Hip-hop artist DDG released his second album of 2025, titled “moo,” on Friday, using the project as a platform to make a deeply personal and public appeal to his ex-girlfriend, actress and singer Halle Bailey, regarding their ongoing custody dispute over their 1-year-old son, Halo.
The album’s centerpiece, “17 More Years,” serves as both a musical plea and a sobering acknowledgment of the lengthy road ahead for the former couple. The track’s title references the remaining years until their son reaches legal adulthood, framing the custody battle in stark terms of how long these tensions could potentially persist.
The couple’s split in October of last year marked the beginning of what has become an increasingly contentious public separation. The situation deteriorated significantly after Halo made a viral appearance on popular streamer Kai Cenat’s broadcast, an incident that reportedly triggered a cascade of legal action.
The fallout culminated in a temporary domestic violence restraining order being filed against DDG, adding a troubling dimension to the already complicated proceedings.
In “17 More Years,” DDG strikes a notably conciliatory tone despite the acrimony. He acknowledges Bailey as “a good mom” while addressing the mounting financial burden of their legal battle. “I don’t wanna fight anymore; I’m tired of the court dates/lawyers getting over on us, watching money go to waste,” he raps, painting a picture of two parents hemorrhaging money to attorneys while their son’s childhood ticks by.
The track represents a departure from the mudslinging that has characterized much of the year for both parties. Throughout 2025, DDG and Bailey have traded serious allegations, with both accusing the other of physical and mental abuse. The public nature of their dispute has played out across social media and entertainment news cycles, with DDG recently appearing on his own dating show while Bailey has been spotted with a new romantic partner.
Despite the bad blood, DDG uses the song to express what appears to be genuine well-wishes for his ex, stating he’s happy for Bailey, “whoever” she’s with. More significantly, he urges her to drop the custody suit, advocating instead for a cooperative co-parenting arrangement that would allow them to celebrate their son’s milestones together without conflict.
The album also features “No Dreads,” a collaboration with PlaqueBoyMax that DDG says represents a cultural shift in entertainment. In comments to TMZ Hip Hop, he suggested the track symbolizes how streamers have eclipsed rappers in terms of cultural influence—a bold claim that reflects the changing landscape of digital entertainment and celebrity.
As the legal proceedings continue and court dates accumulate, DDG’s musical olive branch raises questions about whether art can facilitate reconciliation where the courts have seemingly only deepened divisions. For now, with 17 more years of potential co-parenting ahead, both parties face a choice between continued litigation or the peaceful resolution DDG advocates for in his latest work.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Rapper DDG is using his new album “moo” to publicly urge ex-girlfriend Halle Bailey to end their costly custody battle over their 1-year-old son, Halo. Despite a turbulent year marked by restraining orders and abuse allegations from both sides, DDG now calls for peace, acknowledging Bailey as a good mother while emphasizing that mounting legal fees are draining their finances.
With 17 years of potential co-parenting ahead, he’s advocating for an amicable resolution that would allow them to celebrate their son’s life together rather than spending it fighting in court.
