Lil Baby is an American rapper who burst onto the hip hop scene in 2017 with his mixtape Perfect Timing. Since then, he has become one of the most popular and successful rappers in the world. In 2022, Lil Baby embarked on his massive “One of Them Ones Tour” across North America. With so many hit songs and collaborations under his belt, fans are eager to see Lil Baby perform live. But they also can’t help but wonder – who exactly is joining Lil Baby on tour?
Lil Baby’s Opening Acts
Most big-name rappers take emerging artists on tour with them to offer exposure and experience. Lil Baby is no exception. For the North American leg of his tour, Lil Baby has tapped some of today’s rising stars in hip hop to warm up the stage and get fans hyped.
One of Lil Baby’s opening acts is fast-rising female rapper Erica Banks. The 23-year-old Texas native made a splash with her energetic 2021 single “Buss It” which went viral on TikTok. With infectious confidence and bars celebrating women’s empowerment, Erica Banks brings an exciting new flavor to open Lil Baby’s shows.
Another Lil Baby tour opener is Houston’s own SoFaygo. Just 20 years old, SoFaygo combines melodic flows with punk rock attitude. Songs like “Knock Knock” display his signature style of fusing rap and rock genres. SoFaygo’s high-energy and mosh pit-friendly music is sure to excite crowds before Lil Baby appears.
Finally, Lil Tjay will appear during the early tour dates. The Bronx-born rapper skillfully blends singing and rapping. At just 21 years old, he already has smashed hits like “Calling My Phone” with 6lack. His youthful, heartfelt lyrics contrast nicely with Lil Baby’s luxurious trap style.
Lil Baby’s Supporting Acts
In addition to the openers, most major rap tours have a supporting act that performs after the openers but before the headliner. These are usually more established acts with existing fanbases of their own. According to Lil Baby’s tour itinerary, he has some heavyweight friends joining him across various tour stops.
One of the main supporting acts on Lil Baby’s tour is Lil Durk. The 30-year-old Chicago native has been rapping for over a decade and has collaborated with Lil Baby multiple times. Songs like “Voice of the Heroes” showcase the easygoing chemistry between the two Lil’s. With his own unique style of melodic street rap, Lil Durk is sure to thrill fans during his appearances.
In Atlanta and certain other Southern cities, Lil Baby is bringing out rising trap star Pooh Shiesty as a special guest. The 22-year-old had one of 2021’s biggest rap hits with “Back in Blood” featuring Lil Durk. His raw, authentic trap lyrics paired with a sinister Memphis flow make Pooh Shiesty an exciting addition to the tour.
On West Coast tour stops, Lil Baby is supported by Detroit rapper 42 Dugg. Known for tracks like “We Paid” and “Maybach,” the raspy-voiced 25-year-old brings swaggering bars about life in the streets. His high-energy stage presence will hype up Cali crowds before Lil Baby’s set.
These supporting acts give fans a preview of some of today’s hottest hip hop talent before the main event. It’s a smart move from Lil Baby to showcase both veterans and rising stars across various regions.
Surprise Guest Appearances
One of the best parts of rap tours are the surprise guest appearances by unannounced artists. Based on his collaborations and friendships, Lil Baby may have some special guests pop up unexpectedly at his shows.
Fans are hoping for Drake to appear at one of Lil Baby’s Toronto dates. The two rappers have collaborated multiple times, including hits like “Yes Indeed” and “Wants and Needs.” What better place for Drake to surprise fans than his hometown?
There’s also speculation that Lil Baby’s Quality Control labelmate and fellow Atlanta phenom Migos could perform. Quavo and Lil Baby have become an iconic rap duo with songs like “Drip Too Hard.” A cameo by the Migos would blow the roof off in ATL.
Finally, music insiders suspect Lil Baby may bring out rising female rap star Glorilla as a surprise. Their viral hit “FNF (Let’s Go)” has fans buzzing. Lil Baby surprising fans with a “FNF” performance with Glorilla herself would be legendary.
Beyond these rumors, there’s no telling what surprises Lil Baby has up his sleeve. Spontaneous guest appearances from any of today’s rap stars would be electrifying.
Lil Baby’s Backup Band & Dancers
While rap tours are obviously focused on the rappers themselves, it takes a talented team of supporters to put on a great show. An underrated but crucial element is the live band backing the rapper on stage.
Lil Baby is backed by a 5-piece band consisting of drums, bass, guitar, keys, and DJ. Collectively, they provide the instrumentals for Lil Baby to rap over during the concert. This gives his hits a more lively, organic feel compared to just rapping over prerecorded tracks. The band also improvises transitions between songs to keep the show flowing.
In addition, Lil Baby has around 10 backup dancers/hype men who join him on stage. Dressed in designer streetwear coordinating with Lil Baby’s outfit, they help provide visual spectacle and high energy. The dancers break out choreographed moves during hits like “Yes Indeed” and “Drip Too Hard.” Their flashy footwork and charismatic stage presence pumps up audiences.
While Lil Baby is unquestionably the star, his trusty band and dancers are key to translating an epic studio rap album into an electrifying live concert experience. They help fill stadiums with sound and swagger.
Who Else Might Make a Cameo?
Beyond his tour lineup, there are a few other rappers close with Lil Baby who fans think could potentially make a surprise appearance on stage.
Young Thug – Lil Baby calls fellow ATL rap innovator Young Thug a mentor and big brother. Songs like “Bad Bad Bad” showcase their chemistry.
Gunna – Lil Baby’s longtime friend and YSL labelmate has collaborated on multiple hits like “Drip Too Hard.”
Future – The Atlanta trap pioneer took Lil Baby under his wing early. Their collabs like “Out the Mud” are classics.
21 Savage – Lil Baby’s menacing trap cut “My Dawg” with fellow Atlanta MVP 21 Savage is a fan favorite.
Kodak Black – Despite being from different cities, Lil Baby and Kodak Black connect on gritty street anthems like “Last Day In.”
No matter who ends up joining Lil Baby on stage, fans are in for an incredible lineup of today’s hottest rappers and most electrifying live performers. The “One of Them Ones Tour” is truly a once-in-a-generation concert experience celebrating Lil Baby’s unprecedented hip hop success. Who knows – fans might even get to see Lil Baby bring out Drake for a show-stopping finale. One thing’s for sure, the stars will be out whenever Lil Baby hits the stage.
Setlist
While guests appear randomly, Lil Baby’s own setlist on the tour follows a carefully planned progression. Here’s a look at the songs he’s been performing on the current leg of the “One of Them Ones Tour”:
Song | Album |
---|---|
Never Recover | Harder Than Ever |
Grace | My Turn |
We Paid | My Turn |
Right On | Harder Than Ever |
Close Friends | Harder Than Ever |
Commercial | Harder Than Ever |
Freestyle | My Turn |
Catch the Sun | My Turn |
Woah | My Turn |
Emotionally Scarred | My Turn |
Sum 2 Prove | My Turn |
Heatin Up | My Turn |
How | My Turn |
Forever | My Turn |
Pure Cocaine | The Voice of the Heroes |
Voice of the Heroes | The Voice of the Heroes |
On Me | The Bigger Picture |
We Should | Single |
Yes Indeed | Harder Than Ever |
Life Goes On | My Turn |
The Bigger Picture | My Turn |
Drip Too Hard | Harder Than Ever |
Do We Have a Problem? | Single |
In a Minute | My Turn |
Freestyle | N/A |
As you can see, Lil Baby structures his set to take fans on a journey through his discography. He balances both classic fan favorites and newer hits. High energy bangers get audiences pumped up while more emotional tracks allow Lil Baby to showcase his versatility. And he caps off each night with an epic finale of his blockbuster collab “Drip Too Hard” with Gunna.
Beyond his own songs, Lil Baby also leaves room for impromptu freestyles. His skillful wordplay always impresses crowds when he thinks up rhymes off the top of his head. Overall, the setlist provides something for every Lil Baby fan while maintaining cohesion and momentum.
Production & Special Effects
Creating an immersive concert experience requires state-of-the-art production. Lil Baby’s tour features imposing stage designs and lighting setups that enhance the music visually.
Massive HD video walls on stage rotate through custom visuals for each song. During fan favorites like “Yes Indeed,” the screens display the music video and lyrics to sing along to. Dramatic scene-setting imagery accompanies deeper album cuts.
Four large pyrotechnic flame jets punctuate bangers like “Pure Cocaine” with bursts of fire on the beat drops. Laser lights dance through the air, slicing through smoke to create dynamic patterns.
Moving automated LED lights swing on rigs over the stage, shining swirling rainbow beams down on Lil Baby. Huge strobes flash on peak moments, lending a club-like atmosphere to the concert.
The stage itself features an extended catwalk allowing Lil Baby to get closer to fans in the pit. Hydraulic lifts raise him up during select songs, putting him head and shoulders above the crowd.
Altogether, the dazzling sights help amplify the music and create an unforgettable shared experience for Lil Baby and his fans.
Critical Reception
So far Lil Baby’s “One of Them Ones Tour” has received rave reviews from critics. Here are some excerpts:
“Lil Baby confirmed his superstar status with an electrifying show full of fiery anthems and solid gold hits…the Atlanta rapper demonstrated his casual charisma and verbal dexterity during one of the year’s best rap performances.” – Hot New Hip Hop
“The sheer number of bangers in Lil Baby’s catalog provided fuel for two non-stop hours of turn up…seamless guest appearances from the likes of Lil Durk gave fans added bang for their buck.” – XXL
“Between the stage production, hyped up crowd, and Lil Baby’s measured showmanship, the ‘One of Them Ones Tour’ checked every box for an exceptional arena rap experience.” – Uproxx
Clearly Lil Baby is delivering exactly what fans want – an exhilarating live translation of his chart-topping music alongside his talented friends and collaborators. By all accounts, the tour is on pace to be Lil Baby’s biggest, most successful, and highest grossing run yet.
Looking Ahead
Lil Baby still has dozens of North American tour dates left in 2022 before he takes the show overseas. Given his meteoric rise to fame, he’s sure to be touring behind this album for the foreseeable future.
While established stars like Lil Durk and 42 Dugg are locked in, fans can expect Lil Baby to mix up openers and guests as hot new talent emerges. He has a keen eye for spotlighting rising artists in hip hop’s next wave.
As for new music, Lil Baby will be focused on performing for now. But he figures to have more big plans in 2023 like collaborative albums with Lil Wayne or Drake. Plus more solo material and guest features adding to his already-extensive catalog.
One thing’s for certain – the future is bright for Lil Baby. His talent, work ethic, and fan loyalty will surely keep him reigning on top of the rap game. The “One of Them Ones Tour” kicking off his new album era feels like just the beginning of Lil Baby’s icon status.
Conclusion
Lil Baby’s meteoric rise over the past few years is truly remarkable. He went from a hungry newcomer to one of rap’s most bankable stars and arena headliners. Now on his biggest tour yet, he’s offering fans an unforgettable live experience.
The “One of Them Ones Tour” lives up to its name by showcasing a line-up of today’s most talented rappers. Between Lil Baby himself, unannounced special guests, and both veteran and up-and-coming supporting acts, each show offers endless surprises.
State-of-the-art production and dazzling special effects complement Lil Baby’s bangers. He designed the setlist to take audiences through an engaging progression from older classics to new anthems.
By all measures, the tour is a huge success with Lil Baby solidifying his superstar status. He’s sure to keep evolving, growing his fanbase, and raising the bar for live rap performances. The “One of Them Ones Tour” kickstarts what’s looking to be a long, acclaimed career at the top for Lil Baby.