Deebaby, a devoted student of Houston’s rich rap tradition, has spent his career building odes to his hometown and journey. Whereas his 2023 LP, Junkie Mode, dove into the underbelly of life in the rap lane, Can You Hear Me Now is a testament to his resilience, resolve, and willingness to keep grinding in this ultra-competitive world of hip-hop, even as he mourns the loss of friends and family. On “Memories Bring You Back,” which interpolates Maroon 5’s “Memories,” Dee bares his soul, remembering the days when he didn’t experience any pain because he numbed himself. Now, the wounds are deep but feeling nothing at all is even worse. Deebaby uses these stories to imbue his raps with palpable emotions. On “Chosen One,” which unfurls during one extended verse, the H-Town honcho lays out his whole philosophy, even when things are bleak: “Loyalty what I need, I don't run off cream.”