"Ball If I Want To" is a song by American rapper

DaBaby Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991), known professionally as DaBaby (formerly Baby Jesus), is an American rapper. After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, he signed with Interscope Records in January 2019 in a joint ...

, released on June 18, 2021, with an accompanying music video. It was produced by D.A. Got That Dope.

Background

The song was first previewed in a promotional video of DaBaby's performances at the

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on May 28 and 29, 2021. On June 17, he announced a "big surprise" at midnight in an

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video, before releasing the song.

Composition

On the track, DaBaby talks about doing what he wants; in the chorus, he raps: "Bitch, it ain't even my birthday but I can ball if I want to (Ball) / Pull up, foreign cars if I want to (Skrr) / Hop out that bitch with that iron in my jumpsuit (Go)/ Just do what I say and I love you (Okay?)" He raps about the poverty he has escaped and the current riches of his life, including private jets and sex. The instrumental of the song features an echoing choral sample.

Critical reception

Tom Breihan of ''

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'' called the song a "raunchy two-minute rap attack". Glenn Rowley of '' Consequence'' writes that in the "braggadocios" track, DaBaby "unapologetically flexes".

Music video

The music video, directed by DaBaby himself, finds him leading a high school student body through a wild library study hall, a food fight in the cafeteria, a game of

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and to the outdoor basketball courts. A cheerleading squad is seen twerking in the classroom, and at the basketball courts, a giant diapered baby mascot dances.

Live performances

DaBaby performed the song at the

BET Awards 2021 The 21st BET Awards took place on June 27, 2021. The ceremony celebrated achievements in entertainment and honors music, sports, television, and movies. The ceremony's theme was "Year of the Black Woman" and was held in-person with a vaccinated ...

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{DaBaby 2021 singles 2021 songs DaBaby songs Interscope Records singles Songs written by DaBaby Songs written by D.A. Got That Dope Song recordings produced by D.A. Got That Dope