CLIENT

Eddie Valero

“In the landscape of contemporary Memphis hip-hop, Eddie Valero’s trajectory is distinguished by his beat selection and narrative prowess. A fusion of street blues, Valero’s sound taps into Memphis’ rich musical legacy, while his lyrical narratives delve into the darker nuances of the city that shaped him. Valero is one of the few up-and-comers to not come under the musical trees of Three 6 Mafia, Yo Gotti or Young Dolph. His rise stands as a testament to his individual artistry and distinct contribution to the Memphis sound.” – HITS DD

“What you hear in my music is my neighborhood,” says Memphis rapper Eddie Valero. He’s talking about Orange Mound—America’s first Black subdivision, once second only to Harlem in its Black population. Built atop a former plantation, the area has a deep history, which Valero channels through his authentic and relatable music. “It’s like I’m telling my hood’s story,” he adds. After nearly a decade of dropping mixtape series like Until They Feel Me and Just For You, Valero is back with Gangsta Blues, out May 23. The high-octane project features production by Bandplay and features from Starlito and 8Ball—an Orange Mound legend. “This will get me to the next level,” says Valero.
Since the late 2010s, Eddie Valero has been pumping mixtapes throughout the South.

The second installment of Until They Feel Me 2 produced two major standouts: “Lero Bandplay,” a high-energy collabo with producer Bandplay that went viral on TikTok and Instagram as a soundtrack to Memphis Jukin’, and “Gifted Guy,” which quickly amassed millions of streams across YouTube and Spotify through organic fan support alone. Elsewhere, songs like “Rich and Cocky,” “All By Myself,” and “Flex N Go” offered diversified deliveries and production. Together, these tracks marked milestones in Valero’s independent rise. The artist forged a bond with his fans, who labeled his sound “gangsta blues,” inspiring the title of his biggest project to date. “My music is soulful. I want people to feel it before I say any words. I want to bring that sound back.”

“What you hear in my music is my neighborhood,” says Memphis rapper Eddie Valero. He’s talking about Orange Mound—America’s first Black subdivision, once second only to Harlem in its Black population. Built atop a former plantation, the area has a deep history, and Valero channels through his authentic and relatable music. “It’s like I’m telling my hood’s story,” he adds. After nearly a decade of dropping mixtape series like Until They Feel Me and Just For You, Valero is back with Gangsta Blues, out May 23. The high-octane project features production by Bandplay and features from Starlito and 8Ball—an Orange Mound legend. “This will get me to the next level,” says Valero.

8Ball & MJG were highly influential to Eddie. He remembers riding in his father’s Bronco listening to the hometown heroes, along with Tupac, Geto Boys, and Project Pat. When he was just eight, Eddie’s father went to prison, where he remains today. By 12, Valero started using music to speak his truth. “Whatever the streets didn’t teach us, I learned from my brother and mother.” His mom, who passed away in 2019, helped keep him grounded. “Staying out the way and focusing on music—that’s what changed my life,” says Eddie, now a father himself. “Me not going to jail? I already broke the cycle.”

By the late 2010s, Eddie Valero was pumping mixtapes throughout the South. Titles like Until They Feel Me that signaled the ambition behind his grind. In 2022, the second installment of that series produced two major standouts: “Lero Bandplay,” a high-energy collabo with producer Bandplay that went viral on TikTok and Instagram as a soundtrack to Memphis Jukin’; and “Gifted Guy,” which quickly amassed millions of streams across YouTube and Spotify through organic fan support alone. Elsewhere, songs like “Rich and Cocky,” “All By Myself,” and “Flex N Go” offered diversified deliveries and production. Together, these tracks marked milestones in Valero’s independent rise.

With each checkpoint, Eddie Valero had more music. “I understand the algorithm,” he notes. But quantity never compromised quality. “I take my time writing everything. It’s a form of art and therapy for me.” The artist forged a bond with his fans, who labeled his sound “gangsta blues,” inspiring the title. Lead single “Zombies” is the last song recorded—one Eddie made alone in his new studio. “New Edition” marks the latest example of Bandplay and ‘Lero chemistry, with the producer tailor-making a beat to a previously unreleased Eddie song. “For The Hood” celebrates Orange Mound with 8Ball and Eddie stylishly bridging generations. “For ‘Ball to embrace the younger generation and do a video with me means a lot to me and the ‘hood.” Gangsta Blues—which will have a deluxe edition to follow—also involves past collaborator Starlito. Eddie is joining ‘Lito and Don Trip on a 2025 tour, marking the latest link in a chain of greatness.

Eddie Valero is a proud product of his environment. “My music is soulful. I want people to feel it before I say any words. I want to bring that sound back to Hip-Hop.”