Baby Bash

All eyes are on Houston's Baby Bash despite his claim that he's "never been the type of guy to put anything on the map." The rapper-singer recently became the "number one Latin Artist" on MySpace on the strength of the Lil Jon-produced Cyclone, featuring T-Pain. The strip club anthem has also cracked the iTunes Top 10 and is rising steadily on the Billboard charts. Now, after more than seven years in the game, the 32-year-old from Vallejo, California is on the verge of becoming a household name.

Born Ronnie Ray Bryant to a Mexican mother and Italian father, Baby Bash endured a difficult childhood – both of his parents were addicted to heroin. Inspired by Bay Area heroes E-40, Mac Dre and West Coast legend Ice Cube, the self-described "Latin lover" began performing on the California lowrider car show circuit. He eventually caught the eye of Latin rap pioneer Kid Frost, who recommended Baby Bash – then called Baby Beesh – to Houston rapper South Park Mexican. The pair collaborated on Wiggy, a menacing gangsta track from SPM's 3rd Wish to Rock the World.

After his debut, Savage Dreams, on Dope House records, Baby Bash relocated his hustle to H-Town. It was the right move. His 2003 major label debut, The Smokin Nephew, and its follow-up, Super Saucy, each unleashed bona fide hits: Suga Suga, a silky smooth R&B joint with Frankie J, and Baby, I'm Back, a romantic jam featuring an up-and-coming singer named Akon.

A successful songwriter, Baby Bash has penned hit songs for Paula DeAnda (Doing Too Much) and Frankie J (Obsession). Now signed to J Records, his third album, Cyclone, is a star-studded affair featuring Paula DeAnda, Pimp C of UGK, Sean Kingston, Keith Sweat, Marcos Hernández, Jean and Aundrea of Danity Kane. With production by J.R. Rotem (The man behind this summer's monster hit, "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston), Timbaland protégé Ryan Tedder, Happy Perez and Feli Fell, Baby Bash may be releasing the sleeper hit of the winter.