Charlotte rapper DaBaby hits big with first major label album since Walmart shooting

Being linked to a killing at Huntersville’s Walmart appears not to have hurt the career of Charlotte-based rapper DaBaby, who is winning critical acclaim for a new album “Baby on Baby” and his new video, “Suge (Yea Yea).”

The “Suge” video of DaBaby posing as the world’s worst postal worker has earned more than 1.3 million views on YouTube since being released Monday.

DaBaby signed a deal with the prestigious Interscope Records in January, according to Clture.org. “Baby on Baby” is the first album to be marketed by the label since the rapper was questioned by police in the November fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Charlotte man at Walmart.

DaBaby, also known as Baby Jesus, was never charged with a crime, but he confirmed in a video on YouTube that he was involved in the incident, the Observer reported in November. The rapper said that he was shopping with his two children and their mom when someone pulled a gun and “tried to take my life,” the Observer reported.

His video for “Suge” features several moments that could allude to the incident: A scene of him being shot at, lyrics that he keeps a Glock pistol in his pocket and threatening: “You disrespect me and I’ll beat your ass up all in front of your partners and children.”

The video was filmed in a neighborhood near west Charlotte’s Freedom Drive-Toddville Road area.

“Baby on Baby,” released last week, was praised Tuesday by Rolling Stone, which said it “stood out for its sense of urgency.”

“The North Carolina rapper’s allure relies on his comedic persona — his videos have the bombast of Busta Rhymes with the satirical edge of early Eminem. Absurd, detailed and over-the-top, DaBaby has a honed commitment to character,” wrote Rolling Stone.

DaBaby heavily promoted his budding career during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, Feb. 15-17, including billboards and performances at the White House Ultra Lounge.

It also features well promoted contributions from such rap heavy hitters as Offset, Rich the Kid and Rich Homie Quan, reported Complex.com.

A video for the song “Walker Texas Ranger,” which is included on the new album, has gotten up more than 6 million views on Facebook since January.

DaBaby’s catalog of music includes a nine-song mixtape called “Blank Blank” released last year. Clture.org reports the mixtape “enjoyed a fast-rising climb to viral success and a large following” in part due to controversy over the Walmart shooting.

Huntersville police have not revealed details of their investigation into the November shooting of Jalyn Domonique Craig at Walmart, saying only that the killing happened during a fight.

Four people were questioned and their names were not released, reported the Charlotte Observer.

Warning: This video contains explicit language and content some may find offensive.

This story was originally published March 5, 2019 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Charlotte rapper DaBaby hits big with first major label album since Walmart shooting."