“Y.A.G.I spoke volumes about all the work I put into myself and the music culture I represent,” Lil Kesh, born Keshinro Ololade, tells Apple Music of his arresting 2016 debut album. With high-octane beats, quick-fire Yoruba raps and an undeniable relatability, Y.A.G.I became a classic body of work in the Indigenous Nigerian hip-hop scene. Operating in the corridors between mainstream critical approval and acceptance by fans, the celebratory essence of the album struck a chord. “It bred positivity,” Lil Kesh says, “and stood up for the streets.”
As a product of the YBNL pipeline, Kesh fashioned a style that bred a combination of uptempo hits and rags-to-riches anthems. Alongside head honcho Olamide, Chinko Ekun, Phyno, Ycee, Wale, Patoranking, Davido and Adekunle Gold, the Bariga-born rapper oscillated between themes relating to his times of strife, his rise and his triumphs. The enduring romance of “Is It Because I Love You” and “For You” meet the percussive “Semilore”, which narrates the come-up, before “Ishe” and “Igba Iponju” take the appreciative and introspective routes, respectively. It's this balance between the inward and outward that encapsulated the appeal of Y.A.G.I, and with hints of fuji, Afrobeats and R&B dotted throughout the album, Lil Kesh further localised the rags-to-riches story in both his sonic and thematic approach.