“This album is going platinum,” Lil Keed confidently tells Complex. The 22-year-old Atlanta rapper is talking about his forthcoming project, Trapped on Cleveland 3, which arrives this Friday. It’s not unusual for a rapper to bet on himself, but for Keed, this album is extra personal. He reveals this will be the final chapter of the Trapped on Cleveland series, and he’s hoping to go out with a bang.
It’s been two years since Keed dropped the first Trapped on Cleveland mixtape, and a lot has changed since then. He says this album, which was recorded in his home studio, afforded him enough time and space to tap into his own sound. He insists there is a song for every type of fan and vibe. But the real takeaway is that this project will show his growth as an artist and as a man.
“Back then, I was talking about stuff like typical rappers: shooting, killing, just saying shit because that’s what everybody wanted to hear,” he explains. “Now that I done grew from all that and I done moved myself out of that situation, I’m just letting folks know why I was so trapped on Cleveland, as far as me going to the hood everyday and all the shootouts.”
Accompanying the album is a short film, which Lil Keed instructs fans to watch prior to listening to the music. The film will give more insight into the rapper’s lifestyle behind the scenes: how he spends his mornings, activities he enjoys with his daughter, and more.
The YSL signee has been picking up game from Young Thug for years—his mentor has specifically given tips about the importance of saving money—but now he’s establishing himself as a fully-formed star in his own right. Keed speaks highly of his loyal fanbase, with whom he has developed a close relationship with over the years—he recently hung out with a group of them by the lake—but it’s his daughter who he dedicates all of his hard work to.
At the time of the interview, Keed is waiting to pick her up from school. But before he leaves, he tells Complex all about his upcoming project and more. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.
You dropped Trapped On Cleveland 2 in 2018. Why the two-year gap between projects?
If you was to go listen to all my Trapped on Cleveland albums, they each show my growth. But what was so crazy, is them [first] two was mixtapes. This is going to be an album. So around them times, I wasn't big like I am now. I was just putting out music and going for what I know. Like I said, if you go back and just listen to them, you see the growth and how my bars got better and my wordplay got better. This is going to be the last I do the Trapped on Cleveland anyway, so I wanted to make sure this was big. I dig deep into my story and let everybody see what I went through, how I came up, and give them an insight on my life.
Can you go into more detail about how you’ve grown over the last few years?
Back then, I was talking about stuff like typical rappers: shooting, killing, just saying shit because that's what everybody wanted to hear. I was just talking about the stuff that happened in the streets and stuff around me. Now that I done grew from all that and I done moved myself out of that situation, I’m letting folks know why I was so trapped on Cleveland, as far as me going to the hood every day and all the shootouts. I just had to move myself out of the situation to better myself and my family.
What were your goals going into this project?
To get my first platinum album and get it early. This album is going platinum. I already said it.
What was the writing and recording process like?
The recording process is crazy. I would still rap, but I got a home studio, so I wasn’t in no big studio recording none of these songs. I recorded all these songs at my house. I was more comfortable just being at home and not having to watch my back at other studios. A lot of stuff be going on in Atlanta studios anyway, so I was in a better environment. I was in a safer environment. I felt comfortable. I can record, go next door to my room, and go to sleep. I could drink and won't have to be all drunk in public and shit. I was comfortable at home in my space, in my zone. That played a big part in this album, Trapped on Cleveland 3.
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