Raq Baby Is Taking Over: Inside the Making of More Spill
The rising star talks viral snippets, studio parties, and why his latest EP is nothing but greatness.
Photo Credit: J Woods
Raq Baby is booming with confidence. After spending the past year putting the rap game in a chokehold, he’s back with More Spill, a high-energy, nine-track follow-up to last year’s Spill Season. The EP is packed with the kind of viral street anthems that have defined his come-up—raw, infectious, and impossible to ignore.
At just 19, the Chicago-born rapper has mastered the art of building hype, teasing snippets across social media, taking fan feedback in real time, and shaping the final product into something built for replay. His “Belt Boy” movement continues to grow, fueled by his sharp wordplay, soulful production choices, and an aesthetic that feels both street-hardened and futuristic.
I caught up with Raq Baby on the eve of his EP drop, back home doing press and getting ready for a well-earned celebration. After a breakout year that saw his snippets dominating timelines and his presence electrifying crowds on SahBabii’s national tour, Raq Baby is proving to be one of the most exciting new voices in Atlanta’s rap scene.
“I’ve just got a sound for music, and it comes out of nowhere. Intrusive thoughts.”
Justin Staple: What kind of sound can fans expect from More Spill?
Raq Baby: All types of shit—it’s unpredictable. I tapped in with a lot of new producers, but no features. We’re not playing around, we’re catching everything.
We throw studio parties when I record, and it gets crazy. The energy’s up, and we just come up with all kinds of shit. Honestly, sometimes I don’t even know how I come up with this stuff. If I could explain it, on my momma, I would. I wish I could, but it’s weird—it just happens. I’ve just got a sound for music, and it comes out of nowhere. Intrusive thoughts.
JS: Do you have a favorite track off the EP?
Raq Baby: Probably 34 Blicks in Miami, that shit hard. It’s all fly shit, and I was really trying to do something different. Just doing what I’m supposed to be doing—acing this shit. I actually made the beat for Ted Bundy, but I don’t use samples anymore. That’s the old me.
JS: How was the tour with SahBabii? Any favorite cities?
Raq Baby: Super smooth. Dallas was crazyyy, so was Houston.
JS: Your snippets were going crazy on social media, and a lot of them ended up on the EP, like Crashed on Camera and Belt Boy.
Raq Baby: You just gotta be yourself on social media—that shit fun for real. Tracks like Zach N Cody? Fans been asking me about that one forever. They just keep saying, “Drop that shit.” That’s all they want. I’ve got a lot of videos coming out too.
JS: What can fans expect from you for the rest of the year?
Raq Baby: I want to do Freshman, all that shit. Everything has to count this year. I don’t know exactly what’s coming, but I know it’s gonna be nothing but greatness. If you want this, you’ve got to be ready for it.