Lil Baby is gearing up for the highly anticipated release of his fourth studio album, 'WHAM (Who Hard as Me)', which is set to hit the shelves on January 3, 2025, and promises to showcase the rapper's evolution and artistic depth.
The Atlanta-based hip-hop sensation recently unveiled the album's alluring cover art on social media, depicting himself adorned with opulent gold jewelry, adding an element of intrigue as the album title subtly obscures his face.
On December 20, Lil Baby provided fans with the details they had been eagerly awaiting: the album's tracklist features collaborations with major industry names. This lineup includes heavyweights such as Young Thug, who collaborates on the track 'Dum, Dumb and Dumber,' and Future, another prominent figure within the genre. Rising star GloRilla joins Baby on the track 'Redbone,' emphasizing the album’s commitment to combining established acts with fresh talent.
Beyond these collaborations, Lil Baby also pulls from his connections with industry giants Travis Scott, 21 Savage, and others like Rod Wave and Rylo Rodriguez to enrich this project. With such significant features, 'WHAM' is positioned to be one of the most talked about releases of early 2025.
Interestingly, Lil Baby has chosen to exclude some of his previously released singles from the new album. Tracks like 'Touchdown,' '5AM,' and 'Insecurities,' which many fans anticipated, will not appear on 'WHAM,' signaling his intent to deliver entirely fresh material. This decision seems reflective of his strategy to maintain his artistic integrity, ensuring fans are served with novel content.
Reflecting on his recent struggles, Lil Baby took to Instagram last month to share his past difficulties, stating: “Ain’t It Crazy How They Tryna Play Me Like I Ain’t The One!!! It’s That Time! I Had The Darkest Period Of My Life These Last Two Years But I Stayed Down And Overcame That Shit. Now I’m Back To Fuccin Shit Up.” This candid message highlights not just his resilience but also his readiness to reassert himself within the competitive music industry.
The rapper's upcoming album is billed as a comeback project following his last full-length release, 'It’s Only Me,' which debuted impressively at number one on the Billboard 200, drawing over 215,000 first-week sales. 'WHAM' intends to build on this success and is expected to embody Lil Baby's signature sound, characterized by hard-hitting beats and engaging lyrics.
Adding another layer to his artistic slate, Lil Baby has indicated plans for two additional albums set to be released within 2025. Speaking on Lil Yachty's 'A Safe Place' podcast, he revealed: “At first, I was telling people I was going to drop a double album. Now, I’m dropping the WHAM album and Dominique album.” Here, he elaborated on the thematic distinction of the two projects: 'WHAM' will embrace the youthful exuberance of fast cars, women, and luxury, contrasting with 'Dominique,' which promises to provide audiences with a more introspective look at his life.
It's noteworthy, too, how the absence of Gunna from this project has sparked conversation. Lil Baby previously collaborated with Gunna on the hit track 'Drip Too Hard,' yet Baby confirmed their professional relationship has ended. Responding to speculation about needing Gunna for hits, he stated confidently, “I got my own hits,” reinforcing his individual success and capacity to carve his own path forward.
With its release just around the corner, 'WHAM (Who Hard as Me)' stands not only as Lil Baby's latest musical endeavor but also as testimony to his resilience and transformation as an artist. Fans are undoubtedly excited and curious to hear what he has crafted, eager to support this new chapter of his career.