Jonathan Lindale Kirk, also known as Baby Jesus at the start of his career, later adopted the stage name The Baby. He scored a massive deal with Interscope Records and even launched his own label, Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment. However, in 2017, things took a dark turn when he was involved in a shooting incident at a Walmart in North Carolina. The Baby claimed it was self-defense, stating that the victim had threatened his family with a weapon. Despite initially facing a murder charge, it was later reduced to a misdemeanor for carrying a weapon. He received probation and a suspended jail sentence.
In 2019, he burst onto the scene with his debut album, “Baby on Baby,” which catapulted him to fame. His second album, “Kirk,” followed shortly after, solidifying his status as a global superstar. Fans couldn’t get enough of his infectious personality, confidence, and energetic music videos.
The Washington Post hailed him as one of the most intriguing figures in Hip Hop, while Billboard crowned him Rookie of the Year. By November 2019, riding high on the success of hits like “Suge,” “Babysitter” featuring Offset, “Going Baby,” and “Bop,” The Baby inked a major global administration deal with Universal Music Publishing, setting the stage for a bright future in the rap game. But just as his star was ascending, his career took an unexpected nosedive. But before we dive into that rollercoaster ride, don’t forget to grab some snacks at rrgsnacks.com, our online concession stand offering a mouthwatering array of treats including Applewood smoked bacon jerky, toasted corn nuts, and gummy sour peach rings. The Baby’s path crossed with DaniLeigh’s in 2019 when she was brought on board to co-choreograph the dance routine for his hit “Bop.” Their ensuing relationship was anything but smooth sailing, marked by a turbulent love triangle and frequent breakups. To delve deeper into how their tumultuous romance impacted DaniLeigh’s career, be sure to check out the linked video in our description box once we’re done here.
DaniLeigh stirred controversy with her song “Yellow Bone,” which sparked accusations of promoting colorism with lines like, “That’s what he want, what he want, what he want? Yellow bone, that’s what he want, what he want?” She found herself in a social media firestorm, defending her intentions. Meanwhile, The Baby faced his own set of problems. In November 2019, an altercation with a driver erupted after The Baby and his friends were asked not to smoke in their Sprinter van. Allegedly, The Baby punched the driver and made confrontational remarks, leading to a warrant for his arrest, although the charges were eventually dropped.
Come December 2019, The Baby encountered further legal issues. He and a friend were accused of assaulting a food stand employee at a DFW Airport, prompting a warrant for his arrest, which was later dismissed. During a traffic stop in Charlotte, police found marijuana and a concealed firearm in his vehicle, resulting in citations but no arrest. Adding to his woes, an altercation at a Beverly Hills hotel occurred when an employee reportedly filmed The Baby without consent.
Well, 2019 was quite the ride, and 2020 was shaping up to be even wilder. As the year began with a bang, The Baby found himself in a tight spot after he and his crew were accused of assaulting and robbing a concert promoter in Miami. The whole fracas apparently started over a disagreement about payment for The Baby’s hosting gig at an event. He spent a brief stint behind bars in January 2020 before being released, but still faced battery charges over the incident. Though the criminal charges were eventually dropped, he was slapped with a hefty $6 million lawsuit. His legal team claimed it was just a money grab by the alleged victims. After years of legal battles, The Baby finally came out on top when the jury ruled in his favor.
By then, it was hard to ignore the drama that seemed to follow The Baby everywhere. But despite the controversies, his music remained a hit with fans, who often overlooked his missteps. However, in March 2020, a video emerged showing The Baby getting physical with a woman at a venue in Tampa.
The Baby later explained that he mistook the woman for a man because she was shining a bright light from her phone directly at him. “I genuinely apologize for not realizing your gender at that moment. The intense flash made it difficult to see clearly. With so many fans around, it’s easy for someone to zoom in and capture such moments. But honestly, does it really matter whether the person is male or female? While societal norms suggest refraining from hitting women, violence against anyone is unacceptable. I just wanted a photo, nothing more.”
He then took part in a comedic skit with Michael Blackson, finding humor in the incident, which upset the victim. “The impact on my cheekbone was quite painful, leading me to seek medical attention and being diagnosed with a contusion. Consequently, I decided to take legal action against him, filing a lawsuit for battery and emotional distress. However, the current status of the case remains uncertain.”
Meanwhile, he released his third album, “Blame It On Baby,” in April 2020, with the track “Rockstar” featuring Roddy Ricch quickly climbing to the top of the charts. “It’s an absolute bop,” he remarked. His concert tours consistently sold out, and he received acclaim at prestigious award ceremonies such as the BET Awards and the Grammys. However, doubts surfaced about his talent when he struggled through a freestyle on Sway In The Morning, set to the instrumental of “Guilty Conscience.”
On social media, someone remarked, “Sway and DJ Wonder really missed the mark trying to get The Baby to freestyle to ‘Guilty Conscience.’ We all know he sticks to one style. You could see the confusion on his face when the beat dropped.” The end of 2020 was marked by tragedy when his brother, Glenn Johnson, tragically took his own life. The Baby took to Twitter to urge those grappling with mental health issues to seek help, even admitting, “I’m about to get a therapist myself.” Moving into January 2021, while out shopping on Rodeo Drive, The Baby and some friends were stopped by the police. He ended up being arrested for carrying a loaded firearm, but the charges were dropped after the LA County DA decided not to pursue them. It’s baffling how he keeps avoiding consequences, which really speaks to the prowess of his legal team. Considering the multitude of charges he faces, it seems he could use an entire fleet of lawyers. However, things took a darker turn in June 2021 when his artist Wisdom was arrested for attempted murder and aggravated assault with a firearm. Though The Baby was initially detained, he was released later on. Wisdom managed to post bail, leaving the outcome of the case uncertain.
The controversy surrounding The Baby’s appearance at Rolling Loud in July 2021 began when he brought Tory Lanez on stage shortly after Megan Thee Stallion’s set. Despite their previous collaborations, tensions arose between The Baby and Megan after he teamed up with Tory Lanez, who was later convicted of shooting Megan. The decision to feature Tory at Rolling Loud was met with widespread criticism, with many fans feeling it was a disrespectful move towards Megan. Moreover, The Baby’s subsequent revelation in a song about his past involvement with Megan only added fuel to the fire, leading to speculation about his loyalty. Rumors also surfaced suggesting that The Baby and Tory had planned to disrupt Megan’s performance. In addition to these controversies, The Baby’s use of homophobic remarks during his set further intensified the backlash against him.
Following a backlash from both online users and celebrities, The Baby tried to justify his remarks by stating, “Oh, the lights went up. Gay, straight. You want to know why? Because even my gay fans don’t have AIDS. Foolish [explicit]. They don’t have AIDS. My gay fans, they take care of themselves. They’re not going for that. They’re not any nasty gay [explicit]. Oh Lord, help me.” Then, he released a video titled “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give,” where he held a sign that read “AIDS” and ended with a message urging against responding to hate with hate, apologizing for expressing himself, and acknowledging everyone’s desire for freedom to be themselves. He also issued apologies on Twitter and Instagram, though he later deleted the latter. However, despite his efforts to make amends, several festivals removed him from their lineups, including Lollapalooza and the iHeartRadio Music Festival. Amidst the fallout, Rolling Loud chose to stand by him, leading to his announcement in November 2021 of an upcoming tour sponsored by Rolling Loud. As for his personal life, despite the ups and downs of his relationship with DaniLeigh, they welcomed their daughter, Vour, in August 2021.
Three months later, they decided to livestream one of their intense arguments, which ended with The Baby kicking DaniLeigh out of his home. She was later charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault. A month after that, DaniLeigh’s brother, Brandon Bills, went online and challenged The Baby to a fight. “Alright, Brandon, you’re asking for trouble.” Finally, in February 2022, Brandon caught up with The Baby and his friends at a bowling alley, but unfortunately, he ended up getting beaten. Following the incident, Brandon filed a lawsuit against The Baby, claiming that he was physically assaulted without warning, resulting in severe injuries and psychological trauma. “You start a fight, get knocked down, and now you want to sue?” The Baby argued self-defense, and the legal proceedings came to a halt when Brandon stopped cooperating with the police.
In December 2021, The Baby and his crew rented a mansion. The property manager informed them that only 12 people could stay there, a condition reportedly agreed upon by The Baby’s management. “I already know how this is going to go down. No need to explain. We all know what’s coming.” “Oh, really? Go on, tell us anyway.” “Well, during The Baby’s weeklong stay, the manager visited the house and saw The Baby filming a music video with over 40 people. When he tried to stop the shoot, someone from The Baby’s crew allegedly attacked him.”
So, there’s this story about The Baby, right? Apparently, he got into some serious trouble. It all started when he allegedly punched a guy who was hassling him. Then, he posted a video where the guy was using racial slurs against him. Next thing you know, The Baby’s facing felony charges.
But wait, it gets crazier. Remember when he reported shooting someone outside his house? Turns out, the guy was just trespassing, and luckily, he survived. No charges against The Baby this time.
And hold on tight, because there’s more drama. He ends up punching one of his own artists backstage at a show. Talk about chaos!
Despite all this, his album “Baby On Baby 2” did pretty well in 2022, but he’s been dealing with lawsuits left and right, even over stealing beats.
Now, get this: The Baby says his career took a $100 million hit after a homophobic rant. Ouch! But he’s still trying to bounce back, dropping an EP in 2023 and making a comeback.
But then, in 2024, he’s on a YouTube show and things go south real quick. The host ends up begging him to return the $20,000 he got paid because of some altercation.
So, yeah, The Baby’s been through the wringer, but he’s still hustling, managing his label, working on productions, and getting advice from none other than 50 Cent. Will he make it out on top? Only time will tell.