Babyface Ray

You ever listen to a rapper who just sounds like he’s chatting with you? Babyface Ray has been doling out conversational lifestyle raps over smooth beats since 2010, making his presence felt in Detroit’s crowded and massively talented scene. There, he’s treated like rap royalty, thanks to his wavy brand of braggadocio, reliable stream of mixtapes, and longstanding relationship with the scene. Born Marcellus Register in 1991, Ray grew up on the East Side of Detroit. In high school, he started rapping with some friends, and he was so good that he caught the attention of local legend Peezy, who took him under his wing. Over the course of the 2010s, Ray would carve out a lane for himself—first on the East Side, then, when video flooded the market, throughout the city. His 2019 album MIA Season 2 was a standout, a smattering of street tales and funk beats representative of Detroit’s music at the time. Now something of a veteran himself, Ray understands his role as a leader in the city’s powerful movement. On songs like “Meg The Stallion,” he makes space for newer talents like his protege Icewear Vezzo. Still, the best Babyface Ray tracks are the ones where he’s riding solo, shrugging his shoulders at shopping sprees and police chases. No one can match his energy—or lack thereof.