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LI RYE
LI RYE
It takes a certain grit to make it out of Mobile, AL. With a population just shy of 200,000 people, its denizens often find themselves stuck in “The Port City” for generations beset by a high crime rate and minimal opportunities. Nevertheless, Li Rye lifts himself beyond the boundaries of his hometown through unfiltered storytelling, unnerving bars, and undeniable melodies. Rather than accept the limitations of his surroundings, the rapper consistently aims much higher. Generating millions of streams and views on his own and landing a deal with Gucci Mane’s The New 1017, he amplifies the voice of his city on his 2023 debut and much more to come.
“Mobile is really rough,” he states. “We’ve got more projects than suburbs. Not too many people can say, ‘I made it out of Mobile’. So, it’s a blessing when they do.”
Music always offered a refuge. At four-years-old, he watched his father head to prison. Around the house, his stepdad played the likes of Lil Wayne and Chief Keef. At the same time, Li Rye fell in love with R&B and soul icons such as Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and Marvin Gaye. “That old vibe of melodies and notes hits your body differently,” he says. “If you hear the right song, it’ll change your day.”
With his stepdad locked up, he turned to the streets post-high school. During 2021, he dropped his Emotional Demon EP and stirred up buzz. He increased his momentum with 2022’s Punch In. The title track “Punch In” clocked over 402K YouTube view, while “EST FLOW” reeled in another 1.5 million YouTube views. Meanwhile, DJ Booth hailed him as one of “10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now On Audiomack.” His music made its way to Gucci Mane who promptly signed him to The New 1017.
“He’s from Alabama, and I’m from Alabama,” he smiles. “He’s so big I never thought something like this would happen. If I go to my uncle’s house, if I’m in traffic, if I’m at the barbershop, or wherever I am, somebody is listening to Gucci Mane! He’s relatable to me. We understand each other.”
Shortly after signing to the ATL music mogul, Rye joined forces with Gucci Mane on “Too Many” from the knockout collaborative mixtape, So Icy Boyz: The Finale. His incisive and infectious flow fires up the track punctuated by raw spirit.
Since then, the Mobile native has been prolific with his music releases. Last summer, Rye released his mixtape Go Li Rye, in three parts, accompanied by multiple videos and singles that garnered millions of views and streams such as “Rental Cars” and “I Don’t Respond (First Day Out).” Rye’s tape Barely Living followed, leading up to the release of his debut album Li Rye vs. Li Reezy in December of 2023. And most recently, Rye released his mixtape Overkill.
“I feel like I was born to do this shit,” he goes on. “Everything comes from the heart, so I just let it out.”
Li Rye continues to make Mobile proud by telling a true story without holding back in his music.
“If you listen to my music, I try to put emotion in my words,” he leaves off. “You don’t just hear it; you feel it. Whatever you’re going through or experiencing, I’ve got a song for it.”
