Lil Keke gained national underground love with his track “Southside” from his 1997 release “Don’t Mess Wit Texas”. In 2005, Lil' Keke signed to Swishahouse Records. In an interview with HitQuarters at the time, label president and A&R T. Farris said, “He is a legend here in Houston. He plays a big role in the whole style of rap that we make down here.” Lil' Keke started out working alongside DJ Screw doing mixtapes.