“The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby
Because he is from a certain generation, many may write Lil Baby off. They might think that he doesn’t have anything to say, but they would be wrong. With his 2020 single, “The Bigger Picture,” he shifted mindset of those naysayers. It was here that he picked up the rich legacy of those rappers that came before him that used their platform to add to the liberation of people of color.
“It’s too many mothers that’s grieving … They killing us for no reason … Been going on for too long to get even … Throw us in cages like dogs and hyenas … I went to court and they sent me to prison … My mama was crushed when they said I can’t leave … First I was drunk, then I sobered up quick … When I heard all that time that they gave to Taleeb … He got a life sentence plus.”
Inspired by the brutal murder of George Floyd, it was an organic response with the necessary impact to inspire his fans to take action. In fact, the song seemed to be an anthem for the Summer of Civil Unrest.
What was most powerful is that instead of straight fire and brimstone, Lil Baby offers some perspective on why Black America erupted.
“We gotta start somewhere … Might as well gon’ ‘head start here … We done had a hell of a year … I’ma make it count while I’m here … God is the only man I fear … It’s bigger than black and white … It’s a problem with the whole way of life … It can’t change overnight …”