by DaBaby
Released April 17, 2020 via Interscope Records / South Coast Music Group
Originally reviewed April 29, 2020
Top tracks (based on community voting)
ROCKSTAR (37%), BLAME IT ON BABY (21%), JUMP (17%)
While it’s clear that DaBaby took the “All his music sounds the same'' criticisms to heart, the execution of BLAME IT ON BABY doesn’t match the intention. His charisma and personality could make Eeyore smile, the production is better than before, and there is some versatility here. But unfortunately, DaBaby’s own performance weighs the album down. It feels like he’s not willing to commit to a new sound and dive into the deep end of the pool - and even then, those moments of experimentation feel half-baked. Not to mention the abundance of cringe-worthy lyrics present here that weren’t in his previous albums. All in all, BLAME IT ON BABY is a hit-or-miss album. Hopefully, DaBaby’s next album corrects the mistakes of its predecessor because there’s a high ceiling for improvement. – Alan (5.5/10)
DaBaby has been on one of the most impressive climbs in recent hip hop history. He’s put out hit after hit and people have loved it, until now. BLAME IT ON BABY was … interesting. His biggest attraction is his ability to fill spaces in the beat with punchlines or adlibs, which is why “yeah yeah” on Suge sounds so impressive. He’s not the only one who does this, but he does it very well and it makes many want to hear more. Outside of “Jump” and “Champion,” that same feeling is nonexistent. “Sad Sh*t” and “Find My Way,” were two songs that simply did not sound right. The one beat that actually did its job was “Blame It On Baby,” until the beat switch stole the drop and completely killed the vibe. The recurring theme of this project is admirable in the attempt at least, but it feels like Baby shouldn’t have even tried. Yes, listening to his supporters and taking this time to try something new is also worth recognizing, but this belongs at the bottom of DaBaby’s discography. – Daniel (4.8/10)
Superstardom comes at a price, and after rapping himself into a corner on his last two albums, DaBaby is unfit to front the bill. From the eye-rolling cover art to him gleefully parading around his "hardships," BLAME IT ON BABY is phony and ultimately predatory. Serious recalculation is needed for the 2019 industry MVP after a tumultuous start to the year, both on and off the mic. – Enth (3/10)
DaBaby’s energy and charismatic personality quickly carried him to superstardom in 2019, but he’s quickly shown an over-reliance on the same formula. BLAME IT ON BABY sees one of hip-hop’s biggest names rapping over a collection of beats that surely could have been more diversified, and the same could certainly be said about the rapper’s use of flows. Credit where it’s due though, DaBaby does try something a little different on here, as some tracks feature him with a more melodic delivery, but it’s hard to argue that these do him any more favors than recycling the “Suge” flow. BLAME IT ON BABY isn’t the worst album you’ll find in 2020, but it is certainly a strong candidate for one of the most uninspired. – Dominick (2/10)
Alan: 5.8/10 | Cam: 5/10 | Daniel: 4.8/10 | Hadley: 3.5/10
Enth: 3/10 | Dominick: 1.5/10 | Jared: 1.5/10
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