On September 27, DaBaby released KIRK, his second album of 2019. The title is a reference to DaBaby’s birth name, Jonathan Lyndale Kirk. DaBaby has had a quick rise to fame over the past year, and KIRK is a shining example of why.

In “INTRO,” the album’s premiere song, DaBaby reflects on the recent death of his father, new successes, family and love, all while rapping with a steady flow over a momentous beat. The song’s title is self explanatory; it is a striking introduction to DaBaby and all of the album’s songs that follow.

Throughout the album, DaBaby makes it clear that he is here to stay. All of the beats are phenomenal. Additionally, this album has a rare quality in that none of the songs are skippable. KIRK has a large number of prominent featured artists, including Chance the Rapper, Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj and Migos. All are incredibly talented, and DaBaby has no problem holding his own in such this group of artists.

If his beats and features weren’t enough to impress you, DaBaby’s absolutely stunning lyrical prowess sure will. His bars go hard and he is definitely not afraid to show it. In “TOES,” he boldly announces, “Better not pull up with no knife / ‘cause I bring guns to fights.” He inverts an old adage in order to proclaim his dominance; in summary, DaBaby is not here to play. In “iPHONE,” an entertaining song about the mischief of love—or a lack thereof—he nonchalantly states, “Everything I been through / it’s something only I know.” Even in a song about paying more attention to his phone than a romantic interest, DaBaby makes a casual yet brilliant statement about the unique nuances of everyone’s individual experiences.

One of the album’s standout songs is “GOSPEL,” where DaBaby explicitly mentions his father’s death, the strife he experienced during childhood and how his relationship with so many people changed once he made it big. The chorus catches DaBaby repeating, “This s— right here sounds like some gospel,” acknowledging the catharsis that comes with memorializing your own experiences. Cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib once wrote, “say God and mean whatever has kept you alive when so many other things have failed to,” and “GOSPEL” is an ode to turning memory and authenticity into something sacred.

KIRK is thirteen songs of sonic genius and a true testament to why DaBaby’s fire burns so brightly. The album has numerous lyrics that are objectively bleak, but layering them over energetic and buoyant beats makes everything seem like a cause for celebration. And maybe this is what DaBaby’s work serves to acknowledge—life hits us hard, but we’ll still be here, dancing and rapping and creating through it all.