Dominique Armani Jones, known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. Born on December 3, 1994, he rose to prominence in 2017 with the release of his mixtape Perfect Timing, which marked his entry into the mainstream music scene.
Lil Baby grew up in the Oakland City neighborhood of Southwest Atlanta. Raised by his mother alongside two sisters after his father’s departure when he was two years old, he faced challenges during his youth, including dropping out of Booker T. Washington High School in ninth grade and engaging in drug-related activities. These actions led to multiple charges and a two-year incarceration.
Following his release from prison in 2016, Lil Baby focused on his music career. He gained initial recognition with his mixtapes Harder Than Hard and Too Hard in 2017. His debut studio album, Harder Than Ever (2018), peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single “Yes Indeed” with Drake. Later that year, he collaborated with rapper Gunna on the mixtape Drip Harder, which included the diamond-certified single “Drip Too Hard.”
In 2020, Lil Baby released his second studio album, My Turn, which topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks and became the best-selling album of that year. The album featured singles like “We Paid” (with 42 Dugg) and “The Bigger Picture,” the latter addressing social issues and earning Grammy nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
