating model and entrepreneur Jayda Cheaves, and the couple welcomed their son, Loyal, on February 18, 2019. Cheaves appeared in Lil Baby’s music video for “Close Friends.” In addition to his son Loyal, Lil Baby has another child named Jason from a previous relationship.
In May 2021, Lil Baby attended the White House with George Floyd’s family to advocate for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. He met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss police reform. Lil Baby also showed his support for social justice by attending the funeral of a teenager who was killed in a shooting at a graduation party in Atlanta in June 2023.
Lil Baby faced legal trouble in July 2021 when he was arrested in Paris for cannabis possession. However, he was quickly released and fined the following morning.
Awards and Nominations
Lil Baby’s impressive career has earned him numerous nominations and awards. He has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Drip Too Hard” (2020) and Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “The Bigger Picture” (2021). In 2020, he received MTV Video Music Award nominations for Song of the Summer (“We Paid”) and Video for Good (“The Bigger Picture”). He won nine ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in 2021, including Songwriter of the Year.
In 2019, he earned a BET Award for Best New Artist, and in 2021, he won Best Male Hip Hop Artist. “The Bigger Picture” earned Lil Baby the BET Hip Hop Award for Impact Track in 2020. He also received an iHeartRadio Music Award for Hip-Hop Album of the Year for “My Turn” in 2021. Lil Baby was also nominated for American Music Awards for New Artist of the Year and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album (“My Turn”). He received several nominations from the “Billboard” Music Awards, including Top New Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Rap Artist. In 2020, he was named Artist of the Year at the Apple Music Awards.
In 2022, Lil Baby won a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his feature on The Weeknd’s song “Hurricane” by Kanye West. His performance on “Every Chance I Get” earned him Song of the Year at the 2022 XXL Awards. Lil Baby’s continued success and influence in the music industry are marked by his chart-topping albums, hit singles, and impactful collaborations with prominent artists across genres.
