When Lil Keed announced the title of his latest project, Long Live Mexico, he meant it as a tribute to one of his friends named Mexico who died earlier this year. Death has always been one of the driving forces of Keed's music, he probably wouldn't even be rapping today if another close friend to him named Lil Rudy hadn't died back in 2016. But since then, he's released three mixtapes, and Long Live Mexico which is his first studio album.
Clocking in at 20 tracks and over an hour long, this is Keed's longest project in terms of both the amount of tracks and overall length. But a diverse set of production and feature choices keep the album entertaining and avoid filler as a result.
The album's intro Ride The Wave, a track where Keed celebrates his accomplishments so far and proclaims his success by buying diamonds and flying across the globe, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Keed always sprinkled in braggadocio tracks and lines throughout his projects but this album is the most boastful he's ever been. His confidence shines through more than ever now, and as a result, gives himself a chance to experiment more with his delivery and production choices.
Keed is known for his high pitched delivery but he raps in a deeper register on tracks such as Oh My God, and on parts of Rockstar, HBS and Real Hood Baby. He sounds very comfortable switching between different deliveries and the newfound diversity in his delivery is refreshing to hear.
Million Dollar Mansion has Keed rapping over a Pi'erre Bourne beat for the first time and he has strong chemistry with fellow YSL rapper and mentor Young Thug. Pass It Out, another first time collaboration, this time with producer Metro Boomin, has Keed fitting effortlessly with the beat alongside his brother and fellow rapper Lil Gotit. Songs like HBS and On Everything have more stripped down production and Keed's notable high pitched delivery are at the forefront.
Keed not only has fantastic chemistry with Thug and Gotit but other rappers too, such as Moneybagg Yo on Child, Roddy Ricch on Dragon, Lil Uzi Vert and YNW Melly on Pull Up and Lil Duke and Gunna on Anybody. A majority of those collaborations are first time collaborations too, which makes these songs even more special.
The album ends with the endearing track Proud of Me, another collaboration with Young Thug. Keed and Thug are so exceptionally in tune with each other on this track that it's hard to distinguish their voices from one another on first listen. The track shouts out an Atlanta legend in Gucci Mane, as well as one of the more recent stars from Atlanta in Gunna. But this track, just like the rest of the album, proves that both the present and the future is bright for YSL's newest star, Lil Keed.
Final score: 8/10
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