Lil Reese

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Lil Reese, real name Tavares Lamont Taylor, is an American rapper from the drill scene of Chicago. He was born in 1993 and grew up in the Englewood neighbourhood on the city's South Side, in a large family. His childhood was spent in a notorious high-rise complex, the Calumet Buildings, where he joined a gang at a young age. That milieu forms the background of drill, a hard, dark style of hip-hop from Chicago.

Music and breakthrough

His name became known through his guest appearance on I Don't Like by Chief Keef in 2012, which reached the Billboard Hot 100. The music videos Us and Beef followed. The producer No I.D., who had earlier worked on records by Common and Kanye West, noticed him. That led to a record contract. His debut mixtape Don't Like appeared in 2012. A remix of Us with Rick Ross and Drake appeared on Rick Ross's The Black Bar Mitzvah. He also worked with producers such as Young Chop. Later three EPs appeared, and the album Demon Time from 2022.

Influence

His contribution to pop history lies in the wave of drill music that came out of Chicago around 2012 and that linked the southern trap sound with raw, direct stories about street life. His calm, gritty voice became a recognisable feature of that scene.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2022Demon Time