2022 was the year that Babyface Ray made his mostly seamless transition from a popular regional rapper in Detroit to an international star with critical acclaim and mainstream appeal. But what made it work so well is how Face didn’t need to stray far from his signature sound in order to reach a wider audience. He’s been able to make the crossover successfully without abandoning his gritty, lyrically-candid flair and nervous flows that highlight his contributions to his city’s scene.
Babyface Ray is now one of the biggest names in the Motor City’s scene, bridging the gap between a regional street rapper with anxiously candid raps. Whereas last year’s FACE allowed him to get out of his comfort zone and experiment with more sounds, Summer’s Mine is Babyface Ray doubling down, and coming into final form. He’s already proven that he’s mastered the regional Detroit sound, but now he’s able to do so in a landscape where his music flourishes without sacrificing its street qualities. Across Summer’s Mine, you can hear the pain in his voice as he confesses to the strain of his vices and the depths of his paranoia while trying to maintain his sanity, packaged in a breezy, outside music way that fits the season.
On the intro, “ScarFACE,” he anxiouslybelts out a single stream-of-consciousness verse, updating his status as a Kingpin in his city while reflecting on both the perks and consequences of his lifestyle. “Had to slow down on the codeine and no more Mike Amiri / Let me tell you somethin’, I’m dyin’ rich, I feel it in my spirit,” he raps with a calming cadence. There are glimpses of prime-era Future in Babyface Ray’s raps, as he actively works through his addictions and the consequences of his past life catching up to him. Although Babyface Ray is riding in his brand new Benz bumping Tha Carter and not returning phone calls from one-night-stands, basking in his new lifestyle, he explicitly refuses to sell his soul. There’s a consistent ere of self-awareness behind all of the nervous flexes and realizations.
The success of lead single “Donda Bag” speaks to Face’s gradual resonance. He spills out each line of the hook with pride, like he’s staring in the mirror reciting his morning mantra. Although Summer’s Mine is about him claiming the summer and his spot in the game, there are difficult moments during this come up. It’s the balance he finds with the highs and lows, delivered in Face’s non chalant, unaffected demeanr that give the album an extra gold-dipped flair.
Although he’s collaborated with heavyweights like Lil Durk, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Yachty and even Pusha T, Babyface Ray has never relied on big names or grandiose hooks in order to get by. These are straight-to-the-point raps that find a rapper working through his prime in an attempt to absorb how far he’s come. “When you choose to live this life, you can’t cry about problems / Build a label for the mansion then fly out some vibes / I’m on a boat in Amsterdam but Detroit, I reside,” he raps on “Leaving London,” documenting his commitment to staying true to himself and his craft.
And yet with all that confidence, Summer’s Mine finds its peaks when Face tries to process his life in real-time, without wavering from his convictions. Even on tracks like “I75,” which evokes his feelings of paranoia and reflection on the regrets of his past life in the streets, and “Life Full Of Lies,” where he’s getting deeply introspective, it sometimes sounds as though it’s physically difficult to put these thoughts out there. When he raps, “I’m in the owner box, but still got ties with the hood,” he acknowledges that the territory in which he finds himself in, is respected and rare as an artist in the modern day.
On “I Can’t Rap Foreva,” Babyface seriously contemplates his life beyond rap, admitting to himself that he can’t keep living this lifestyle forever. As he addresses the depth of his addictions and the reality of people wishing ill on him, Face expresses a desire to settle into his role as a mainstay name, but acknowledges that he has some personal work to do before he can fully embrace it.
The fast-paced lifestyle and the consequences of living a life full of vices will eventually catch up to him, which is evidently a scary realization for Face. It’s a situation that he’s actively looking to avoid by working through these sentiments in real-time within his music.
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