Raq baby (@RaqbabyOfficial) - "I NEVER GAVE AF" (Deluxe Album)

On the heels of the release of his Lyrical Lemonade Lunch Break Freestyle for “Burn Up”, Atlanta rapper Raq baby has shared I NEVER GAVE AF Deluxe — out now via Santa Anna Records. With ten new tracks, including the recent drops “G6” and “SBBGFTN”, as well as the Modest Mouse-sampling “Burn Up” which Raq baby premiered on his Lyrical Lemonade Lunch Break Freestyle last week, the deluxe edition picks up right where I NEVER GAVE AF left off, expanding Raq Baby’s signature Atlanta-to-Chicago trap blend. To accompany the release, Raq baby has also shared a new video for “Handy Manny” that serves as a 2-part video with the second half finding him performing the Childish Gambino-sampling “SBBGFTN”, the unofficial part 2 of “Stick Up”.

The original release of I NEVER GAVE AF charted at #3 on Apple Music’s Hip-Hop Albums Chart and #8 on the All Genre album Chart, garnering critical acclaim from Billboard and The FADER upon its release. Boasting select features from G Herbo, Toosii and FattMack, I NEVER GAVE AF arrived on the heels of a breakout year for Raq baby, who was featured in XXL‘s The Break series, supported SahBabii on the Resurrection Tour earlier this year, and continued a steady stream of singles that included “Goodbyerz” (highlighted by The FADER who drew comparisons to “prime Lil Uzi”), the aformentioned “Stick Up” and “Switch Crowd” (feat. FattMack). Across its 18 tracks, I NEVER GAVE AF blends Raq baby‘s southern music style with his Chicago upbringing, and serves as an extension of the sample-heavy, melodic sound that he’s been building since the release of his first album, Maniac Baby in 2023. As the follow-up to March’s More Spill, which featured fan-favorites like “Belt Boyz” (26M+ Streams) and “What They Told Me” (10M+ Streams), continuing to build on the viral energy of his 2024 mixtape Spill Season. At just 20 years old, Raq baby has drawn attention for his playful, sample-heavy sound, sold out his first headlining shows in Chicago, Atlanta, and Charlotte, and effectively positioned himself as a captivating, rising voice in Atlanta’s next generation.

Originally hailing from Chicago’s South Side, Raq baby grew up in Atlanta and has steadily built a hyper-online following for his melodic, Drill-inspired take on the Trap sound. He first exploded onto the scene in 2023 with viral hit “Soldier Love”, and after turning heads with projects like Abstruse, November 2024 saw him release Spill Season, which peaked at #15 on Apple Music‘s All Genre Albums Chart and #8 on the Rap/Hip-Hop Chart and currently boasts over 74 million streams to date. The rapper has also earned major co-signs along the way, with collabs with YTB Fatt (“3am”), VonOff1700 (“Daytona”), and Jdot Breezy (“Green Goblin”) already under his belt, in addition to support from Rylo Rodriguez. Now, Raq baby is setting the stage for his next act, gearing up to capitalize on the momentum he’s been building towards all year with the forthcoming release of I NEVER GAVE AF. - via ImprintEnt