Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Lil’ Keke remained a prolific independent force, issuing a steady stream of solo and collaborative albums—“The Commission” (1998), “It Was All a Dream” (1999), “Platinum in da Ghetto” (2001), and “Loved by Few, Hated by Many” (2008), among others. He also appeared on influential regional releases by fellow Screwed Up Click members and affiliates like Slim Thug, Big Pokey, and E.S.G. In 2005, he signed with Swishahouse Records, further extending his reach in the Southern hip-hop landscape. Keke’s reputation as a local legend was cemented in 2016 when he received a Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama for his community outreach efforts in Houston. Since then, he has continued releasing music consistently. Notable recent studio albums include “Lgnd” (2022), “25 Summers” (2023), “Can’t Rain Forever” (2024), and “Legend Hotel” (2025). Beyond recording, Lil’ Keke is credited with popularizing “713 Day”—an annual Houston celebration held on July 13 that honors the city’s area code and hip-hop culture. Though he never achieved the mainstream chart dominance of some Southern peers, his enduring legacy rests in his foundation-setting role in Houston rap, his influence on successive generations of rappers, and his status as a restless creative force who continues to work with independence and authenticity into the mid-2020s.