After three intense rounds of competition, Fresh Empire’sNew Wave contest has finally crowned its winner.
The lineup was particularly tight, as any of the six original rappers—Nasaan, Kodie Shane, Lil Key, Havi, Mark Battles, and Unghetto Mathieu—are talented enough to carry the title. But in the end, it was up to you, the voters, and you made your voices heard.
So, without further ado, Fresh Empire and Complex are proud to announce that this year’s leader of The New Wave is…
This is one dude who’s not only mad talented, but also firmly embodies Fresh Empire’s message of keeping it fresh and living tobacco-free. Born and raised in Baltimore, Key first gained notoriety when he dropped his debut album My Life Volume1. But before he was ever in the spotlight, Key struggled as a child with a condition that severely limited movement of his right arm. Key didn’t let that stop him, though, and was already making and uploading his own rap videos to YouTube by the time he was 12 years old. This is one tenacious artist we’re talking about, and because of his own personal experiences, he remains devoted to helping his peers who suffer from injuries and disabilities pursue their dreams.
When asked about Fresh Empire, Key says, “I ride with Fresh Empire because it’s dope. Living tobacco-free, that’s my style, I’m not with tobacco. As an artist, you can't really be doin' those type of things 'cause you need that stamina and that energy to perform, to deliver on a track.” He added, “I wanna change the game and let people know: you can be positive and still be popular. You know, you don't have to be a negative rapper. You can still be positive.” The former contestant on ‘The Rap Game’ positively concluded with, “And that's one thing that I feel as though Fresh Empire pushes with the hip-hop side of it. So that's why I ride with Fresh Empire and live tobacco-free.”
It’s that rare combination of talent and positivity that makes Lil Key stand out from the rest. And now, he’s about to set off on a Fresh Empire Tour as the crowned leader of The New Wave. Be sure to check the dates here to find out if he’ll be hitting up a city near you.
You can hear more from Lil Key by clicking here now and following @FreshEmpire. Remember, keep it fresh and live tobacco-free!
