With an array of backup dancers and the famous Jabbawockeez dance crew, DaBaby’s endlessly stylish video became a powerful moment in his career that cemented his place as one of this era’s hottest lyricists. Whether it was mimicking a motorcycle with his arms or standing in front of a woman twerking on him, its simple, genius concept won people over everywhere. It’s also the main reason that it’s nominated for Best Hip Hop Video and is favored to win it.

For the length of his short career, DaBaby has been plagued with accusations that he never changes his style up. In the past, he’d pick obscure trap beats and rap over them with a creative staccato swag that made him unique out of all the emcees coming up with him. But, people wanted more and questioned if he could grow as an artist. That uncertainty changed with the release of “Rockstar,” a melodic smash that showed the world that he could switch it up whenever he actually felt like it. It’s become one of his most successful releases too, also being nominated for Song of the Year.

DaBaby dropped Baby on Baby at the top of last year as his coming-out party to the industry. While most new artists drop a project and then bask in the glory for the rest of the year after having a chart-topping hit, Billboard Baby immediately released Kirk just shy of seven months later. He models for those who are afraid of hard work what it means to never take the foot off the pedal with his music. 

Nearly seven months later, DaBaby did the unthinkable: he released another project, Blame It On Baby, to continue his unstoppable run. While Baby on Baby and Kirk both had the urgency of his previous mixtapes, Blame It… costumed the trap rapper into a bonafide pop star, echoing the meteoric success of artists like Nelly and Post Malone. Its success is well documented on his social media; few days go by that he doesn’t post another milestone that the project has reached. With each success, particularly from this project, he opens the door for a stable of artists that he is putting on.

In this harsh cultural moment, which debuted at the 2020 BET Awards, social justice for Black people is an important focus. He had a rare opportunity with a monster smash like “Rockstar” to blueprint to his peers what message music can sound like in 2020. DaBaby voiced his thoughts on police brutality on the “Rockstar (BLM) Remix” with a new verse. Its impact was felt around the world and offered a peek into who DaBaby is underneath the jewelry, cars, and women. It was also felt by older lovers of Hip Hop, who are quick to dismiss rappers born after the “Golden Era.” He made them take notes and listen. By using his platform to address police-involved violence, one of the reasons he is one of the top artists of the year, he joins the ranks of other Black entertainers like Harry Belafonte, James Brown, and Chuck D have supported the movement with their art.

Watch the 2020 Hip Hop Awards on BET on October 27 at 9/10c.