Lil' Keke

Marcus Lakee Edwards, born on 29 March 1976, is better known as Lil' Keke, an American rapper with deep Houston roots. He is an original member of the Screwed Up Click, a Southern hip hop collective, and his career began in the mixtape circle around DJ Screw, with whom he first worked. Those roots run through everything that followed, from his first national attention to the label deals and civic honours that came later.

His breakthrough came with "Southside" from the 1997 release Don't Mess Wit Texas, which brought him national attention. In 2005 he signed with Swishahouse Records, whose label president and A&R T. Farris told HitQuarters that he is a legend in Houston and has been central to the style of rap the label makes there. In 2016 President Barack Obama honoured him with an award for community service in the Houston area. Both moments mark him as more than a recording artist.