On his first few releases, Atlanta rapper
Lil Keed's warbly, high-register style was borrowed directly from
Young Thug, making
Keed something of a
Young Thug protege; he was signed to
Thug's YSL label, had several collaborations with the more established rapper, and even grew up in the same apartment complex. On his lengthy studio debut,
Long Live Mexico,
Keed and a massive list of guests stretch out over 20 tracks, exploring more diverse styles than his sometimes-derivative earlier material.
Lil Keed's lyrical wit and somewhat ethereal personality shine best on airy tracks like "Oh My God" and "On Everything." Minimal production on these songs incorporates distant vocal fragments and even washed-out flute samples, offering a perfect backdrop for
Lil Keed's drifting, druggy style. This style stays intact when the energy gets turned up. The spare, eerie banger "Child" is made up of little more than an enormous, distorted 808-based beat,
Keed's manic flow, and a brief, gruff verse from
Moneybagg Yo. Likewise, the booming "Pull Up" includes frantic features from
YNM Melly and
Lil Uzi Vert, but the production stays vaporous and wide open. Most of
Long Live Mexico is strong, but with a 63-minute running time, several tracks fall short. The
NAV-assisted "Rockstar" is empty and toothless, and the production on the single "Proud of Me" feels out of place with its anthemic piano-chord stabs and overly positive melodic presence. When it's strong, however,
Long Live Mexico is excellent and alien. A few missteps break up the futuristic vibe, but the highlights point to
Lil Keed developing past the influences he wore all too transparently up until this release. ~ Fred Thomas