Kirk
| DaBaby
Kirk
Kirk is the second studio album by American rapper DaBaby. It was released on September 27, 2019, through Interscope and Billion Dollar Baby. - WIKIPEDIA
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
The Charlotte, North Carolina rapper's debut finds him in his sweet spot—which is to say, demolition mode.
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HIPHOPDX
KIRK, his sophomore studio album and second of the year, splices between the personal convictions that surround his namesake as heard on the serene “INTRO” and lyrical exhibitions like its tracklist successor “Off the Rip.
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The Atlantic
The North Carolina artist’s second album in a year, Kirk, confirms that no one else does what he does, and that he does a lot of it.
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VULTURE
On KIRK, DaBaby’s second album this year after March’s gold-certified Baby on Baby, he mostly sticks to the fleet, two-minute fight songs that made him popular, but the collaborations in the album’s midsection point to an interest in growing out of his signature sound.
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CoS
DaBaby remains a quick-lipped little shit worth your half-hour lunch break, but Kirk sounds like an album he made while shopping for boats, and it’s not hard to imagine being completely done with him by, oh, this time next year. As of now, though, he’s just topped off his winning streak with the most predictable rap album you’ll hear in 2019 that isn’t actually bad in any way. And like everything else about his rise, that’s way too soon.
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DJBOOTH
DaBaby is the star of his own show on ‘KIRK,’ but stellar production and robust features help keep the album sounding fresh.
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NME
the spirited rapper sounds all grown up on his coming-of-age album.
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hnhh
“All DaBaby songs sound the same” became a common chant. The archetypal DaBaby song features him delivering, with crystalline enunciation, playful boasts that eagerly hop from one 808 to the next. It also became a common understanding that most of his ostensible detractors were truly closeted fans. There was an undeniable charm to DaBaby’s music that obliged listeners to bop along.
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The Post
Overall, DaBaby does not disappoint with KIRK. He shows his different sides and styles, all while keeping the album neat and calculated. 2019 is definitely a defining year for DaBaby, and if he keeps the streak going, 2020 can only be better.
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SOUL in STEREO
KIRK is a little too by-the-numbers and lacks the depth of a truly great album.
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Musicjo
As DaBaby starts throwing out videos for the catchy tracks in Kirk, it’s just a matter of time before Kirk breaks into charts like his previous album. We all know that there is nothing he can’t do in front of a camera. He will use his outlandish theatrical skills in videos to make the album another hit. This is one rapper who can call himself a star of 2019.
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HIGHSNOBIETY
we’ll remember KIRK as the project where we learned more about who he is, and why he’s so easy to root for in the first place.
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RMU Sentry Media
They aren’t bad songs, but they certainly aren’t good ones either.
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UPROXX
DaBaby’s New Album ‘Kirk’ Shows Flashes Of A Well-Rounded Artist Behind The Bluster.
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AUDIBL WAV.
DaBaby is back and better than ever with his new album KIRK!
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richersound
He is a talented spitter, one that will receive props from true rap heads, but his ear for melody and hooks is what makes him stand out.
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Rap Reviews
I can’t deny that he makes catchy songs and has an intensity to his delivery that doesn’t make him sound like a “baby” in this rap game at all.
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UML Connector
This piece of work specifically though, is genius.
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103.3 WZND
Although the album starts to feel like somewhat of a chore to listen to after a minute, it is still a fun project to listen to overall.
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KAZI
DaBaby has a charming southern drawl and a huge diamond-studded smile. He’s got an infectious, audible passion in everything he says or spits. DaBaby easily appeals to those seeking that kind of unfiltered expression. KIRK captures all of that, so a job was well done.
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THIRSTKEY
The songs are mostly fun and high-energy and I’m never opposed to that. Especially with DaBaby’s delivery and sense of humor helping them stand out
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Daily Collegian
On this album he shows his versatility with song topics and flows, showing he can effectively rap about materialistic things and the serious topics in life.
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The Minnesota Republic
This album feels like authentic trap music as DaBaby rides the beat with his signature percussive cadence and drops multiple references to jewelry, guns, sex, and money.
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Blk Girl Culture
KIRK is a typical rap story about newfound success in the industry, women, family, adversaries, and of course money. However, it’s an enjoyable listening experience from start to finish and you are sure to find yourself replaying some of tracks.
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HIT UP ANGE
Kirk is a statement that Dababy knows who he is as an artist and that he is not going anywhere; Jonathan Kirk is here to stay.
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Baller Status
While KIRK may not be the greatest project, it definitely offers some noteworthy tracks. It is a decent stepping stone to truly begin Baby’s legacy and sets a standard for future works.
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The Total Plug
it’s an enjoyable listening experience from start to finish and you are sure to find yourself replaying some of tracks.
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Brooklyn Vegan
Two albums in one year can sometimes be a lot for fans digest in the fast-paced, short-attention-span era that we live in, but when you keep them to lean, 13-song tracklists with no filler, and write songs this good, it’s no trouble at all. I had my doubts about such a quick followup, but I won’t be surprised if I end up thinking Kirk is even better than Baby On Baby by year’s end.
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The Anomaly Diary
Kirk certainly shows that DaBaby is yet to do more damage in the mainstream industry. While I wish there was more diversity to it, I’m fine with the package as it is right now.
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SIDELINE
DaBaby absolutely must step out of his comfort zone with his next addition to his portfolio.
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The East Carolina
Overall, DaBaby has released an album we have already heard before. Almost every song discusses his newfound success and includes similar beats found on his previous album.
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POP DUST
The rapper's sophomore album is DaBaby doing what he does best, being fun and hilarious.
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Disctopia
this album isn’t much of a far cry from ‘Baby on Baby’. He has the same cadence, same flow, same producers, all while rapping about the same topics. By no means does this mean that the songs are necessarily “bad”, it just means there’s not been much growth.
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MTSU Sidelines
I think some songs could’ve been better lyrically and the beat could’ve been more punchy, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing album.
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After Glow
The amount of momentum that he has created for himself in 2019 alone is astounding, and with his album KIRK, he shows once again that he is only getting started. DaBaby experiments with both sound and content on this album and ends up creating some of his best moments, like his vulnerable bars on “INTRO,” as well as some of his worst moments, like the muddled and boring “GOSPEL.” Whether it is successful or not, it is still promising to see DaBaby recognize the importance that evolving his music has in determining his longevity as an artist.
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Colossus music
He didn’t need to drop another project and if he did, it had to be something different and something good. This was not that, unfortunately.
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FM HIP HOP
It is a solid project.
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The Rich Report
This entire album is nothing creative, nothing special, and nothing that we have not heard before.
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The Ricky Mountain Collegian
“KIRK” demonstrates DaBaby’s natural talent and synergy when collaborating with other artists. Though he doesn’t step outside of his classic style too much on this album, it’s clear that the rapper has a promising future.
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ALL MUSIC
While newer production tricks add some kick to DaBaby's formula, stagnant lyrics and monotonous flows present him as an artist unwilling to change; swamped by slushy imitations of his best work, the gems on Kirk aren't given the platform to shine.
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