Right as Skilla Baby’s star began shining, tragedy struck when he was shot three times while driving his SUV in May 2025. “My life had flashed before my eyes, now this shit crystal clear,” he reveals on “The Price of Fame”. He still has the emotiveness and tonal ambidexterity that has earned him his fanbase, with brazen street talk on “For Sure” and smooth, seductive raps on the ladies’ anthem “Face Card”, which features Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller over fly production by Hitmaka. But after his near-death experience, he’s raising the stakes. He confidently exchanges street morals with Nas on “Respect My Gangsta”—one of five songs produced by Southern rap titan DJ Toomp—and harrowingly revisits his shooting on the candid, no-chorus stream of consciousness “No Tears”. Skilla also leans into spirituality and intention: “Be Me” offers himself as hope to kids who are still in the hood, and “Strength in Numbers” enlists vocals from a choir and Erica Campbell (of the gospel duo Mary Mary) in a call for unity to combat poverty, violence and depression. “Skilla, kids need you,” he says on “He Never Left”. Sounds like he’s up to the task.