If you’ve been into the unique acts coming out of Atlanta, then you’ve might of came across Key! The 23 year old rapper’s been featured on two of the biggest songs looming on the internet, with even one getting radio play. But while Key!’s been consistently dropping verses, he’s also been doing it his own way without the all of the hype. “I’m not into the scene, the gossip, or the hype goin’ on” Key! tells The Odd Side, “If I get caught up in the hype, that s###*t will take me away from what I do”. From that, he manifests in success as prospect of Atlanta’s local rap scene.
In the past Key! was in Two-9, a 6-man group co-founded by him and friend Curtis Williams. The group was successful, but Key! was thinking about going solo. “It was on my mind for about two years” says Key!, “But then sh*t got more serious, paperwork got involved…I [didn’t] want to move like that, I wanted to move by myself .”
While the former Two-9 co-founder left the group, and Two-9 itself signed a deal with MikeWillMadeIt’s Eardruma records, Key! has acquired a lot of attention being solo. He dropped a verse on Father’s popular song “Look At Wrist” and collaborated on the viral hit “U Guessed It” with OG Maco. Key!’s even done work with recent OVO Sound member, ILoveMakonnen. The relationships he’s made on these upcoming prospects were all built far before all of the hype these artists have. “Look At Wrist” was the positive results of Key! meeting Father through ILoveMakonnen.
Key! might be a rising artist coming out the ATL, but he remains humble and a symbol of his roots. It’s seen in his musical style. While the rapper drops music,Key! plans to go find himself while he does it.
Key! is one of the “ATLiens On a Next Level Come Up” mentioned earlier this month. He released the collaborative project FKeyI with ATL production duo, FKI. Look out for the re-release of “Fathers Are The Curse”, on of his favorite tapes. Check his music out below: