"My Turn: The Rise of Lil Baby and the Soundtrack of Ambition"

In the music world today, lots of artists only get famous for one song. But Lil Baby was not like that. When he dropped his album “My Turn," he showed everybody he was authentic. The album came out in early 2020, right around the time Covid-19 made an appearance, but it still blew up everywhere. 

Even with TikTok trends and so many changes happening, the album stayed strong and helped make Lil Baby a worldwide star. For many fans, this was the moment he proved he could go farther than most rappers in his generation.

The album has catchy beats and smooth melodies, and Lil Baby talks about things like loyalty, fear, success, and the struggles he went through growing up. Some songs do sound a little alike, but the whole project stays solid. Before this, he already had big songs like “Yes Indeed” with Drake and “Freestyle,” but "My Turn" pushed him into a whole new level of fame. When the deluxe edition dropped, the album even returned to No. 1, something that very few albums ever do.

What makes "My Turn" especially impressive is the emotional honesty Lil Baby brings to the music. On tracks such as “Emotionally Scarred,” he reflects on trust issues, internal pressure, and the emotional consequences of fame, saying in his song he “watched my lil' boy play with toys, I just dropped a tear of joy.”  Meanwhile, “Sum 2 Prove” captures his ambition and determination, offering a glimpse into the mindset that drives his success. Here's a particularly catchy lyric: 

“I got somethin' to prove (somethin' to prove)
Yeah, I'm young, but got somethin' to lose (somethin' to lose.”)

The production throughout the album is controlled and polished, with layered pianos, atmospheric textures, and trap drums that work seamlessly with Lil Baby’s melodic flow.

Even years later, the album continues to feel musically relevant. It has influenced the direction of mainstream rap and inspired many upcoming artists. Personally, I listen to “Sum 2 Prove” before football games because its intensity motivates me and helps me get into the right mindset. The consistency of the album makes it easy to play without skipping tracks, something that is increasingly rare in the streaming era. 

"My Turn" succeeds not merely because it is catchy, but because it provides a compelling and cohesive representation of Lil Baby as an artist. While it may not radically reshape the hip hop landscape, it performs the equally important task of clearly defining his artistic identity. Songs like “Humble,” with its sharp lyricism and powerful beat drop, display his ability to combine emotional sincerity with technical skill. The album’s continued popularity proves its cultural staying power, and for many listeners, myself included, it stays his most accomplished and influential work.

"My Turn" is not simply an album worth hearing, but it is a project that earns its place within modern rap history.