Key! to the Game

“Hello!?” Why Won’t the industry answer his call?

“Famous” (2018)

The exclamation point that Key! attaches to his brand perfectly reflects the excitement that his music emanates. Anyone with their fingers on the pulse of hip hop, whether consciously or not, has come across Fat Man Key. His impact on Atlanta’s underground scene cannot be understated. Yet, with Atlanta’s reputation for catapulting artists to the mainstream, it is curious why Key!’s name is not universally known.

“I want more money than fame!” Key exclaimed on New Money in 2017.

The first thought that comes to mind when exploring Key!’s underground status is that he wants to be underground. His laid back persona, although it contrasts with the bravado in his music, may be more consistent with neighborhood stain than hollywood fame.

“It’s Fat Man Key I wrote the game,” Key! boasted in 2016 on Street Fighter.

The second thought is that Key! is comfortable writing for other artists. It doesn’t take a deep dive into his music to recognize how imaginative Key!’s lyrics and song structures are. His ability to live between pop-friendly medleys and haughty, antagonistic bars makes him the perfect pen for other artists.

“Today I’m gone let my lil n*gga get some work.” Key! told us on Information in 2015 that he was not selfish with his shine.

The third suggestion as to Key!’s underground status is his inclination to put others on. In 2015, I bought tickets for a show where Post Malone and 21 savage opened up for Key!. In the same year, I gave my first ear to Playboi Carti on Key!’s soundcloud page (Too Much Dope). These three artist’s leapfrogging over Key! into superstardom says everything about his OG yet incognito status.

Key! to the Game.

Key! will likely never see the Grammy’s or the RIAA certifications that his peers have seen. As fans, we should embrace this. Some of the magic in our music fandom comes from the idea of our favorite artists being sheltered from the mainstream media. Even after almost a decade, we still feel refreshed every time we hear Fat Man’s voice. When all is said and done, the real will recognize all of the doors that Key! has unlocked.