From: officialflagrant
Lil Baby, a prominent figure in hip-hop, has recently been the subject of discussions concerning his music’s quality, his ongoing “beef” with media personality DJ Akademiks, and the broader implications of legal crackdowns on Atlanta rappers.
Recent Album Reception
DJ Akademiks critically assessed Lil Baby’s recent album, describing it as “a whole can of mid” and noting a lack of “one Bonafide hit” on the project [02:11:11], [02:14:50]. He observed that many other rappers were “shocked” by the album’s quality [02:16:04], especially after Lil Baby had previously released “18 months of hits” [02:22:22]. The album’s lead singles were also considered “mid” [02:57:33].
Beef with DJ Akademiks
The friction between Lil Baby and DJ Akademiks escalated when Lil Baby “dissed” Akademiks twice on his album, unprovoked [00:00:00], [10:43:08]. Akademiks suggests Lil Baby initiated the “beef” because he is “scared of ‘them people’” (referring to legal authorities in Atlanta) [11:03:00], and is using Akademiks as a “smoke screen” to deflect from his real-world legal issues [13:10:07], [13:13:00].
”Snitching” Allegations
Following Lil Baby’s diss, accusations of “snitching” were directed at DJ Akademiks [15:05:07]. Akademiks clarifies that he cannot “technically be a snitch” because he is not involved in “street shit” [15:29:29]. He maintains that if he were physically assaulted, he would “say exactly what happened” to the police [16:02:07], stating he is “fine with that label” [16:08:00].
Impact of Atlanta’s Legal Climate on Rap
Atlanta’s legal environment, particularly the District Attorney’s office, is actively cracking down on rappers [12:51:00]. This situation impacts artists like Lil Baby, who cannot “really rap about tough shit” due to the DA scrutinizing lyrics as evidence [12:59:00], [24:28:00].
Lyrics as Evidence
DJ Akademiks notes that lyrics, such as Lil Baby’s line “I could get touched” [16:32:00], could be used in court as part of RICO investigations [17:17:00]. He explains that artists like Young Thug and Gunna had songs “canned” to avoid creating more potential evidence against them [24:51:00], as “most self-incriminating bars usually hit the hardest” [25:09:00].
The rise in crime in Atlanta is attributed by authorities partly to rappers “getting into street gangs and start funding them” [26:26:00]. The current DA, a Black woman, is seen as personable to the public and committed to addressing crime, even if it means targeting high-profile figures [27:18:00], [28:17:00]. Akademiks emphasizes that artists should not “brag about crime in a place where people are fed up” with it [28:07:00].
Lil Baby’s Influence and Audience
Lil Baby’s music has garnered increasing recognition, with “white people have just started finding out about Lil Baby” [14:15:00]. This newfound mainstream appeal is partly due to a white girl who lip-synced his verse from Drake’s “Wants and Needs” on TikTok, which then went “huge, massive” [14:31:00], [14:48:00]. Akademiks mentions there’s only “enough room for one baby” in the industry, alluding to Dababy’s fall creating space for Lil Baby [14:22:00], [14:25:00].
Comparisons and Industry Insights
DJ Akademiks states that a media personality should not “beef with the media,” because the media will “lose” [18:54:00]. He asserts his own power and influence, claiming he can negatively impact a rapper’s career if disrespected, even if it’s not immediately obvious [19:21:00], [20:40:00].
DJ Akademiks on "Beef"
“If Lil baby wants to trade Jabs with me give me three years and let’s see how the narrative goes I’m in the media my guy you never beef with the media let me tell any rapper yeah you beef with the media you’re going to lose.” [18:50:00]
He believes that hip-hop artists, especially those from Atlanta, must adapt to the changing legal landscape, suggesting they “get out of Atlanta” or change their lyrical content to avoid legal repercussions [25:52:00], [27:26:00]. This impacts the kind of music being made, with some artists now choosing to rap about luxury items rather than street life [19:09:00].
The discussion about Lil Baby also touches upon broader themes of cancel culture in entertainment, the influence of media personalities like DJ Akademiks, and the financial structures of the music industry impacting artists’ deals.