Lil Baby Says He Doesn’t Want To Be Seen As A Political Figure, But Still Wants To Make A Difference In His Community: ‘I Don’t Want To Be No Malcolm X’

Lil Baby opens up about why he decided to stay under the radar when his song “The Bigger Picture” grew popular amongst activists.

The 25-year-old Atlanta rapper’s influence has been huge ever since he stepped onto the music scene. But, earlier this year, the rapper released “The Bigger Picture, a track that addressed police brutality and racial inequalities that the Black community is facing and has been facing for centuries. Without trying, Lil Baby became a figure for the movement, and his song quickly became an unofficial anthem for demonstrators. Despite his song’s popularity amongst activists, the rapper says he never wanted to be a leader, which is why he’s avoided politics.

He first turned against being placed in the spotlight of politics after his potential efforts with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms and his discussion with district attorney hopeful #PaulHoward got confused by the masses as an endorsement, UPROXX reports. “The more I’m seeing what’s up with all that sh*t, the more I’m like, ‘Let me back up off politics,’” he said. “I don’t want to be no Malcolm X or Martin Luther [King].… I stuck my nose in it. I’m good on that.”

Lil Baby said he sat down with Howard so that he could possibly change Howard’s way of thinking about certain things. “If I can sit at a table and really talk to you like I’m human, versus the politics and you in that courtroom, you really might come to reality versus you sending n****s goddamn down the road for 500 years.” He added that he never endorsed anyone, despite Howard falsely saying that Lil Baby supports him. “Paul Howard sent me to prison,” the rapper said.

Even though Lil Baby has respectfully moved away from politics, he is currently working on a local development project that would bring more opportunities to his hometown, the outlet reports.