Multi-award-winning rapper Usimamane kicked off the year on a high note by releasing his new EP Baby Tai on his birthday, a move he says felt intentional and personal.
Speaking about the timing of the release, the rapper said dropping the project on his birthday “made sense”.
“I wanted to start the year on the right note. Baby Tai is really close to my heart, so releasing it on my birthday felt like the right moment personally and creatively,” he said.
The EP serves as a teaser for his upcoming album Tai Lung which is set to drop later this year.
Usimamane said Baby Tai offers fans a glimpse into his mindset and journey.
“Baby Tai is a build-up to the Tai Lung album. I wanted to give my supporters and everyone who believes in me a real insight into where I’m at right now,” he said.
The rapper described the project as his most personal body of work to date, revealing it captures his experiences navigating fame, pressure and personal growth.
“This is definitely my most personal project so far. It’s the first time I’ve had to deal with being in the spotlight and the scrutiny that comes with it. On this EP, I share my story and everything I went through in 2025.”
With Baby Tai Usimamane touches on the highs of success and the emotional cost that often comes with it.
“I wanted to speak about coming from the bottom and finally making it, but also about the price that comes with success. The loneliness, the mental health challenges, and spending a lot of time in my own head, those are things I wanted to be honest about.”
While the birthday celebration didn’t necessarily influence the sound of the EP, Usimamane said it shaped the intention behind it.
“Not so much the sound, but the intention. I wanted people to see Omuhle as a person, not only Usimamane the artist.”
The EP came together organically over time after the release of his debut album 20th: DBM.
“I started working on it straight after dropping my debut album. It was a process that grew naturally.”
The rapper opened up about facing obstacles during the creation of the project.
“There were a lot of bumps along the way. Management issues, mental health struggles, pressure from being in the spotlight and personal challenges. I also had to deal with people taking advantage of me and being double-crossed. But all of that shaped the project into what it is.”
Usimamane hopes Baby Tai resonates beyond the music.
“I want it to motivate people to chase their goals, but also to raise awareness around mental health. It’s okay to speak up when you’re not OK and to seek help when you need it.”
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