Things That Fade

Lil Keke was one of a handful of rappers responsible for the popular resurgence of Houston hip-hop in the late ‘90s. His 1997 hit “Southside” may have borrowed its bass line from Whodini’s Brooklyn-repping electro rap classic “Friends," but Keke’s neighborhood pride made the tune a Houston anthem and rocketed Keke to the forefront of the city’s rap scene. Over the next decade and a half, Keke proved to have a tireless work ethic, recording a half-dozen official full-lengths and innumerable mixtapes and cutting notable collaborations with local veterans like Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Big Hawk. Keke’s deep ties in the Houston scene and his refusal to slacken his pace have ensured that his albums are invigorating listens well into the ‘00s. Heart of a Hustla, Keke’s sixth full-length, is a reliably solid effort and features impressive turns from Houston veterans like Z-Ro, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and others.