Lil Keke is one of those staples that the legends are true about. He is exactly who you think he is in real life. Lil Keke is honestly one of those cool people to hang around with, you know the saying, “I can see myself having a drink or a smoke with this person”? Keke is that type of guy! I remember when I first learned about Lil Keke, It was through my cousin David Anderson, one of the owners of Off The Record (a little bit about that later). David is a collector and holder of one of the greatest Screw tape collections I have ever seen. At the time when these tapes were popular, I was just a young kid playing probably playing “WWF ATTITUDE” “Sonic 2” or trying to learn what the hell Bone Thugs were saying in their songs. It was a summer when my cousin David came to visit us when my brothers and I got our first Southside fades. According to our mother, we looked like plucked chickens. My cousin Dave or as you guys may know him DA or DATHREE is legit the coolest person I know. So if he thought it was cool I wanted to think it was cool and Keke was cool to him. A young Ambitious DA booked Lil Keke for his first concert that he and his production team put together. I believe this concert was at church and as the legend is told, Keke came through, held it down showed love to the people and Ball-n-shook (think of Ball-n-shook as an Iverson crossover and leaving)
Years later when I threw my first concert, I knew I had to have Keke to headline. I gained his contact information and asked him if he would he perform for the Houston TREND Summer Jam that we did at the Last Concert Café, and as the legend was told to me, He came through, held it down, showed love to the people and Ball-n-shook.
When I first came to know that Lil Keke was performing Off The Record, I was excited. More excited than I was for Scarface…..
I know..
I know..
People out there reading that may be saying that’s blasphemous!
How would you be more hype for Keke than you would be for Scarface?!
Scarface is your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper!
I get it, but understand that at pivotal moments in my life, Keke’s music was there. When I graduated, we played “It’s Going Down”. When my cousin Jermaine married Cecilia we played the and did the “Southside” at the wedding. These days it’s common to freestyle to your newlywed at the reception. You can say that Lil Keke had a part in that as well. I remember being hype and losing my mind when I first heard “Platinum In Da Ghetto” on the radio. Lil Keke is the definition of Southside Houston.
Lil Keke performing in an intimate setting with a live band was something I just had to see and had to hear. I had to be present.
I pulled up to the venue early because, in my mind, I knew that this was going to be a madhouse later. I first arrive downtown to the usual, “fuck where is some good parking” routine. After about 15 minutes of driving around, I secure a spot on San Jacinto almost across from Off The Record. Before I get out of the car I played “Pimp Tha Pen” from “3 N The Mornin’ Part 2” for the one time. “I’m draped up and dripped out knowumtombout!” While enjoying a Big Slim preroll from Gas Gods. The vibe was perfect.
When I first walked into the venue I was greeted by the most delightful Terri Thomas. She has been working closely with Steve Rogers and his Legends series and was getting things prepared for the night to come. I always enjoy speaking with TT. You will always walk away with something positive. After a brief conversation with her, I pull out my camera and start capturing the moments as I see them happening. DJ Hi-C and Keke are running through sound check and getting the speakers adjusted to the perfect volume. DJ Mav and his staff are running the wiring and projector. The camera crew is setting up (I wonder if they are going to post the full performance somewhere?) Things are getting in place for doors to open.
After I enjoy some Franks Pizza, the time was upon us. I stood outside with my camera patiently waiting for Don Ke’s arrival. Appropriately, he arrives in a classic Houston Oilers throwback with the brim to match. Cameras and crew follow him inside the venue. Keke looked like the legit star that he is.
What makes this particular concert that much better is what Off The Record is doing is quietly dropping concerts like an overnight Beyoncé album. The mystique that nobody knows about them until the day of is a wild concept to me and I love it. I love the idea of the secret concerts happening with a tiny desk feel.
When Scarface did his concert he did his because tiny desk performance. It felt a little more intimate. He was down on the floor with the people. The band was behind them in the sections. Everything was at eye level. This was a significant change between his and Lil Keke’s. Keke was raised above the crowd with a stage that was brought in. Making it less intimate. However, once the show got underway the classics were just coming out.
Now, I’m not sure if my expectation for a slower pace performance took me aback from the much faster pace. I felt that a person’s music that I have listened to mostly slowed down would have had a performance that was a bit slower paced. The performance was a bit more up-tempo than I thought it would be. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy myself and have a good time. I did. As a matter of fact, DJ Supastar standing behind me losing her mind each time he did a new song made me have that much more fun.
Jack Freeman got on that stage and showed Houston why he is today’s King of R&B (I’m calling him that, feel free to do the same). Not many people to me right now can make songs like him that make you feel. That’s what I feel that is missing in a lot of music these days. Jack Freeman’s voice makes you feel every emotion he is pouring into his words. They closed the night with a massive toast with everybody in the building and then we sang a crowd-wide Happy Birthday song to Keke.
This was one of those nights when I went home full of gratitude and thankfulness. I got to experience something really special that evening.
Just as we thought it was about to end Z-Ro got on stage and performed Mo City Don, a perfect close out to a good night.
All Photos taken by :: Elliot Guidry
