It’s hard not to love Eddy Baker, a master of juxtaposition, and a trailblazer of underground rap. His husky frame humbles his gravelly voice, his slight lisp humanizes his trap-focused lyrics, his sinful habits grind against his devout Christianity, and his nihilistic lifestyle characterizes his role as the CEO of Healthy Boyz, his immediate rap group with Chilly Sosa, Johnathan Kash and Celes Karter. In the early 2010s, Eddy Baker first appeared as a member of Raider Klan, the underground supergroup that first popularized phonk, a demonic breed of trap inspired by 90s Memphis-rap, Texas horrorcore, and niche internet phenomena. Phonk soon spread across SoundCloud, leaked into the mainstream, and became an intrinsic element of the trap sound we know today. When Raider Klan–which included Denzel Curry, SpaceGhostPurrp, Ruben Slikk, and dozens more–disbanded in the mid-2010s, former members Eddy Baker, Chris Travis, and Xavier Wulf (fka Ethul Wulf) formed SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ with Bones, and went on the become the most dominant underground rap group of the 2010s. Now, Eddy Baker makes catchy 80s-inspired love songs, Mexiko-Dro-style trap anthems, and G-Funk bops that honor his California roots. From the Pro Club to the Dodger fitted, Eddy radiates a SoCal charisma that cannot be faked. Even so, his music exists cross-regionally, timelessly, and ahead of whatever comes next. – Gabe Allanoff