DaBaby Gets Real About Hip-Hop Culture! - What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast

- Hey, everybody. So today I'm having a conversation. with the hiphop artist, DaBaby. There was a point when DaBaby was literally the face. of hiphop, one of the biggest artists in the world. He conquered all of the hip hop stages. and all the way to the Grammys. He was killing it until one day. He made statements at the Rolling Loud Festival, which many people deemed extremely homophobic. and everything in his career changed. - DaBaby is one of the hottest rappers in the game. But after making some wild comments. during his rolling loud performance,

major celebrities like Elton John. and Quest Love have called him out, saying his actions are ignorant and homophobic. - DaBaby is doubling down on his seemingly homophobic. and disturbing remarks made on stage at. Rolling Loud in Miami. - Now since then, DaBaby has still been a performer. He's still been an artist, and many have asked the question, has he learned, has he changed? And what has he learned or changed from that experience? Well, today we're chatting to him about all of this. This is what now with Trevor Noah,

what's going on? Happy Podcast Day everybody. How you doing? Good. How are you? I'm fantastic. Me and man Dems having a great time. Blood. Can I tell you something? I think I'm gonna move to London. - Yeah. - I am having the time of my life. I just love it. - What part are you staying in? - All of it. Blood, all of it. I got bare mans in it.

So I've been riding, I've been riding the, the Tube. to my shows, which, you know, what's strange is like everyone in in London tells you. to ride the tube, but then when you ride the Tube, everyone asks you, why are you riding the tube? Yeah. Which is a very strange thing. Literally, I'm, I'm on the train every single day going. to my show, and then people are like, what are you doing here? What are you doing riding the tube? And you're like, well, it's the fastest wave. Yeah, but I didn't expect you to be riding the tube. Oh, that's so strange. Oh, what, what are you doing here?

And then one guy's with me on the escalators coming up from. the, the underground, and he goes, yo, Trev, I thought they gave you more money than. to ride the subway, bro. But I love it. It's been, it's been fun. You know, I, so I was in Ireland for a day. I love the Irish man. They just have like a, I don't know what it is. They, they have a, a thing that connects them. to us as South Africans that really. - Oppression, oppression and colonization. You see, I wasn't gonna say that, - Christiana.

I was looking for something more. - I love the Irish, but they've suffered. So that's why we get on. I like the Irish too, - Scotland and Ireland. I feel like it's a full, they feel like 100% my people. who just live somewhere else. That's how I feel. - Mm. - And the Irish are the least. and uncomfortable with a very uncomfortable story, you know? - Yeah, I can see that. - In fact, Ireland was the first place. where I ever like told stories about apartheid in. South Africa because I was talking to a comedian.

and like some audience members, we were at a comedy festival. And one of the, one of the comedians was, was chatting to me. And he's, he's like, so tell me a little. bit about your life, Trevor. Like, what have, what have you done? Where have you been? And I was like, oh, this is how I grew up. and this is what I, and he goes, by God, why? Why aren't you talking about any of that on stage? I was like, well, because it's depressing. It's, this is, I'm talking about apartheid and racism. And he's like, that's the most interesting thing you have. talked about Trevor. He's like, our audiences would love to hear about that.

And I was like, oh, okay. And then I, I went on stage the next day. and I told some of those stories and the audiences loved it. And so I, I'll always credit the, the, the, the Irish for, you know, being the people who encouraged me. to just explore the less obviously funny parts of life. and the less comfortable parts of living. 'cause I, I think, you know, that's. comedy encompasses all of it. Life encompasses all of it. This podcast encompasses all of it. That's why we're here people. That's why we're here.

The good, the bad, and the ugly. I mean, look at our guest today. DaBaby. Ooh, DaBaby. Yes. This is an interesting one. Christiana, this is how I know you are my friend. Truly. - Yeah. - Is that you? You'll roll with me and, and you, you, you have both a judgment and a love. and an understanding for me, regardless of some. of the decisions I make. - Yes. I mean, I trust it'll be okay in the end. Just like I trust you'll do a good the baby interview, even though I have some reservations.

Well, yeah. But I trust I'll, I'll roll with you on it. That's what. - I'm, okay. So, so here's, here's the thing. Some people listening to this podcast have no clue. what a DaBaby is. And if you're one of those people, I actually hope you will listen. because I, I think it's a, it's a fascinating compass conversation that goes. beyond his art and, and the music that he creates. And I think there will be parts. of the conversation that'll be very tough.

You know, DaBaby has not lived an easy life, nor has he grown up in an easy world. And I think he's been part of making it not easy at times. And if you do know DaBaby, some of you might love him. and go like, oh, I love him and his music. And some of you might be like, ah, I cannot, I cannot stand the baby. I, I, I hate everything he stands for. And I don't know, I I, I've, I've often find myself wrestling in life with the question. of forgiveness,

reconciliation, and the conversations that we have with people. who have either wronged us. or wronged, quote unquote society. You know? And one of the things that interests me about De. Baby is you have someone who has definitely, I mean, he's, he's definitely, you know, hurt people. But he, he seems to want to make amends. And sometimes I feel like he doesn't have the, the, the tools or the, or the aptitude.

But he has a willingness and I'm a sucker for willingness. - Yeah, I know that about you. You're definitely a sucker for some willing, even if they're not able. Yeah. But I, but I think he's, but I think he's, I don't know about the willing part, and I'd love to learn more. I, I would say that before, you know, all. of his controversies, I, I was a big fan of DaBaby. I, I still think he's so talented. - Yeah. - Just that music is brilliant. Music videos, just so artistic.

So I came to his music as a fan, and then I think perhaps it was fame, perhaps it was environmental, but you know, a few things happened back to back. And you're just like, oh. And then, you know, it kind. of culminated in the incident at Rolling Loud Festival Yeah. Where he was, he was quite homophobic, very publicly, even though the crowd seemed to be enjoying it, which, what was going on in that crowd. But, you know, and since then, he's kind of been a pariah,

but he's, I think he's coming back into public life. and there are some people that feel he, he hasn't been accountable enough. - I'm intrigued by how people get to where they are. and what informs not just the decisions they make, but the, but the people they become And, and DaBaby's one of those people. 'cause I loved what you said, you became a fan of his. and then discovered things. And I sometimes wonder how many times.

people all aren't given grace. because we don't know what we don't know about them. - Yeah. - And then when we do discover things about them, they're lucky enough that their past or their, or their present doesn't sort of catch up to them, you know? - Yeah. And it wasn't just his kind of comments. He also has kind of this history of violence. And I do want to say that sometimes, and this is not to absolve him for any responsibility. for the things he's done, but how much is. that linked to how he grew up? Right? Yeah. That is that where the violent come from?

I'm curious about that. But I do think we live in a world where violent men are able. to get away with things with little to no consequence. But, you know, who knows. what consequences he's faced both personally. and professionally because of it. - The question I would have is, how willing is he to grow? Does he want to grow? Does he need to grow? And then more interesting for me is. what is everything that has affected him?

Like, like, what are the ingredients that have come together. to create DaBaby and, and who this human being is? That's what I'm really interested to get into with, with De Baby, is, you know, who is, who is the human being behind the actions? Alright, Joe, let's, let's jump in with the baby. Let's see how, let's see how this goes. DaBaby, welcome to the podcast. Pleasure to be.

- Here. Appreciate you having me. - I think for this conversation, what I really wanted. to get into is understanding you as a human being. to understand a lot about you as the artist. - Absolutely. - You know, you, you've had an outsize influence on the world. You know, someone who has 21 million, million followers just on your Instagram. But, but what your music has done, what, what you've embodied, I think goes far beyond that. And so let's, let's start with, let's start with that. I'm always intrigued by how an artist chooses their name.

and what that name means to them. Absolutely. Why de baby? - Well, I'm the youngest of three boys. My mom has three sons. I'm the youngest sibling out of the, out of the three sons. And not only that, like early on, early on, I, I had the name baby Jesus. - Okay. - And this is as a local. artist, you know what I'm saying? But my mom didn't feel, she didn't feel good about that, man. You know what I'm saying? A lot of people, they like, no, absolutely not. No, no. But I'm like, you know, my whole thing with it.

was like my, my purpose being, you know, to do. for others, you know what I mean? And not myself. So. that's my responsibility, you know. what I mean, on this earth. Like, - I would love to know what your family was like and, and why that has been such a driving force in your life. So you were born in Cleveland. - Cleveland, - Right? Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. So what moved there when you were seven years old? - Yep. - Was there a reason you moved? Was it, was it good? Was it bad? - Oh, it, it was a great thing.

I'm, I'm, I commend my mother, you know what I mean? Yeah. For changing our environment situation. Even though Charlotte itself is a, you know, is not a walk in the park. You know what I mean? Not at. all. Like, not even a little bit. - What was your mom like? Like what, what was she strict? Was she a disciplinarian? - Was she Absolutely, - Yeah. - Absolutely. But also fun, loving, nurturing. Right. You know what I mean? Like all about her sons, like all about her sons. Her, I remember her, her email was my three sons. Linda, like, everything is my three sons, my handsome son. She's all about just uplifting her.

- So she was proud of you from the. - Beginning? Absolutely. Especially me. Like, I got the smile, like curly two dimples. Like, I, I, I resemble her the most. My bro don't get mad at me to my brother. I, y'all got mad at me enough growing up, but like, I'm my mother's twin, you know what I'm saying? Right, right. Like sweetest woman on earth. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, oh, give you the, the, the shoes off her feet. You know what I'm saying? Okay. If you didn't have them, even if she didn't have another pair to put on, - How, how did she punish you? - How? Oh, she, - Like, if you did something wrong, - She whooped our ass. Whoop your ass. Excuse, excuse. - My legs. Oh, no, there's no, - Didn't say anything here.

She whipped our ass. You know what I'm saying? Most definitely. Like, we, - What was, what was the worst whipping your mom gave you? - Oh, man. - Like, I, I, I remember mine, the two. that I hated the most was, I had two types. of whippings that my mom would give me. One was the chasing whipping. That one was one where I was, I was trying to get away. and she would just, she would just follow me. It was like a tornado coming off me. And then the other one was, I, I, like, I always, I, I tell my mom till this day, I go, that was like a, it's like a war crime. She would send me outside. to get a stick.

from a, to pick a switch. You call it a switch. - Call a switch, absolutely. Put. a switch out here. Absolutely. - Yeah. And she would send me outside. to pick my own punishment now. Absolutely. I said I hated being an accomplice to her crime. What? So you, everyone knows the worst, like. what was the worst whipping that. - They wanted? That was one of the ones that, yeah, that was always, you know, that's like adding an insult. to injury, you know what I mean? You know, especially when you try. to find the tiniest little stick come in. and it's like, oh no, go back. You know what I'm saying? And it's like, go back. So definitely the ones with the switch. and the, the extension cord, you know, with, with landline falls.

Oh man. Where you can hear it though, the extension cord when you can hear it. And one thing about my mom, like one thing she always like, she was very adamant on like, not feeling sorry for yourself. Like, no, like my, when we used to get whoopings, like we weren't allowed to cry, is the whooping isn't over. until you, until you stop crying. Wow. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, that's it, because it's like, you know, you, you know, you know right from wrong. You know what I'm saying? - How did, how did you, you know, I feel like everyone has a different. experience of this as a child. Did you know why you were being whipped?

And, and, and Absolutely. But, but did you, did you think that it was right. or did you go, this is the worst thing in the mo. Which, which way did you go? Because I feel there's, there's always two types of kids. - I knew right from wrong, you know, and it kind of, it kind of, you know, tickles me sometimes. because like, with the way that I'm perceived, you know. what I mean by the public? Like, I was the good child in my house. Like, you know what I'm saying in my, huh In my household, I was the, I was an angel, you know what I'm saying? Like, I was an angel. So, you know, I, I'll say that to say,

you know, like the, the environment that I come from Yeah. The household I was raised in, like every day it was like, it was war. You know what I mean? Like, growing up. was a challenge for me. You know what I'm saying? How, - How, let's talk about those challenges. Like, like, you know, I grew up in South Africa, you know, we had our challenges. They're very different. And yet I find in many ways very similar absolutely. To many experiences that black Americans had. Absolutely. You know, we all have our. - Hood. - We all have the dude at the corner. We all have the dice game,

- Right? - We all have the shootings. We all have it. It it, it's strange how familiar. and yet absolutely how different the worlds were. - On different sides of the world. - You, you grew up in this world where, you know, you have a mom who by all accounts is, is religious, is driven, absolutely. Is focused, is loving, is also a disciplinarian. She's keeping you in check. And she moves you to North Carolina. Now, when you're growing up in North Carolina, I, I, I've read a little on your story, I've listened to some. of the, the, the interviews that you've. - Had. - It seems like you lived in a strangely hybrid world.

where on the one hand you had a few opportunities, but on the other hand, you were in the streets. And I'd love to know how, how did you end up in the streets. and what would, like, did you find the streets, or did the streets find you? - So a lot of those elements, like did you list, like, you know, you got the, the hoods, the dice games. Yeah. This, that you got the. alcoholics, drug addicts, all of that. One thing with me, and, you know, and I, and I take my time speaking on this. because I, I never discredit the, the superhero that my mother was.

Yeah. And still is. You get what I'm saying? A lot of those elements like that, you know, most people have to go down the street to see. or venture off, or don't go over there, go to places their. parents tell them, don't go to see. Yeah. They were in the household with me. You know what I'm saying? Like, we would, we would be watched by my uncles, like my uncles. who are either alcoholic, drug addict. Right. You get what I'm saying? Right. This or that. Like, real deal drug addicts. Like not, you know, like, yeah. My grandmother's house directly across the street from.

the crack house is, that's. what they call 'em a crack house. So. - It's, yeah. Damn. - It's, you know, drug addicts, prostitution 24 7. Like, they're up from, they're up. four or five in the morning. They're up the entire night, out the entire day roaming the streets. Like a lot of these elements, they were like right there. But at the time, like growing up, it just seemed completely normal to me. - Yeah. - You know what I'm saying? Like, that's something, - It's hard. It's hard though. Yeah. I mean, it's hard. You know, it's, it's, it's interesting. I grew up in a very religious household. Absolutely. Many of the views that I held growing up were completely. shaped by that religion.

For sure. Over time, they've shifted and they've changed. But that was the core of my foundation. I also grew up in a very African household. - Right. - So those are some of the ideas that I, I, I was, I held and I, I, I maintained. And, and it's interesting that you've now brought that up. because, you know, you, you, you have your dad from afar giving you wisdom, you know, contributing to your life. But he is from. - Afar. Right. - You know, you have your mom who's working all, all day, all night to make your life just, you know what it needs to be. Keep a decent roof over, keep the roof over your head.

Right. And, and unfortunately, you're in an environment. where you're surrounded by drugs, violence, alcohol. Absolutely. You, you, you can name it. I mean, people can imagine it. But when you're in it, it's a very different experience. - It, it's extremely different. - What there are, there are two types of responses to this. There are people who will crumble because of this. And they were people who, who, who will almost be, they'll become galvanized by it. And they will, they will fight within it. Absolutely.

I feel like you're the latter. I feel like you're the kind. of person who saw opportunities. and saw ways to thrive within that world. - Absolutely. - What was the first moment where. this is long before you're the baby. You know? I mean, you, you baby Jesus, you're the, the little kid in the family, you know? But, - And even with that, that name didn't come until. - Oh, that name. That didn't come until much later. So you. - Yeah. Much later. That wasn't a childhood. So at this point, you're still childhood. I was John. - John. You're just John - John's. Okay. John John. Hard Chocolate was another nickname. Hard chocolate. Hard chocolate. - Okay. So you got John. John or Hard Chocolate.

What was, what was the moment where the streets took you? What, what was that life? What, what were you doing? Where were you going? What, you know, there's, there's a moment where it snaps. I remember the first time I had a, like, what was my first encounter with the police? First encounter with the police was my friends. And I had, we had like a, a, a replica gun that we had with us. And we were stu we would, we were thinking maybe would. be, I don't even know. We were like, maybe we'll be gangsters. I don't know. - Right. - But that was like our first. encounter with the police.

I mean, we, you know, we'd get arrested. for throwing block parties that were illegal. We would. Right. But you always remember your first, what, what was your first encounter with the police? What was it about what was happening in your life? - I don't even know if the police were involved, but I remember I was in, I was in fourth grade, third or fourth grade. But I brought a pocket knife to school. and I was showing it off to some girl. - You sh you know, I brought a pocket knife. I got, I got expelled for bringing a knife to school. - I was so glad they expelled. - Me. Oh, I got expelled. They. - Suspended me for a day. That is. - Wild.

- I showed it to a girl and, and, and she told on me, they suspended me for a day. - Oh, I got expelled - For that one. They didn't, the knife was already gone when she told 'em. Thank God, she waited probably to the end of the day. to tell em, because I probably would've got expelled to, but And that would've, that would've messed up my, my, my little school record. Yeah. Because I was, I was straight As like all the way. until like high, I mean, nothing, nothing less than a B for sure. I didn't get a C till maybe high school. You know what, that. - Is one of the paradoxes.

So I don't know. what it was like growing up where you grew up. Where we grew up. I found there was a, there was a conflict. There was a clash between the streets and school. - Right. - If you did well in school, guys would be like, you're goofy guys would say you, you're a punk guys. - Right, right. And so - There was almost this element. of you don't want to do well. because you don't wanna be perceived as somebody, you know, who somebody can step up on, somebody who can be Right. You know, taken advantage of it. It, you are a strange mix in that. Absolutely. You were proud of your straight As. Yeah. But you're in the streets as well.

Was, was there ever a moment where. violence came into your world? - Like Yeah, it was there. It was, it existed. - Oh, this is just a daily, - Entire time. It violence was in my wor was in my world. as when I'm three or four. Like I see like, my, like it's in, it's in the household. Like, I see my uncles fighting each other. My damn, my brothers, you know what I mean? Like, with me, like every day, like it was, it was like. that, like, you know, I was a, I was the baby boy. Like I was the one I, they lock me in the closet, bang on the doors.

- Oh wow. - Act like it's, yeah. Act like Jason's here, the boogey man's here. These types of things. Like it's, yeah. Like I was, I used to piss in the bed. because I was scared to get up to go to the bathroom. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was that type of thing. Right. We were all sharing a room. But violence is, yeah. It was, it was very much there. Like, while my mom's out working all these long, hard hours, like my brother, he's, but he's probably 10 at the time. 20, 30 older kids in the house. You know what I'm saying? Like Yeah. Like did you ever see a dead on, - Did you ever see a dead body growing up?

- I've definitely been around, yeah. Shootings and, and all that. For sure. The first time death probably was around me. A certain situation had happened. with one of my family members. And, and I just remember it like, it was yesterday. that we were like, sat down. and told when you go to school, 'cause we're little kids. - Yeah. - You don't speak about this to nobody. You Wow. You'll ever bring this up to anybody. That's the, I literally never. have, you know what I'm saying? Like, to this day, you know what I mean?

But I, that's the first time I remember. and I had to be maybe like, ha oh, was I, I think I was in middle school. I don't think I was in elementary school. I think I was in middle school, but it was early in middle school. - Yeah. - Had to be like sixth grade, seventh grade. Sixth grade, seventh grade. Selma one of, - Do you, do you think you had a full. comprehension of what that was? - No. Absolutely. No. - Absolutely. Yeah. - Yeah. I knew exactly what that was. But just in terms of violence, like, - Were you scared ever? - I was scared all the time. Every day. But as a child, you know what I mean? Like, my mom's not at home.

And so, and then, you know, like elementary school kids, they get outta school first. - Yeah. - So I had a house key at like age six. Like, I let myself in, you know what I mean? I come home and let myself in a. 6-year-old, you know what I'm saying? When I look at my daughter right now, being six years old, I'm like, wow, liket believe I was going through that. Oh, for sure. And, and like I say, it, it didn't feel like I was going through any, it did, it very much did. But it didn't, like this was just the norm. I don't know anything. outside of this, you know what I'm saying? Right. But I, I say that to say like, you know,

when my brothers would come home shortly. after they come in, go right back outside, they leave me. - Yeah. - You get what I'm saying? They go right back outside. So I'm in the house. Like, that's probably one of the reasons why I'm, I'm just. so self-sufficient. I had to be, you know what I mean? Like, I had to be like, I, I had no choice. You know? - Right. Many moment, many moments where you're raising yourself. - Essentially. Yeah. Absolutely. Of the situation. I'm feeding myself, I'm making my own food. You know what I mean? All that. I, and one of my uncles, they have a story that, that they tell us where, 'cause one of my uncles doesn't do drugs. Right. Hardcore drugs. He drinks, doesn't do hardcore drugs.

But where he tried to, where he tried to beat one. of my other uncles with a baseball bat. because he had me with them in a crack house, smoking crack. Like he had me with them. I was like one, two years old. You get what I'm saying? Like these types of things. Like that's what I come from. And it also helps me understand why I'm set up the way. I'm set up as a person. You know what I'm saying? - That's, well, that's fascinating that you, that you have. that level of, of self-awareness to understand how much. of you has been shaped by the world that you were in. And.

- That's newly ga This is, this is all, these are all things. that I'm, I'm beginning to notice, like within the past couple years. You know what I'm saying? Like Yeah. How does most of this stuff, when I come sit down. with people, because I've never been to therapy, is, - Is therapy even, is that allowed in hip hop? I know it's. - Ignorant question. I utilize my Yeah. I mean, several. people recommended it too. Yeah. I, I believe you know, it, it's, I believe it's something that would be like, extremely healthy for me. That's why I like, you know, I always lean towards like, interviews, especially like early on, like when I first popped in, in the mainstream.

And when I sit down with somebody, you'll get a whole, you'll get so much more outta me than. probably like the average person. Because it's like, you know, I'd walk outta the interviews like, damn. Like that's, those are stories I've been waiting. to tell, I almost forgot about. It's like, it Yeah. You buried, you buried them, and then you wait for somebody. - Absolutely. To ask you. That's I. - Did with my c childhood. It, listen something. That's what I did. Right. I buried it. All those memories. Like, that's what I did. Like, so I know how to like, bury. - Things. You know? Let, lemme lemme ask you this. As somebody who grew up in a household, and I'm speaking about myself now, I grew up in a household.

where, you know, there was a lot of domestic violence. I grew up around, I was around plenty of that. I grew up. around plenty, you know, uncles who were violently drunk. You know, you, you, you, you just, you just, you see it. You go through, you go through phases. You're afraid. You, you're terrified. You freeze, you, you know, everything you're speaking about, I can relate to. And there's also one emotion. that you don't realize you're having. because you don't have the power. to have it. And that is anger. - Right. Right. - Suppressed anger.

- Yeah, I can, I can only imagine There was, there was a lot. of suppressed anger inside you for sure. Because you are the baby. There's a lot of the time you don't have. - Control. Yeah. You got sibling rivalries too. That's a whole different category. So. - You're dealing with brothers on their own, but now you are also dealing with uncles. You're dealing with the streets. You're dealing with a world that is. - Brothers who are angry about this same world. that I'm living in, but they're actually older, older than me and able to process. It is. - Yeah. - So it's hitting them, you know what I mean? Even harder than it's hitting. - You. Right. How, how did your, how did your anger manifest itself.

without the support of a father? - That's the difference too. Like, I'm the baby boy. and I'm the one whose father is in his life at a distance. - Okay. Okay. So your brothers didn't have that? - No. - Oh, - Okay. And growing up, like you can see, like, you see the difference between me. and my brothers. You know what I'm saying? - Do you think that was - The oldest finding factor brother. committed suicide in 2020? Dad? So when you say like, I remember, you know, maybe like five minutes ago in the conversation when you. say, you know, like some people, they, they crumble or it, or Yeah. You know, these types of, of elements. and in their environment. and just them, their upbringing destroys them.

Like, you see the difference. like between, you know what I mean? How I dealt with it and you know, like what I was able to, blessed enough to be able to turn it into as opposed to, you know, like it ultimately being like my brother's. demise. You know what I'm saying? Right. - Do you, do you think your dad was the defining factor? - Absolutely. - You think that made the difference? - Absolutely. - What do you think it was about your dad. being in your life, even from a. distance that made the difference? - Just always just putting something on my mind. and just showing me something different. Like always. Like always. And I don't, you know, I, I, I'm gonna keep.

and having to like, go back to saying like, I can't discredit like the job that my mother did. No, no. Of course. Yeah. Did it amazing. - Yeah. - You know what I mean? Because she also has. to allow him to be able to do that. Like a mother has to make a way for that to happen. Right. You know what I'm saying? Like, she has to, she has to know. Call your father right now. You get what I'm saying? Like, she, - What, what was your, what was, tell me a little bit about. - Because at times I'd - Stray away from it. Like I wouldn't. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about. your dad though. Like, like what? Like what, what was his life he was doing? He was army. Army. Oh, he was in the military. - Oh. He went to the army when I was born. Oh, this is interesting.

He in the army for like 10 years straight. until you like, injured his foot. You know what I mean? Yeah. So he was at all those wars. Afghanistan, Iraq. I'd get the pictures of him. I used to love the pictures of him with the guns. And I'd show him all have 'em on my wall in my room. I used to write him. That's why I'm such a good writer. I'd write him letters back. and forth when he was in the army. He's really at where I had to communicate with him. through letters, you know what I'm saying? And he'd write me, I'd write 'em back as a child. Like, he'd tell my mom, let him write. me, I'd write 'em back. He'd like grade my papers like a English professor, like,

like read line it, you know what I'm saying? Like have, you know, like punctuation, corrections, everything all throughout the paper. And he wouldn't even let me like, use slang. And he's from that too. He's from Cleveland, Ohio. Right. So he's, but he wanted you to be more, he wanted I'm with him, you know. He'll, he'll, he'll relax a little bit. more with it and, you know what I mean? But while I'm over here On my mom's side, 'cause it's a whole different, you know? Yeah. It's a completely different cloth over here. - Yes ma'am. Yes sir. - Like he, yeah, like, he's like, he's very adamant on just making sure.

And, and it made the world of a difference. You know what I'm saying? - Your music career is, is public. Your music career is well known, you know, so I won't delve into that too much. What I'd love to understand is behind the scenes, - Right, - As the baby, you start blowing up, your music starts growing, you start building up a fan base,

you start making money, you start, you start experiencing success. What what what confuses me is. how violence still stays a part of your world. - Absolutely. - You know, it, it, it, it, this is something I've learned changes depending on. where you're from and, and the hood that you're in is like, is how you respond to conflict. and how conflict is, is is expected to be dealt. with. Absolutely. You know, so. - That's the, that's the, the - Right. So in South Africa, for instance, disconnect for sure. Yeah. In South Africa, we have, we have different hoods, you know,

so we had like Alexandra was one township. and then Sotos where my grandmother's from, and you have Tim B et cetera. And we'd, we'd even know, we'd go like, oh, cats from. that hood, they'll stab you. - For sure. - Cats from this hood will break a bottle on your head. Right. Cats from this hood will, will shoot you. Like, we'll even say like, those guys shoot. Right. Gotta those guys, those guys. But you almost know what type. of violence is either expected. Absolutely. Or, or, or probably going to happen. to you in, in those worlds. It feels like the world you were in was a gun. environment. Right. It, - It was all the above.

- It was all of the above. - Absolutely. - All the above. So, so when you, when you're growing up, do you, do you, do you think to yourself, alright, there is only one way I can defend myself. Do you know that there is an ultimate conclusion? Or like, how, how does the baby exist in this world trying. to be you whilst acknowledging. that you're still in Charlotte. and you're still, 'cause you're successful now you're an. - Artist. This is the baby. Like this is, and and. early on, like I was Yeah. - Not as a child, but as an adult. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. - I remember one night, I, I was getting ready to go to the club. I didn't go. Everybody else went. I'm like, I'm tired.

I'm asleep. I hear the door gate. I hear, I don't even know this until after the fact. I hear people screaming. That's what I feel like woke me up. When I, when I jumped up, I hear people screaming, wait, that get down, get down. Where's that, where's that shit like that? You know what I mean? And I immediately grab my gun, come out around the corner, see like six people. with masks and guns. You know what I'm saying? They're looking through the boxes. I had like different posters with different pictures. Like I had all my promo material out, like in the front. - Yeah. - It's like a condo, a condo type of apartment.

where it has stairs in it and. - Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. - You know what I mean? You can come in the garage from the. top, but you don't know that if you come. through the front door down here. - Yep. - That type of situation. Maybe three, four bedrooms. Me and my brother were both staying there. And I come around the corner. It's like maybe, yeah. Like six people. You know what I mean? With mask on this is like, you know, two in the morning, two, three in the morning, maybe like six people. with mask on and guns creeping around the corner. Some of 'em looking through the boxes with the posters. The closest person when I turned the corner was.

as close as me and you are. Damn. Yeah. When I turned the corner. welding the gun, you know what I'm saying? Like creeping, like having it down low. I, I'm the same way. When I turn the corner, I boom shoot. spin back around the corner. 'cause this is, I'm completely outgunned. Like, it's like I, I immediately see, you know, as soon. as I turn the corner, it's several bodies in here, all in all black, all got masks on all of them got gun. I turn the corner shots just ran, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. I go out through the top and open the garage to where,

because if the side street to where you can Yeah. Walk through the grass to the little sidewalk, get. to the front door, and I come up through the top. and I come out the garage. If I look to the left, it's literally like right there. I just have to cut through some grass and it's right there. And I can hear 'em. You hit and you hit somebody, you hit. and they jump in the car, pull off. You know what I mean? That's the, the first shooting. incident, but whatever, like it, Charlotte is normal. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You see, - You say, but whatever. And this is, this is sort of, this is, this is sort of. what I'm, what I'm, what I'm trying to understand And. what I'm trying to get to is I hear your, but whatever.

But it, it's also not whatever do. do, do you, do you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, like what I mean by this is like a few things. One, you know, you hear the commotion, you hear what's going on. You grab your gun. What, what, what I. what I wonder sometimes whether you think about your life, 'cause I try and think this about my life, and I think many of us don't, is how abnormal some. of our normal actually is. Absolutely. You know, the fact. that you think there's a possibility. this is happening, you know? Right. Right. The baby's not walking down the stairs going. like, hello, is anybody there?

Exactly. You know what I mean? The fact that. I are going knew. Yeah. You're immediately going. And I tell the story, - I know what it is. I feel like God woke me up and put my hand on my gun. - Like, well, there you go. Get out. - There type. You know what I'm. - Saying? That that tells me the kind of world that you're living in. Absolutely. To think that that's a possibility. You know, the fact that you, you, you then go. through the motions the way you do tells me that, that this is a world where you believe. that it's a possibility. - Absolutely. Day in and day. - Out. Once, let's say post that event, there's trauma, there's, there's, there's fear, there's everything.

Obviously you have the, the fight or flight. So fight kicks in first. - Yes. Yes. - But there's gotta be a moment. where you go, I'm not safe. Or there's gotta be like, - Oh yeah, the bullets, this, the, the return gunfire just missed me. You know what I'm saying? It just missed me. I feel like the, the difference with me, like I don't, you know, it in terms of how do I deal with violence. as opposed to how people expect me to deal with violence. Like, you know, in my upbringing, it's like your only option is to, you know, defend yourself.

- Right? So you have this world where you genuinely believe. and maybe validly so that anytime anything can happen, anyone can step up to you. Anyone wants to test you, anyone this, this, this is an environment that you're. - Not even necessarily test. Like, - And so what I'm, what I'm trying to understand and, and trying to get to in your world is, is is sort. of an understanding of this. 'cause you see what you just said now is interesting. It is not a test. You're dealing with very real situations. Absolutely. Do you, in this moment in time,

do you feel like you are a safe individual? Do you feel like you're, like be, do you feel like. you're beyond it now? - Never. No. I can walk outside right now. and anything could happen to anybody, but, - But who would the anything be. and who would the anybody, and I mean this. - Honestly, you, there's no way. Like I, you know, I'd have no way of knowing. Huh. You know what I mean? I gotta. literally have no way knowing, knowing think it's, - But, but, but would it be the streets coming back? Or would it be what? Like what. - Is it? What makes somebody do something wrong? Doesn't it, it doesn't necessarily have. to have anything to do with you. - Hmm. - You know what I mean? Somebody could be having a.

bad day and, you know, and, and step. and trip over your foot. accidentally on the way in the store. And, and the next thing. you, what's on, they turn around and kill you. It turns into a, you know what I mean, A fight. or a life, a life. or death situation. You know what I'm saying? - Let me ask you this though. Based upon what you see is, is, is a, is a beautiful segue to this question. You are a parent and you're a proud parent. - Absolutely. - You talk about being a father, you talk about what it means to you. - It's my favorite thing to be.

- Oh yeah. And there is, there is a, you know, there is a valid argument. that it is about the environment. and it is the world that you're in. What is the world that you wanna see that you are creating. - For - Your child? Like what, like what is, what is that world? A world like how and how different. or how do you make that world different? You know? 'cause I'm assuming Absolutely. I'm assuming you. don't want your daughter knowing that as a reality. I'm assuming you don't want your daughter thinking of. that as a possibility. - Not necessarily. - You want her to be.

aware of it, I'm assuming. - Absolutely. And that's the word I was going use. Like, it's just being aware of the world. that she exists in which she already is. Like when, you know, when, when I got into the situation. and a guy was shot and killed in Walmart. by me, my daughter was right there. She's right there one years old. How, how did she process that? She didn't, she didn't her. She probably doesn't even remember it. Her older brother definitely probably remembers it. You know what I'm saying? He's, she's one. So he had to be, what, five at the time? Yeah. He's her age.

He was a year younger than what she is now. If she saw it now, she would definitely remember it. Like it was just a Right. Right. How did you, of course I it's completely. traumatizing. Like it's, yeah. You know what I mean? - How do you, how do you speak to your kids about that? You know, what, what do you say after, after that? That situation for real? - I don't, now, now immediately after, like Yeah. Like we, I just pay very close attention. to 'em, you know what I mean? I, I've definitely had a. conversation with her older brother. My daughter wasn't even really talking at the time she was, but it's like, you know, just starting to talk. - But, but with your son though, what's the conversation?

- It's just more so just checking on him, seeing. how he himself processed it. and not telling him how. to process it. You know what I mean? Okay. - Okay. - Like, not telling him how to process it. and, you know, thank God he was one aisle over from me. and he didn't actually see it. Right. So he hears boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And sees an entire, you know, Walmart store evacuate. - Yeah. - You know, fire alarms going off, the little siren going off like. he sees it, you know what I mean? He sees mayhem. He hears the conversations immediately.

after when I come back over to check on them. - Yeah. - Like, he sees it all, you know what I mean? He hears, he's very aware. Like he hears people talk about it. Of course. Like, so then, so then. - Like what happened in Walmart? Like what? - Yeah. That, I mean, that's what I attempted. to do originally was deescalated situation with my words. But that isn't, you know, what the, what the opposing side of the situation. That isn't what they wanted. They had different intentions. and that, you know, that just goes. back to like what I'm saying. Like, you never know. Like I'm in Walmart buying diapers and, and you know, but you don't,

- You don't know this person, right? - No. Hell no. From McKinna paint. I'm in Walmart just buying shopping kids. Did they know kids baby shampoo shit. Like the absolute Yeah. They know me from being the, the rapper from our city, like the rapper. This in our city. - Okay. Okay. Okay. So. that altercation starts off because this person. - Is curious as to what they see. You know, somebody that has something going on, you know, like from the environment. I'm from the city I'm from. Yeah. Like the person who has something. going on, it's like, fuck him. Like, he, like, I, it's immediately I remember seeing like a.

biggie interview where he's like, yeah. Growing up. Like, we'll see the person drive by. with like the nice cars. - Yeah. And. - The jury and is, fuck that nigga. I kill that nigga. Like, yeah. That's how it is. Like, you know what I mean? Like, people, you know, they, they target, you know, success. A lot of people with not, with nothing to gain. Like, I remember the media, like when it happened, like reports were flying around saying. that they attempted to rob me. They didn't, it, it was never a robbery. It wasn't, you know, I had nothing to rob me for. You know what I mean? Like, it was, it, it wasn't a.

robbery attempt at all. I'm like, you know what I'm saying? It was a, it was a, I don't know, an ego thing. A I don't know. You know what I'm saying? Right. I don't know. But, but this is this, if they wanted. to test me, that's what I, that's what I mean. That's what it was. That's what I mean, that test. Like, you know, people see, you know, a cer a person admired, you know, a certain way or perceived a certain. way, and they want to test it. They want to know, okay, what makes this spin and what I think it is. You know what I mean? It's, it's like, why do, why do they deserve what they're, what they're working towards. I don't even have it yet. Right.

- You know what I mean? You know what, it's, it's, it's not. at the same level, but I found it exists in all professions, comedians, what we experience. is people always try to test out. funny. Absolutely. I know this is ridiculous. - Ly. Absolutely. But. - People try and test out funny. They go, let me see if I can make him a fool. Let me see if I can make Absolutely. So I'll go out, I'll be at a restaurant, I'll be, people will do the stupidest things sometimes. as the person serving, sometimes. as the person who's at a restaurant, they go, let me act the fool in their life. because I wanna see if I can out fool. Exactly. And I go, but that's not what I do. Right.

That's not what I do. Right. I've seen this happen to, you know, like soccer players, they'll, someone will see them in the street. and go, oh, I have a ball. Let go down and see if I can the ground. Let see if I can throw it in front of the. ground and, and see if I can. Yeah. - Like, - But what's interesting is hip hop is one. of the few professions in worlds where it is tied. to something that is a lot more real. Absolutely. And a lot more, and a lot more dangerous. So absolutely. The test that you, I'm getting the test of a fool. I'm getting the test of a joker. - I'm getting the test of a gangster, or. - You see, you get - What I'm saying. - That's, that's, that's a, that's a difficult thing about a. hip hop that, that I think a lot of people don't understand.

And while I don't condone it, I, I don't like it, but I go, it's a very real thing. It it's very real. You know, it, it's very much, it. - Dangerous to not know how real it is. It's dangerous to not know. You know what I mean? There you go. It costs several rappers their life. Right. You know what I mean? Time and time again. - So, right. I'm gonna ask you a question that, that may be ignorant, but I know a lot of people will ask it. because they're not familiar with the world. A lot of people would say, but DaBaby, why don't you leave that world? Why don't you go, I did. Why don't you go live in. another neighborhood? Right. Just escape it all.

There's no shootings in Westchester DaBaby. There's no shootings in my part of Connecticut. Why don't you escape that world? What, what would you, how would you. respond to that question? - I hadn't made it outta the city yet. - Okay. - All right. There you go. I'm saying, yeah, when those situations took place, like I hadn't made it outta the city. But, you know, to, to put it into perspective, like. I've been, you know, in, in the middle of, of shooting incidents on Collins Avenue, on Miami Beach. I hear you. You see what I'm saying? I hear like that is where you wanna move to then.

That's what I'm saying. Like, it's like you never, you never know, you know, when violence is right there in front of you. Yeah. Like, you just simply don't know. It's all about the type of day somebody's having. or the way, it's more so about. how you move throughout these different environments. Right. You know what I'm saying? That's what it's all about. It's about knowing how to move no matter, you know, where you're at. You know, but when you have the, the magnifying glass on you. that, that artists or entertainers have Yeah. Especially rappers, right. Hip hop artists, you know, it just, it comes with the world.

of, of people who, who feel like that is for this type. of person, what makes them deserve that. And, and they immediately, you know, they feel entitled to. what you have going on or entitled to. They feel entitled to the idea of you having to go. through everything they're going. through in order to interesting. Exist in that space. Interesting. You get what I'm saying? - Yeah. - Yeah. So it's like, you know, and that's where you get situations where like people are, are willing to come, you know, approach a, a guy.

with his two kids. and their in a grocery store in, in Walmart. - Right. - You know what I mean? With, with no intent. Like, you know, it, it'd make more sense. to me if they thought I had a large amount of money on me. or some jewelry, and they were attempting to rob me. This, this guy just died for nothing. You get what I'm saying? Because his friend, and that's what I'm saying, it's about knowing how to move. And a lot of times it's about the. people that you got with you. You know what I'm saying? Because that guy died. for his friend that night, dad, because his friend approached me.

You know what I'm saying? His friend was the, was the catalyst of the situation. - Aggressive. His were were you sad. that he lost his life knowing. because it, it feels like you have a certain level. It was understanding for his world. - It was sad, but yeah, it was, it was definitely sad. Was I sad? I I can't sit here and honestly say I was sad. I just, I was, I became more aware of, you know, I was reminded once again. Right. It was more like, you know, reassurance that a, you never know what's gonna happen. and you have to, you know, be prepared.

Let's, let's, you know what I mean? Had I not been prepared, had I not been, you know, legally possessing a firearm, you get what I'm saying? Like, had I not been prepared, like I would've had a gun pulled out on me, my 1-year-old daughter, or 4-year-old brother, their mother, and then I would've just been at the mercy of. however they're feeling or whatever they decide to do. - Right. - And these are people who clearly don't, don't walk around making good decisions. You get what I'm saying? But that's what I would've been. left with, you know, and I, but ultimately, you know, most importantly,

I would've been left with the responsibility. to protect my family in that situation. - It's what you said about moving between worlds. You said you move from one world to another, not realizing. that you don't understand the other world. Right. And there's a level of ignorance. that you move into it with.

DaBaby blows up in hip hop becomes an icon, becomes somebody who's setting trends. You know, you, you're not, you're not just a music maker. You are a trend creator. You then accelerate that growth into a world. where you are now on mainstream media, the SNLs, you know, the Rolling Stones, you are on covers, you are the Grammys. with you, the Grammys with me. You know, know what I mean? You're, you're in this world, six nominations, like doing your thing. Right. And all of that comes.

to a halt or a lot of it. 'cause not all of it really. A lot of it comes. to a halt when one day you're on stage. and in the middle of a performance, you start saying things. to the crowd, you know about AIDS and gay people. And, and, and I mean, you just as, as I would say it. with friends, if I was talking colloquially, I'd be like, just shooting off at the mouth. Just, you know. Right. Just going. And that sets into effect.

a series of dominoes. Oh, immediately. - You didn't show up today with h, hiv, aids, any. of them deadly sexual transmitted diseases that'll. make you die two, three weeks. Put a cell on, like up fellas, lights up. Fellas, if you ain't sucking dick in the. parking lot, put your cell on. Like, let's be real about this shit. Yeah. Keep it fucking real. - So let's, let's, let's break this down in, in steps. and in stages, you know, because when things are happening to us, they often happen. so fast that we cannot process what is happening. And I think from the public's point of view,

oftentimes people consume something. and then there's another story, and then you move on. and there's no real processing of anything. Right. So let's start with the, the actual in incident. You're on stage, you know, you go into this moment. with the audience where you're saying these things, what was your intention in that moment? - Just to have everybody do exactly what they did, just. to put their cell phone lights up. and, you know, create a, a, a transitional moment. and, you know, in my set, in my performance. But. - Why do you, that was it. Why do you think, you said what you said,

what, where do you think it came from? - I mean, it, it, what I said was, I mean, it was, I, I said it so naturally and without any ill intent, but at the same time, like, you know, on hindsight, definitely, and it didn't even have to be that far behind. for it to be on hindsight, like I learned immediately. Like, you know, I'm speaking, I'm speaking the way, I'm speaking ignorant to the way that it'll be perceived. with me being the person who I've grown and worked to be. - Hmm. - You know what I'm saying? Like, it, it, because, you know, it's not, like I say, it's, it's completely unintentional. Like, and not once did I even mention,

you know, a gay person. Like, I didn't even say anything about a gay person. I'd mentioned if you don't have AIDS fellas, I said, if you didn't perform oral sex on. somebody in the parking lot, right. Put a cell phone light up. All of these are just things to, you know, to, to somewhat get you, not somewhat to very much. so get you to just put a cell phone light up in which. literally everybody did. Like, I don't, you know, - So this, everybody you see now, this is, this is. what I'm, this is what I'm trying to get.

- Everybody there. - That's what exactly this. is what I'm, this is what Im trying to get. you. And that's the. - Disconnect. But I'm, - Yes, exactly. - Exactly. I'm just in a space to where like, I'm not like making excuses for it. No, no, no. Saying, I just feel like I just should have been. so much more aware of the fact, first of all, that it's being live streamed and just Right, right. And you know, that this can, this can potentially be used. as, as, you know, used as a vessel to just. to just paint my character or assassinate my character. or just painted a certain way. You know what I mean? That's just, it wasn't what it was. But in, in terms of like how I responded to it,

and I think that was the most, I think. that was more detrimental than what I said itself. - Yeah. - The way I responded to the backlash that I got. Yeah. You know what I mean? The early. backlash, the first wave of it. Like, I kind of like took it as a joke. Like, this gotta be a joke. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm like, this can't be like, y'all don't think, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, oh, this is just another attempt to, you know. what I mean, for the media to, you know, to knock me off. of this pedestal that they feel like I'm on me. Right. This felt minuscule to me. Like this didn't feel like something that needed to be,

you know, responded to from a, a place of, of me being worried. Like, I felt like I felt like the second I say, no, that's not what I meant. Like, that should have been understood and boom. Or if you were there. You get what I'm saying? Like, I feel like they. - Should, should. Well, let's, well, let's, let's take a step back then maybe. and, and, and go through each thing. Okay. If you have grown up in hiphop, I'll be honest, I'll be a person who says this, and maybe this will now bounce back on me.

Hopefully be honest. No, no, but I'll say this in hiphop, there's a lot. of language that is used. There are a lot of ideas that are used that Absolutely. It's like, it's like surface level. and we have to admit is also homophobic. There's a lot of homophobia and racism. And, and I'm not trying. to make you solve all of that for, I wanna talk to DaBaby. Sure. Not everybody about everything. Right. Because I think you're one individual who is part. of something, but you, you can't deny, you know, whether it's, you know, black community in Africa, in, in, in North America,

and I mean, even the white community, I mean, you know, it's oftentimes black people get singled out. - But - I feel like homophobia is something. that has been rampant throughout time. and then slowly has been evolving over the past, maybe two decades, rarely in, in, in our lifetimes. You look at from the eighties to now, there's been a huge jump and it's still not complete. - Absolutely. - But in, in that moment, it feels like, to me, correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels like to me, you're on stage, you're saying something that feels reflexively funny. and just like. engaging with the audience that they're Absolutely. 'cause as you said, they engage with you. Right?

- Absolutely. - Okay. They engage. with you in this moment, you're having a good time. It does go outside of that bubble. And as you said, now you're aware. of the context outside of that. People then say to you, DaBaby, you're homophobic, DaBaby, you hate gay people. Why would you parrot these ideas? You know? It was that part. People, people speak out. People speak out. Right. I understand you were offended. I understand that you were hurt. Nobody wants to be labeled. as something that they don't see themselves as. But was there also a part of you.

that understood why people were saying that. - At the time? At the time, no. Okay. Like, I literally, I was, I was, you know, I literally did not understand. I made it clear that I didn't understand. Yeah. You get what I'm saying? Like, because it's, you know, and my, my videographer that works very close to me, right. He was going through just hard drives. I've been recording my entire journey since I've. got serious about it. Right. Right. And he's like, bro, I'm watching it. And you said the same thing before at a show.

Like, I, I said it before at a show, right. When I'm on tour, but I'm not the top. streaming artist in the world. I'm not the top streaming rapper in the world at the time. You get what I'm saying? So, you know, it, I, I think that's the difference. Like, I got so many, I got a completely new world of people. who look up to me. Yeah. You get what I'm saying? Yeah. Who I hear support. me, you know what I mean? Who, who buy my music. You know what I mean? Who, you know, they like, they, they literally look up. So I'm probably what they put, I probably, my music has probably helped them get. through certain situations.

You know what I'm saying? Right. What have. you, you know what I mean? And, and I'm unaware of that, you know what I'm saying? I'm aware of it, but I'm unaware of the way that, you know, certain things that I would normally say that wouldn't even, you know, not even normally say like that's, you know, - No, no, no. But I think, I think look, and. - Something that I would say and look at is. like, okay, but I normal, I don't, I think we have to be, - I think we have to be honest about absolute. Absolutely. That's why I think we won't get far. and not just the two of us, but I think in society, the reason I don't think we get far. with a lot of these conversations is. because we're not honest enough. - Right. - About, so to say that the baby's an outlier,

I think is a dishonesty. Right. But to say that what the baby did is good, is not, it's like it, for me, it becomes a symptom. It goes like, oh shit, that thing. now got exposed to the world. Right now. It's like, okay. All. - Right. Right. - The baby showed a little bit of his world to the. outside world, a bigger world than he normally does, and now he's dealing with those ramifications. It sounds to me like you are stepping into a world. where you are understanding this. - Yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. No, for. - Sure. Sure. But now, here's the thing I want. to know from you on a personal level, and, and maybe it's too personal and if it is, forgive me,

but like, do you think that your experiences since then. have helped you understand? Do you feel like you're becoming more tolerant? Do you be, or do you think you've been more defensive, like this is just you as a human being. I'd love to know how you've responded to the criticism. or how you felt like as the baby. What do you wanna be more of now. that you're on the other side of that? You know, - What do I wanna be more so, which, so you want as, so, - Because you're saying you didn't. - The first of the - First, because you're saying you. didn't think it was homophobic at. the time when you said this, - Right? Yeah, for sure. Right. - And you said then, - But. - You said now you, you, you, - Yeah.

It didn't even take all the way up until now. Like even, you know, over a year ago. I'm like, I get it. You know what I'm saying? Like, - Okay, okay. - When I see, you know, like, like when I see, you know, like how detrimental it was to my career and, and my journey. and everything that I worked that hard for. Like, it just, when I see the, the amount. of manpower being put behind, you know what I'm saying? Like just shining. - But, but do you see how - Light on this narrative I see, like, wait, no, that was in what I say is impactful. Like, - But what I'm, what I'm saying is, you know what I mean?

Do you see the impact that it has on members. of the gay community who may many of them fans. of you, like, do, do you also see. - That? Absolutely. Like I see it, you know what I'm saying? I see it and, and you know, altogether, like. I'm ignorant to the, to the fact at the time, you know what I'm saying? Okay. Like, I'm ignorant to the fact, first of all, it is, you know, I, what, I didn't intend to offend anybody. Right. That's the first step. And then, you know, once I did, okay, understand, okay, wait, I offended people. I'm ignorant to like, you know how I offended them.

I know you're offended. You know what I'm saying? That's interesting. Like immediately after. you get what I'm saying. That's interesting. And I know I didn't mean that, but like how much I offended them. or like how impactful, like, you know, the, something. that I say is, you know what I mean, at this level. that I've, that I've worked. And that's the thing. I didn't wake up. and they're like, okay, look, you're a role model. You're the, you're the, you're the. face of hip hop right now. Like, I was literally damn near the face of hiphop. You know what I'm saying? You know, like, I wasn't aware of. how impactful like my words can be.

'cause I say, and, and you know, and this is not an excuse, this isn't a, a, this isn't me deflecting or anything, but like that on that stage, I also said something about probably a shooting or this. or that, but that wasn't, you know, like, that's not perceived that way. Right. You get what I'm saying? Right. So it's kind of like, that's just me offering like an example of. how somebody can get why I didn't immediately. - Get how, so actually, let's, let's go into that. You know, what I'm, 'cause that, that is an interesting,

do you feel like people take the shooting, let's say if you talk about shootings. or if you talk about, you know, anything like violence. or anything, like, do you think people take that. with a grain of salt, but then they take the. homophobia as being truth? Like they go like, oh, this, or, and I won't. even put homophobia on you. Like, they'll go like, oh, those statements, they go like, that's your truth. But then the other stuff is you just messing around. Do you? Is that what you say you. - Feel? Absolutely. That's what I know. I mean, that's, you know, I'm a walking example of. that, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like, you know, it's okay for me. to say these types of things, but this is like, hell no.

Like I wouldn't dare Right. Even say anything remotely close to it now, like in private or public. Like, I don't, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like, you know, my entire world was shifted by that. You know what I mean? - The public knows oftentimes how it wants to flog somebody. The public knows how it wants to punish somebody. - Right. - I find the public doesn't often know. how it wants to reconcile with somebody. - Right. - I would like to know from your perspective, A do you feel like people engaged with you on a level,

and this is like everybody from. inside the industry, from outside. Do you feel like people engaged with you on a level human. to human where they helped you understand? And then b, do you feel like there was ever a path. to redemption for you to like change and grow? Or do you feel like it was the baby, you're cut off, this is who you want, you're done? - The, the, the letter of the two For sure. The, like, I feel like it was more so like, no, you're done. You know what I'm saying? Type of thing. Now the difference is like, you know, you got one.

or two decisions to make, to let you know what I mean, A mistake to define you or to, - You - Know, put in the work necessary to, you know, change the narrative bits and, and bits and pieces at a time. You know? Right. What I'm saying, like, it is what it is. It's, you know, I don't, I don't feel entitled to, and this, this goes back to early in our conversation. It's a beautiful thing. I was always taught to not. never look for sympathy, never look. to make somebody feel sorry for you. Yeah. Like, so that just goes to like my reaction to it,

it taking, you know, the turn that it did, you know, the turn for the worst that it did. Like I have had it instilled in me that, you know, you don't. make people feel sorry for you. Yeah. You know what I mean? No matter what you go through. No, I hear, I hear you there. And that can, that can, you know, almost like heighten, you know, people can look at that as ignorance or, or arrogance as opposed to me just being, you know, the, the person that I was raised to be. Right. You know what I'm saying? That I have to, I have.

to go through experiences like that to understand. Okay, look, sometimes you, you might need. to do that immediately. You get what I'm saying? I know that now. - Yeah. - I learned something new. - In a way. I'm saying that you took the whipping essentially. Oh. - Yeah. For sure. Like, I'm gonna, right. Like when I, when I used to get whoopings, I couldn't cry. Right. It doesn't stop until you, it's stop crying. You, you keep crying, boom, boom, boom, it stop crying. Right. So this is what, you know, like when, when I get a whooping, like I take my lick and I carry on. Like, you get what I'm saying? Like, that's what I do. And in that situation that was looked at as a,

he doesn't care. He's that much worse of a person. Like that type of thing. You get what I'm saying? When it's really like, you know, I care enough to keep going. Like that's what somebody has to understand. Like that's, you know, it's very few. that care the way I care. Well that's, - That's, that's what I, - That's I was, that ends people, like, they'll never be sitting across the. table Right. From you. And. - That's exactly's after the facts. Get what, - What I'm, that's - Actually, you see, it's funny you said. that 'cause that's exactly what I said. to the team is I said, what intrigues me about DaBaby is this,

he has every opportunity to stay immersed in a world. that will fully accept everything that he has done. - Absolutely. - And yet he keeps on insisting, on trying. to both explain, reconcile, and deal with what has happened. And that, and that, that intrigues me. And so now you've explained that to me as a person. Before, before I let you go though, I'd love. to know where you go from here. What now, you know, you, you know, summer came around you, you had a song on the,

on the billboard, hot 100. You know, you're still making good music. You're still a fantastic artist. Thank you so much. You know, I hope for you as a human being genuinely. that you'll continue to grow. I do think you should look into therapy. - No, for sure. - From one brother to another. No, for sure. I promise you it'll change. And for, for. - Your kids. It's something I've been on. I've, I've been, you know, leaning to. - It. So can, I'll, I'll, I'll share this with you real quick. before, before I ask you about the future is, so, my, my mother was shocked by my stepfather. Right. She survived, thank God. But one of the biggest things I regretted, and I always talk to my mom about this, is the fact.

that myself and my two younger brothers never. went to therapy to deal with it. - Right. - My youngest brother was, I don't know, maybe. six years old when it happened, Mistakenly my mom thought he doesn't fully. process and understand it. How old were you? I was 20. I was in my twenties. Okay. I was in my twenties, maybe even touching 30. Yeah. But twenties, I think late twenties. And then the, the middle brother, the one. who drove my mom to the hospital. He was, he was a teenager at the time. And one of, honestly, one of my greatest regrets is.

that we didn't know at the time how powerful and. and impactful therapy could be in helping us not just deal. with, but unearth some of the traumas. that we hadn't dealt with. For. - Sure. - You know, some of the angers, some of the fears, some. of the, you know, and it, it don't get me wrong, it's a scary thing. It's a crazy thing. And also therapy has a stigma. attached to it, you know. But I personally, as a human being, would encourage it. for you and, and especially your kids. 'cause you seem like the kind of dad who wants them. to have 10 times what you had. For sure. For sure. You want, you want her. to have all the As.

- Yes. - I honestly believe that. And so I'd love to know where you go from here. What now for DaBaby. - So professional with me. The next step would definitely be venturing into film. Into film and television for sure. That's something I've been passionate about from the get go. Really? From the beginning. Yeah. Maybe even before the music, you know what I'm saying? And, and you know, what I, what I bring, it's like the same thing that gives me somewhat of, I won't even say the upper hand, but a different perspective. or an interesting perspective. that can't be found anywhere else, is my life experiences.

that I've, that I've been able to, you know what I mean? Navigate through. And these are like a lot of the things. that I implement in like my music videos from day one, you know, all the way until now to. where I have other artists. and major labels reaching out to me to direct videos for. - Yeah. - You know what I mean? Artists that are signed. to major labels and, and things of that nature. You know, I got people who will, who have like, you know, the, the top rated, you know, television shows. and you know, filmmakers, like, they're, they can't wait. for me to, you know, give them, you know,

what I got going on inside of this brand of minds. You know? So that's what I'm on. And not only that, like, just solidifying a, a, a safe space. for my kids to, you know, somewhat. because they're, I mean, my kids have pretty much. been born into this. Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, just, they've been around it. Like, my daughter, my daughter can direct, like, she, you let her make a TikTok, like her perspective is just like, she's amazing. Right. You know what I mean? She's musically inclined.

Like, you know, like it's, it's just amazing. Like, she's an amazing, amazing little girl, but it's just, you know, making sure that, that while I'm here, which I've been doing from day one, but you know, literally like solidifying like, you know, a position for her to do. because she's grown old enough, you know, for me to begin. to see the things that she loves early on. and that she, you know, I got something very, very special coming up with me. and my daughter that I just know. I, I don't even care how the world feels about it.

Like, because she's in love. with the idea and I'm in love with it. And, You know, we get to do, you know, we get. to do something, you know, at a high level, you know, together. Right. So that's gonna be beautiful. Like, I'm, I'm so excited about that, so excited about. that therapy, you know what I mean? That's definitely something, conversations like this is therapeutic. When I sit across from people like you, you know, I already know. Okay, boom. That's gonna be a therapy session ahead. Like, I love it. You know what I mean? Like, I just love people who have compelling conversation,

who just come from a place, especially you like the, the more I talk to you. and just knowing like your, you know, your real life experiences. and you know, things that you've been through, you can understand my perspective. and, you know, my setup as a person. and my character from a place that, you know, a lot. of people just simply can't. Yeah. - Yeah. - Like, I always felt like my purpose, like I feel like the way my career has played out thus far. is that's exactly how it was supposed to happen. Like, right. Because even at the time, like, you know, with, with this and, and me as a person like.

that, that's very big. The therapy and just finding the outlet for all. of the feelings and, and emotions. and experiences I've suppressed this entire time. - Yeah. - Because even during the fact, like, okay, I'm the top streaming artist in the world. I'm, I'm, you know, one of the, one of the like, go-to live performers, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, definitely. Like top of the, top. of the, you know what I mean, the food chain. But, you know, I also, my my brother just killed himself in front. of his daughter, you know what I mean? Just months before then. Right. You know what I'm saying?

Left four kids. - Right. - You know what I'm saying? So it's like, it, I'm, I'm, and I am the head of the family. Like, I'm responsible for. so many people, you know what I mean? Emotionally, financially. Right. You know what I mean? Like, I'm, I'm just responsible for so much. and so many people, and this is me, but this is also still me being a person who grew up, you know, and, and having to suppress emotions, feelings, these types of things, and having to instilled in me.

to never let anyone feel sorry. for you. Yeah. You get what I'm. - Saying? No, I hear you. That. - Like, never let anyone feel sorry for you. So that was like the main thing. And you know, and, and I saw, you know, my brother, like looking for sorrow, like on, on a live stream, just, you know, seconds. before ending the live stream and killing itself. You know what I, I'm saying. So it's like, you know, this, these are, this is my world. As I'm going on that stage at rolling. loud, you get what I'm saying. But I still went on the stage, gave a hell.

of a performance right up until, you know, that life changing moment, that pivotal moment, career changing moment, life changing as well. You know what I'm saying? But this is like, you know, I understand even with that, like my reaction to that. because okay, now it's like they're telling, like, it's like they're making me take the lid off of that jar. that I've just suppressed all these things in. Right. You know what I mean? If I'm, if I'm gonna tap into. that space and I just feel like, you know, the world just got, just got like, you know, the, the, the bad end of a, of a ticking time bomb.

You know what I mean? That's what I was like, I was just a ticking time bomb the entire time. So I feel like the way that situation played out, man, it was, it was, it was healthy, it was so needed. because I'm such a hot commodity. Like, and I'm such a hustler workaholic that I'm just, I'm using my hustle to just, you know, to help me suppress, I'm just staying busy to help me. suppress all. of these feelings. You know what I'm saying? Right. - And not dealing with what's happening underneath. - Absolutely. And what's happening underneath is very real.

This is, you know, this is, is this is as real as it gets. That's my worst nightmare. Like, it is never been about me, it's my people. - Right. - You know what I'm saying? Like, I've lived. through my worst nightmare while being the, the, at the time hottest artist in the world, top streaming rapper in the world. - Right. - Not just, you know what I'm saying? Like, no, you know, so it's, it's, - Yeah. - You know, my plate was full, but I'm not one to complain. I'm gonna grab my fork, my knife, and my spoon. I'm going to eat. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's what it is. Especially when eating makes you. forget about, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah, no, I hear you. You know, the pain of the. - Stomachache ahead time. But as I, as I say man, from, from one human being. to another, from one brother to another, I, I hope you take a moment. to acknowledge the stress, the pressure Absolutely. The environment, everything that it comes with. And know that honestly, maybe, and I hope you don't make me regret this. I'll be honest with you, right from me to you. Don't make me regret this moment. DaBaby. - Got you. - I'm reaching for you. - No, for sure. I appreciate. - It. I hope the best for you. I'm the type. of person hope you'll become an icon.

I hope you'll become somebody. who makes the world a better place. I will. You know, I'm reaching for you. Don't make me look bad. - I got - You. People are gonna play this interview. and be like, I got, he vouched for him. For sure. You know? I got you. I. think you're beyond everything. I think you are truly someone. who can rise to the greatest heights. We've seen your work, we've. seen what you're passionate about. Appreciate that You're an amazing parent. Keep doing your thing. Avoid the guns. That's just my personal opinion. Yeah, for sure. You know that. I mean, that's just me. I hate, I hate guns. That's just me. That's just me. I hate guns. Yeah. But I appreciate you, my dude. Thank. you for the time. I appreciate you having me, man. - Thank you. Thank you much, much. You know, man. Thank you.

- What now with Trevor Noah is produced. by Spotify Studios in partnership with Day Zero Productions, full Wealth 73 and Odysseys Pineapple Street Studios. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Ben Winston, Jenna Weis Berman, and Barry Finkle, produced by Emmanuel HSIs. and Marina Henke Music mixing. and mastering by Hannahs Brown.

Thank you so much for taking the time and tuning in. Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the conversation. I hope we left you with something. Hopefully we'll see you again next week. Same time, which is whenever you listen. Same place, which is wherever you listened. Next Thursday. All new episode. What now?