Lil Baby’s ‘My Turn’ Named Top Rap Album of the 21st Century, Outranks Kanye and Kendrick

Lil Baby’s 2020 album “My Turn” has been ranked the highest rap project on Billboard’s “Top Billboard 200 Albums of the 21st Century” list, landing at No. 8 overall. The placement has ignited a heated debate among music fans and critics online.

Billboard’s ranking evaluates albums based on performance on the Billboard 200 charts from Jan. 1, 2000, through Dec. 28, 2024. “My Turn,” released on Feb. 28, 2020, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 197,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, marking Lil Baby’s first chart-topping album.

The album, featuring collaborations with Gunna, 42 Dugg, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and Lil Wayne, achieved remarkable longevity. It spent 85 weeks in the top 10 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, setting a record for the longest streak in the chart’s history.

Despite these achievements, the album’s high placement on Billboard’s list has drawn criticism. Many fans argue that other iconic rap albums, including those from Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar, were unfairly overlooked.

“No exaggeration, but this is one of the worst ranking selections I’ve seen in a long time. The same century that gave us Kanye, Lil Wayne, Drake, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and so on. Yet they select Lil Baby’s ‘My Turn’ as the biggest rap album of that century? Whoever chose that has minimal hip-hop knowledge,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added, “Kanye and Jay-Z didn’t make the list. We say it a lot, but this really might be the worst list ever put together. Beyoncé didn’t make it either.”

Billboard has not publicly clarified the specific criteria used for the rankings beyond chart performance. The controversy underscores the subjective nature of music rankings and the passionate discourse they often spark among fans.

Lil Baby, born Dominique Jones in Atlanta, has been a dominant force in rap since his breakout mixtape in 2017. Known for his distinctive flow and storytelling, he has collaborated with top-tier artists and earned multiple accolades, cementing his status as one of the genre’s biggest stars.

As the debate continues, “My Turn” remains a testament to Lil Baby’s impact on modern music, representing his ascent to rap superstardom in the 21st century.

Jay-Z Seeks Sanctions Against Attorney in Sexual Assault Lawsuit Over Alleged Misconduct

Photograph by Mason Poole. Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, calling the allegations "false and defamatory" and seeking sanctions against the plaintiff's attorney, Tony Buzbee, for purported ethical violations.

In the motion submitted Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Carter’s legal team argued that the lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe, is riddled with inconsistencies and lacks evidentiary support. The filing asserts that Buzbee failed to conduct basic due diligence, including verifying key elements of the plaintiff’s claims, before filing the complaint.

“The allegations in this case strain the outer bounds of credulity and demonstrate a failure to meet the basic ethical obligations required of any attorney,” Alex Spiro, Jay-Z's attorney, wrote in the filing. “This lawsuit is not only baseless but also deeply damaging to Mr. Carter’s reputation and family.”

The complaint alleges that Jane Doe was assaulted at a 2000 afterparty hosted by music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs following the MTV Video Music Awards. Doe claimed Carter and an unnamed female celebrity were involved. However, Carter’s legal team pointed to photographic and video evidence showing that he was at a nightclub on the night in question, not the private residence described in the lawsuit.

The motion further notes discrepancies in Doe’s account, including her claim that she spoke to a musician at the party who, records show, was performing in another state that evening. Additionally, Doe’s father, identified as a key witness in the lawsuit, reportedly told NBC News he had no recollection of driving her from New York City back to their home in Rochester, a critical detail in her narrative.

The motion also criticized Buzbee for allegedly using the case to generate publicity, including setting up a hotline soliciting potential plaintiffs against Combs shortly after Combs was indicted on unrelated charges in September 2024. Carter’s lawyers allege that the lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of rushed filings and unsubstantiated claims.

Buzbee has not withdrawn the complaint despite public reporting undermining its allegations, the motion states. Carter's attorneys are seeking monetary sanctions against Buzbee and a dismissal of the case with prejudice.

Buzbee has not responded to requests for comment. In prior statements, he defended his handling of the case and said his firm is continuing to investigate the claims.

The court has not yet ruled on the motion.

Keefe D Seeks Dismissal in Tupac Shakur Case, Alleging Prosecution Missteps

Duane “Keefe D” Davis, the former gang leader facing charges in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, has filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing constitutional violations and a lack of evidence.

The motion, filed Monday by attorney Carl Arnold, argues that the 27-year delay in prosecution undermines Davis’ ability to mount a fair defense. Arnold contends the delay resulted in missing witnesses, untraceable evidence, and failure to produce the gun or vehicle used in the shooting.

Additionally, the filing claims Davis received immunity in exchange for cooperating with federal and local authorities in prior investigations.

“The prosecution’s failure to honor immunity agreements and justify this decades-long delay undermines the integrity of the criminal justice system,” Arnold said in the filing.

Davis, arrested in September 2023 near Las Vegas, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated the fatal shooting of Shakur and the wounding of rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight after a brawl at a Las Vegas casino involving Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson.

Shakur died a week later at 25. Knight survived, but Anderson, who denied involvement, was killed in 1998.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has maintained the evidence against Davis is strong, citing Davis’ own admissions in interviews and his 2019 memoir. Wolfson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A judge is expected to consider the motion in the coming weeks.

For more details, the full motion can be accessed here.