You Thought So!

Drive around Houston or Dallas and you’re bound to see the strategically placed billboard: “They Can’t Deport Us All,” it says, over a caricature of a man jumping a fence.

A political statement, to be sure, but also the title of the new album by Houston rapper Chingo Bling (real name Jose Herrera III). Regardless, the message has become fodder for conservative talk shows — whose debate has helped put Chingo Bling, who raps in English to Latin audiences, in the mainstream spotlight like never before.

“They Can’t Deport Us All,” released August 14, debuted at No. 11 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart and at No. 4 on the Heatseekers chart, selling 6,000 units in its opening week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The numbers aren’t monumental — but consider that Chingo Bling is mostly a local, underground phenomenon who has always produced, promoted and released his albums independently.

Although his past solo effort, 2004’s “Tamale Kingpin,” sold 17,000 copies, according to SoundScan, “They Can’t” marks his first appearance on the Billboard charts.

As tempting as it may be to attribute this showing to the controversy, there are a number of other factors behind it.

For years, Chingo Bling has been releasing mixtapes out of the back of his truck, touting himself with infinite self-confidence, in keeping with his 10-gallon hat and ostrich boots.

From his Big Chile Enterprises offices in Houston, he presides over his own record label and a distribution company that sells his music and other indie releases along with a slew of merchandise, from bobblehead dolls to T-shirts and chili sauce. His major outlets are the Internet, swap meets and mom-and-pop stores that for years he has served personally.

“We like to call it the underground,” Chingo Bling says. “And the underground is very, very big.”

Chingo Bling’s core circuit is Texas, but nationally he does what he calls “the Taco circuit,” playing wherever there are Mexicans.