Voices from the Prairies: D.B. Unfiltered

Name: Donald Baker

Talent Name: D.B.

Location: North Battleford,

Saskatchewan

Instagram: @db_Verified

Category: Songwriter / Rap Artist

Introducing D.B. — a hip-hop artist and lyricist from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, where every corner holds stories of resilience and survival.

My sound is shaped by pain, purpose, and perseverance — the kind you don’t just talk about, you live through. I started writing as a way to cope — to process addiction, grief, and trauma that nearly swallowed me whole. But over time, it became more than survival. Music gave me direction. It gave me a voice. Now, every bar I write is rooted in truth, and every track is a reminder: no matter where you’re from or what you’ve been through, there’s power in turning struggle into something that speaks.

THE PASSION

" They say I’m a vibe but this ain’t just noise, it’s therapy through a mic, I’m just healing alright "

My passion was born from pain — from the weight I carried and the people I couldn’t save. Friends lost to suicide, overdose, and misdirection still echo through every verse I write.

I’ve always felt a pull to speak the truths others keep buried. When life gets heavy — and it does — I remind myself why I started: For the ones who can’t speak. For the ones still trying to find a way out of the dark.

Hailey: Who do you look up to & why?

I look up to the ones who turned their lives around without losing their heart in the process. Not just celebrities — I’m talking about the homies who got clean, the single moms who didn’t fold, and the friends who stayed, even when I wasn’t someone worth staying for. And honestly? I look up to God. No lie. There were moments I shouldn’t have made it through… but I did. That wasn’t luck — that was grace.

| TUNNEL VISION |

Hailey: Does growing up in North Battleford offer any kind of support for those facing tough situations?

Support? Honestly — not enough. North Battleford is a tough place. A lot of people don’t make it out. You lose friends to addiction, suicide — it’s real out here.

What it does give you is perspective. If you make it through, you carry a different kind of strength. There’s some community, sure, but most of us had to build our own support systems — piece by piece. And when someone truly cares, you feel it. Out here, those people shine like gold.

Hailey: What was the initial struggle that sparked your journey?

Addiction. Anger. Loss. I was losing people I loved and looking in the mirror, not liking who I had become. That was the spark — realizing I was throwing away everything good in my life. It was either change… or become just another name on a T-shirt.

I hit a point where I was done being the reason for my own downfall. That pain? It became fuel. And from that moment on, I started fighting back.

Hailey: When you're writing a song, do you need to be in a certain mental space?

Absolutely. I don’t force it — I have to feel what I’m writing. Sometimes that means revisiting old wounds or moments I tried to leave behind, because that’s where the truth lives. Other times, it’s about getting quiet enough to let something real rise to the surface.

I write best when I’m in that headspace where I’m not just thinking — I’m feeling. Fully. Letting every part of my past speak through the pen.

COMMUNITY & CANADIAN PRIDE

Being a Canadian creative means carrying my roots with pride — even when they’re cracked. I represent the unheard voices of the Prairie West, the overlooked places, and the people who often get left behind.

Canada is diverse, raw, and real — and I’m proud to be one of the artists carving out space for the ones who live in the margins, for the ones who deserve to be seen, heard, and respected.

BUILDING THE DREAM

One of my proudest moments was dropping my 7th project, Beyond Belief. It proved to me that consistency matters more than hype. Every message I get from someone who felt seen or heard through my music reminds me: I’m not just making tracks — I’m walking the right path.

NETWORKING SPOT

I’m always down to collaborate with Canadian creatives who keep it authentic — whether it’s a soulful R&B vocalist from Toronto or a raw spoken word artist out of Vancouver.

I’m especially open to genre-blending collabs that shine light on mental health, recovery, and real-life resilience. If you’re making something real, I’m listening.

Anything else you’d like to include?

If you’ve been through hell and kept walking — your story matters.

I’m not here for the trends — I’m here for the truth.

Let’s keep building something real. For us, by us. Always.