On April 25, 2025, DaBaby surprised fans with the release of his fiery new mixtape, Please Say DaBaby Vol. 1 — a 15-track banger that showcases the North Carolina rapper back in his raw, unfiltered form. Yet despite the quality and nostalgia woven into the project, it barely made a ripple on the mainstream rap radar.
So why did one of the dopest drops of the year get overlooked?
DaBaby, who hasn’t released an official studio album since Baby on Baby 2 in 2022, has quietly been rebuilding his momentum. In 2024, he delivered How TF Is This a Mixtape?, a fan-favorite that hinted at a creative resurgence. His energy only increased in early 2025, when he joined DDG on a livestream, dropping viral freestyles that sparked conversation — including the standout “Motion,” now a full-blown collaboration.
Then came Please Say DaBaby Vol. 1. The mixtape is a love letter to hip-hop’s classic mixtape era — think DatPiff, gritty remixes, and unapologetic bravado. Jacking beats from some of today’s biggest hits, DaBaby reminds fans why his rapid-fire flow and bold charisma once made him a dominant force in rap.
On the project’s opener, he name-drops Lil Wayne — a nod to mixtape royalty:
“I grew up on Wayne, and I’m the best f**king rapper. Let’s go,” DaBaby asserts
Over the next 14 tracks, DaBaby doesn’t miss. He jumps on instrumentals from Gelo’s “Tweaker,” Drake’s “Nokia,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up,” and Rob49’s “WTHELLY,” delivering hard bars and slick talk from start to finish. It’s the kind of tape that demands a replay — raw, rowdy, and refreshingly unfiltered.
So why didn’t it explode?
Several reasons could be in play. First, it was a quiet drop — no major promo push, no lead single, no viral TikTok strategy. In today’s streaming ecosystem, where rollout strategy often overshadows the music itself, DaBaby’s old-school approach may have limited reach.
Second, despite his talent, DaBaby has been rebuilding his reputation after years of controversy and commercial fatigue. Many platforms and fans have been hesitant to re-engage, even as he consistently delivers quality bars.
Still, Please Say DaBaby Vol. 1 is a reminder that DaBaby hasn’t lost his edge — he’s just playing by his own rules again. Whether or not it got the attention it deserved, the mixtape is a solid entry in the 2025 hip-hop canon and a strong signal that DaBaby’s comeback season is very real.
Check out DaBaby’s new mixtape below.
See DaBaby’s Please Say DaBaby Vol. 1 Mixtape Tracklist
1. “Sky Is The Limit”
2. “Tweaker”
3. “Nokia”
4. “Squabble Up”
5. “Heart of a Woman”
6. “Mo Chicken”
7. “Evil Jordan”
8. “One Take”
9. “WTHelly”
10. “Spin”
11. “Doo Wop”
12. “Sorry Ms. Jackson”
13. “Paint the Town Red”
14. “Last Last”
15. “Better Than Your Album (Bonus)”
