Jacksonville rapper BabyK Osama has just shared his new EP BabyK 3 along with a new video single “Raq”. With his vivid imagery, passionate vocals, and consistent releases, the 19-year-old rapper has cemented himself as a key player in the latest generation of Jacksonville rap, boasting co-signs from Yungeen Ace, Jdot Breezy, GMK and more. The project follows up on a string of red-hot singles, including “All Fa Da Fame”, “No Attempts” (feat. Anti Da Menace), and “Gorillas”. On BabyK 3, BabyK cranks up the heat, blazing through all 13 tracks with burning intensity and calling on just two guest verses from Backstreet Tk and 7mile Kory. The project’s production is backed top to bottom with BabyK’s typical gloomy severity, but also shows him exploring new textures. BabyK strikes a somber tone on standout track “I Miss You” as he mourns the loss of a fallen friend over a brooding, bluesy instrumental carried by a sorrowful bass and whining keyboard. On “Raq”, BabyK’s layered vocals make for an exhilarating hook over more familiar, ominous production bolstered by resonant strikes of single piano keys. Florida is a constant hub of innovation in rap—and with each new record, BabyK Osama solidifies his stance as a front-runner in his region’s latest wave of visionaries.
BabyK grew up on artists like J.Cole & Kendrick Lamar, but his influence also draws from the likes of Kodak Black and Lil Durk. He first started to take rapping seriously while he was locked up, spending most of his time in jail writing. After he was released, BabyK Osama dropped his head-spinning single “Michael Phelps Son” which was subsequently released on his 2021 mixtape, Judgement. He continued dropping new music at a steady pace through 2021 before following up with his next tape, BabyK 2, in early 2022, featuring the notable single “No Drive By’s”. On the heels of his recently released project Genesis, BabyK is already plotting his next move. “I just know I can get better. Each tape, once something out, I just be like, ‘Okay…Onto the next one.’ Tracks like “Dirty Dancing” and “Ms. Stacy” portray the talent of a preternaturally gifted MC and hitmaker, but BabyK has been working towards this point with a relentless determination.
© 2022, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
