The Pensacola rapper delivers a meditative cut with an impassioned visual to match
Photo by @shotbytwilk
After recently inking a deal with Visionary Records, 24-year-old LBS Kee’vin is prepared to share his vision with the world. Since February, the Florida rapper has been showcasing his consistency through a slew of poignant singles like “Upper Hand”, “CD”, and “V12.” Encompassing grit with a perfect amount of melodic tendency, Kee’vin uses his latest track, “Thug Cry,” to tell a thought-provoking tale.
As fluttering pianos flirt with electric guitars courtesy of Drum Dummie’s production, the stage is set. Kee’vin starts off powerfully as he adopts the role of a narrator: “He just got the call that his brother was in a shootout, his girlfriend was hiding a baby he never knew ‘bout // He got his own son, how the fuck he gonna feed two mouths?” Soon enough, discreet hi-hats lead the percussion over intensifying strings for the chorus. “Can’t let ‘em see a thug cry, you lookin’ in a thug eyes,” he harmonizes, as the camera hones in on a stare of contemplation. While the subject matter gets heavy, Kee’vin’s energy remains uplifting. A luminous orange horizon sits above the cemetery as a backdrop, only adding further sentiment.
Cutting to the verse, Kee’vin aptly swaps harmonics for unconfined delivery. The focus shifts back to the story he’s telling, that of a man who is stuck in a life of violence and paranoia. The camera shifts from Kee’vin standing in the sunshine, to an unknown man pulling a mask over his face, pistol in hand, in the darkness of the nighttime. “He committed a robbery yesterday, but he don’t remember cuz’ he popped a bean // Down bad and his family strugglin’ everyday, no time for dreams.” As his words cut deeper, he recounts the harsh reality of life in the streets, proving escape is not easy.
Watch the video for “Thug Cry” below.