Motion God
Lil Baby retains it shifting.
Interview: Aleia Woods
Editor’s Note: This story seems within the Summer 2023 problem of XXL Magazine, on stands now.
Sure, Lil Baby is a big-time entertainer, however he’s additionally a businessman. Currently, he’s targeted on the discharge of his Japanese comedian (or manga as they’re recognized) referred to as Shonen Baby, which he co-produced with AXE. Also on deck is the Atlanta rapper’s It’s Only Us Tour that kicks off in July. Here, a busy Lil Baby speaks on his plans for brand new music, his manga, touring, being philanthropical and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
XXL: The title of your manga is Shonen Baby. Is {that a} play on your rap identify?
Lil Baby: Yeah. Of course, the Baby half got here from me, however the Shonen half means a bunch of motion, a bunch of journey.
You have expertise with selecting album titles. Was deciding on the identify to your manga the same course of?
All the best way related. Kind of like naming an album. It type of goes with what I’m speaking about on the album. It type of go together with the observe. So, positively the identical course of since I obtained to provide you with titles on a regular basis. Song titles. Album titles. Titles for this. I’m type of good at making titles now.
There was discuss earlier this yr of a potential Lil Baby and Drake joint album. Is that taking place?
Maybe so. Maybe not.
The summer season is developing and you normally take over the season. Do you might have any tasks within the works?
Summer is developing. I obtained a tour coming, beginning in July. I’m truly going to drop an album
this summer season and my artist, Rylo Rodriguez, will likely be dropping an album this summer season.
The supporting acts to your It’s Only Us Tour are Rylo Rodriguez, GloRilla, Gloss Up and Hunxho. What made you select these artists?
Of course, Glo [is] actually for the ladies. I need to ensure I faucet into the females. Then Hunxho, I see him on the rise in Atlanta. I like his music and I’m extra so a fan of him. So, I need to give him the expertise and for Rylo to exit on his first tour.
How essential is touring to you?
Touring is tremendous essential to me. At first, I didn’t actually perceive it, however as I proceed to tour and my excursions proceed to get greater and greater, and it’s extra worthwhile and offers my followers a greater expertise, touring is unquestionably a fundamental half that you simply don’t need to miss. But a whole lot of artists do miss it, I see. Touring is unquestionably a type of steps you don’t need to miss.
What do you might have deliberate for after the summer season?
I’m all the time working, by no means not working. I obtained a non-profit that I’m launching and one other firm. We obtained an enormous rollout popping out. I’m constructing just a little group heart in my neighborhood. I obtained an entire record of issues.
Can you converse just a little bit concerning the non-profit?
I obtained a non-profit referred to as For the People Foundation. I teamed up with another person and we’re
going to open up a music class in several HBCUs. It’s positively going to be one thing tremendous, tremendous huge. And it’s truly going to roll out, like, in all places. I’m going to do some issues with Apple and completely different companies and stuff, so that you’ll positively see it.
August marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. What does that milestone imply to
you?
The 50th anniversary means loads to me, however now that I’m part of it, it’s turn into completely completely different. To be capable to come 50 years, you’d assume that hip-hop has been right here for thus lengthy, but when you consider, like, 50 years isn’t even that lengthy. So, 50 years or 100 years from now, I need to be someplace within the historical past.
The Freshman problem of XXL journal hits stands in all places on July 18. See Finesse2tymes, Rob49, Fridayy, GloRilla, 2Rare, SleazyWorld Go, Lola Brooke, Central Cee, Real Boston Richey, Luh Tyler, TiaCorine and DC The Don’s official Freshman pages. In addition to interviews with all 12 artists within the 2023 Class and Freshman cyphers producer Pi’erre Bourne, it contains interviews with Lil Baby, NLE Choppa, Boosie BadAzz, Toosii, DDG, Saba, producer Go Grizzly, engineer Jaycen Joshua, singer Coco Jones, SinceThe80s’ President Barry “Hefner” Johnson and AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland, plus a glance again at what the 2022 XXL Freshman Class is doing, hip-hop’s love {for golfing} that includes Scarface, OMB Peezy and professional golfer Harold Varner III, conversations with 10 new artists making noise and a deep dive into A.I. hip-hop songs. You may also purchase the 2023 XXL Freshman Class problem right here.
2023 XXL Freshman
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