Ascending with his raw nerve emotionalism and undeniable swagger, DeeBaby is ready to explode out of the Texas scene. Reflecting on his past as he aims to elevate to a new level, the Houston rapper shares Ms. Salazar, his new album. The album is dedicated to Ms. Salazar, DeeBaby’s chosen (non-biological) grandmother, who took him in and nurtured DeeBaby during his childhood, after he ran out of options. Her influence is felt across the album’s 26 tracks, which touch on themes of chosen family, loyalty, and surrounding yourself with people who have your best interests at heart, no matter if they are biologically related. Ms. Salazar makes herself heard on the album’s outro, offering a prayer and kind words for DeeBaby in his present and future.
“Everybody wants to feel loved, and sometimes it isn’t the person you expect to receive that love from,” says DeeBaby. “I knew that my mother loved me, and I didn’t know my dad, and though I did have a father figure who stepped up, he had his own personal journey to go through before he could be there for me. His mother, Ms. Salazar, isn’t my blood grandmother, but she made me feel like she loved me more than anybody in the world. The fact that she and her family took me in inspires me to this day. This album is dedicated to her, and I worked extra hard on this one to do her proud.”
Ms. Salazar is the most refined conduit yet for DeeBaby’s soulful, Texas-fried sound. The 29-year-old Mexican-American rapper is a gifted storyteller, weaving in tales from his troubled past within his aspirational anthems, his pain echoing through his deeply melodic drawl. The Houston native is an expert flexer, as shown on anthems like “2 Mo’ Cars,” “Private Planes,” and the Kodak Black co-signed “Half A Ticket“, big-upping himself in a way that both silences doubters and expresses wonder at how far he’s come. Despite his tough exterior, he has a knack for romance, showing his sensitive side on jams like “Mírame Baby” and “Ting Ting.” At times, when the pain is almost too much to bear, he channels it into his music, as he ruminates on betrayal on “Changed On Me” and tries to heal his “Permanent Scars.” Eschewing features and presenting 26-tracks of Texas dope, DeeBaby’s Ms Salazar is available everywhere via Already Platinum / Create Music Group.
DeeBaby started his rap career in 2021, catching fire with his single “Marz,” racking up over 23 million YouTube views and over 19 million streams on Spotify. “Marz” catapulted DeeBaby to the forefront of the Texas rap scene, presaging a series of successful singles, including “Broken Promises” (14 million YouTube views). DeeBaby’s soulful drawl, tight rhyming technique, and raw lyricism drew the attention of Kevin Gates, who gave DeeBaby his enthusiastic co-sign, affectionately calling him “the Mexican Gates.” Peaking in the Top 10 of Apple Music’s Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #12 on Billboard Heatseekers, 2023’s Junkie Mode mixtape was a step forward for the young rapper, racking up over 242 million streams and featuring fan-favorite hits like the inspirational trap ballad “Never Gon’ End,” and the Roxette-interpolating “Listen To Your Heart” (which has over 29 million views in a combo video with “Numb”). Last year, DeeBaby made his mark with the Can You Hear Me Now? tape (#13 on Billboard Heatseekers) and finally connected with his big homie Kevin Gates for the street hit “Millions For My Pain.”
With Ms. Salazar, DeeBaby asserts himself as one of the South’s most accomplished emcees. Stay tuned for more from the Houston rapper, as he looks to expand his footprint.
© 2025, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
