Before the Grammys, the massive festivals, and the public controversies that eventually clouded his trajectory, DaBaby was a local North Carolina hero grinding through the mixtape circuit. If you weren't following the Charlotte scene around 2017, you might have missed the raw energy of Please Say DaBaby Vol 1. It wasn't just another digital drop. Honestly, it was a statement. At the time, Jonathan Kirk—the man behind the name—was still refining that signature, aggressive flow that would later dominate the Billboard charts.
Most people think Baby on Baby was the start. It wasn't. To understand the "Billion Dollar Baby" ethos, you have to look at this specific project. It captures a hungry artist before the polish of major label mixing and mastering took over. It’s gritty. It’s loud. It’s unapologetic.
The Raw Sound of Please Say DaBaby Vol 1
Back in 2017, the Southern rap landscape was shifting. Migos had the triplet flow on lock, and Gucci Mane was the elder statesman of the trap. Then came DaBaby. When Please Say DaBaby Vol 1 hit the streets, it brought a different kind of charisma. He wasn't just rapping about the lifestyle; he was performing it.
The production on this volume leans heavily into that booming, distorted bass that defines the Carolina sound. Producers like DJ Kid were instrumental in crafting this backdrop. You can hear the lack of a massive budget, but strangely, that’s what makes it work. There’s no fluff. Every track feels like a sprint.
He used a distinct cadence. It was punchy. He stayed just a millisecond ahead of the beat, creating a sense of urgency that made you want to run through a wall.
Why the Mixtape Era Mattered
Mixtapes used to be the Wild West of music. You could sample anything. You could talk crazy. For DaBaby, this project served as his laboratory.
- He tested his "staccato" delivery.
- He built a regional fanbase that would later become his "street cred" foundation.
- He established the humor that separated him from the "tough guy" rappers who took themselves too seriously.
If you listen to tracks like "Light Show," you hear a rapper who knows he’s going to be a star. He isn't hoping for it; he's demanding it. The confidence is almost overwhelming. It’s infectious.
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Comparing Vol 1 to the Mainstream Peak
It’s wild to compare this project to something like Kirk or Blame it on Baby. By 2020, DaBaby was a polished product. On Please Say DaBaby Vol 1, he’s a live wire.
In the later albums, the flows become predictable. Some critics argued he got stuck in a "one-flow" trap. But on the first volume of Please Say DaBaby, that flow was brand new. It was revolutionary for the region. People in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro were blasting this out of trunk speakers long before New York or LA knew who he was.
He was funny, too. Not "stand-up comedian" funny, but "slick-talking-at-the-bar" funny. His ad-libs were already top-tier. The "Let’s go!" wasn't a catchphrase yet; it was just a natural explosion of energy.
The Cultural Context of 2017
The year 2017 was a pivot point for hip-hop. SoundCloud rap was peaking with Lil Pump and XXXTentacion. While those guys were leaning into "mumble" or "emo" rap, DaBaby stayed rooted in traditional Southern lyrical structures, just sped up for a new generation. He bridged the gap.
He didn't need the rainbow hair. He didn't need the face tattoos. He just needed a microphone and a beat that hit harder than a freight train.
The Evolution of the "Please Say" Series
The series didn't stop at one. It eventually grew, but the first installment remains a favorite for purists. Why? Because it’s the most authentic.
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- Vibe Check: It’s strictly for the gym or the car.
- Lyrical Content: Mostly about the hustle, the come-up, and the local reputation.
- Engineering: It sounds like it was recorded in a hot room with a lot of people standing around. That's a compliment.
Some fans argue that God's Work or Baby Talk are better projects from his early era. They might be right technically. But Please Say DaBaby Vol 1 has the soul of an underdog. You can’t fake that. You can't buy it once you're a multi-millionaire living in a mansion.
What This Project Teaches Aspiring Artists
If you're a rapper today, look at his rollout. DaBaby didn't wait for a co-sign. He treated his local area like the entire world. He branded himself. The "Baby" diaper stunts, the constant social media presence, the high-quality (for the time) music videos—it all started with the momentum of this mixtape.
It proves that consistency beats "the perfect song." He dropped so much music that people couldn't ignore him.
Common Misconceptions
People think he came out of nowhere with "Suge." False. He had years of work under his belt. Please Say DaBaby Vol 1 is the evidence of the "10,000 hours" rule in real-time.
Others think he was always a "villain" in the media. Back then, he was the charismatic underdog. The narrative shifted later, but the music here is pure ambition. It's lighthearted in a way that his later, more defensive projects aren't.
How to Listen to It Today
Finding the original, unedited versions of these early mixtapes can be a bit of a hunt. They aren't always handled perfectly on major streaming services due to sample clearance issues. DatPiff (RIP) was the go-to, but now you’re looking at YouTube archives or SoundCloud uploads.
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It’s worth the hunt. Put on some decent headphones. Skip the singles you’ve heard a million times on the radio and go back to the source.
Key Tracks to Revisit:
- Light Show: The energy is unmatched.
- Deeper Than Rap: A rare moment of introspection.
- Gorilla: Pure aggression.
The Lasting Legacy
We often judge artists by their latest mistake or their biggest hit. That’s a mistake. To really know an artist, you have to hear them when they have nothing to lose.
Please Say DaBaby Vol 1 is a time capsule. It represents a specific moment in North Carolina rap history when the state was finally getting its flowers. J. Cole had the conscious lane, and DaBaby took the streets.
It isn't a masterpiece of lyricism. It isn't a sonic experiment. It’s a high-octane introduction to a personality that would eventually change the landscape of commercial rap for a solid three-year run. Whether you love him or hate him now, you can't deny the hunger on this tape.
Actionable Insights for Music Fans and Creators:
- Study the regional growth: Notice how he used local slang and local producers to build a "fortress" in his home state before expanding.
- Analyze the flow: Break down how he uses internal rhyme schemes to keep the momentum going even when the beat is repetitive.
- Archive the culture: Use platforms like MyMixtapez or Audiomack to find the "lost" tracks from this era that haven't made it to Spotify.
- Embrace the imperfection: Don't wait for a $10,000 studio budget. If the energy is right, the fans will find you.
The story of DaBaby is complicated. It's full of highs and lows. But the music on this volume is a reminder of why we started paying attention in the first place. It was fun. It was fast. It was DaBaby.