Lil Keed, the Atlanta-born rapper signed to Young Thug’s Young Stoner Life label, has died, representatives for the artist confirmed to Complex and XXL. “Can’t believe I seened u die today bro,” Keed’s brother and fellow rapper Lil Gotit wrote on Instagram. “I did all my cries. I know what u want me to do and that’s go hard for Mama, Daddy, Our Brothers, Naychur, and Whiteboy #ImaHoldthisShitDown.” No cause of death has been revealed. Lil Keed was 24 years old.
Born Raqhid Jevon Render on March 16, 1998 in Atlanta, Georgia, Lil Keed was the fifth of seven children, one of whom is Lil Gotit. When he was 16 years old, Lil Keed decided to pursue a rap career after his close friend’s death in 2016. “He ain’t even lived no type of life and it got took away. It opened my eyes up like, I gotta do something different. Can’t go out like that,” he told The Fader.
Lil Keed’s biggest inspiration was Young Thug, his fellow neighbor-turned-international rap star. In 2018, Young Thug took Keed under his wing when he had just two mixtapes to his name and signed him to Young Stoner Life. “He made it out the same exact spot I’m in. Walking the same streets, doing the same things. It just means I have to perfect my craft big time ’cause I know who I’m up under,” Lil Keed told The Fader at the time. Later in 2018, Keed released his mixtapes Trapped on Cleveland 2 and Keed Talk to ’Em via YSL and 300 Entertainment.
In 2019, Lil Keed released his debut studio album, Long Live Mexico, continuing to step out of Young Thug’s shadow and make a name for himself. The following year, he released his second LP, Trapped on Cleveland 3, and was named to the XXL Freshman Class of 2020. He’s since gone on to collaborate with Thug, Lil Yachty, Gunna, O.T. Genasis, and more on new singles.
After hearing the news of his death, artists including Drake, Rick Ross, Quavo of the Migos, Lil Yachty, and Father have paid tribute to Lil Keed on social media.
Lil Keed’s death also follows the recent arrests of Young Thug and Gunna, who were charged in a state indictment that accused YSL of being a “criminal street gang.” Keed was not arrested or named in the indictment.
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