Lil Duke

Emerging from Atlanta, Georgia in 2015, this trap artist—distinct from the earlier gangsta rapper who shares his hometown—first gained notice as a protégé and close associate of Young Thug, founder of YSL. Early releases carried the names Duke, YSL Duke, and MPA Duke before he adopted the moniker Lil Duke by 2017. Between his self-titled 2015 project and the 2021 mixtape Duke Hefner, he issued a steady stream of tapes, often linking with figures such as Chris Brown and Trippie Redd on joint efforts.

Although Lil Duke ranked among YSL’s first signings, he had already joined Young Thug on tour dates before the label launched in 2016. Their joint cut “With That,” featured on the April 2015 mixtape Barter 6, marked an early breakthrough for both. Two further 2015 projects, Lil Duke and Hit Hard, Move Silent, were tracked before YSL existed yet later appeared under its imprint. In 2016 he dropped Uberman and Blue Devil, while another Young Thug collaboration, “Webbie,” surfaced on the Jeffery mixtape and accumulated millions of streams.

Life in the Hills arrived in 2017 alongside the follow-up Uberman 2; the next year brought a period of reduced activity. Renewed output in 2019 included contributions to Trippie Redd’s Billboard Top Three album ! plus standalone tracks with Guttaville Dough, Karlae, Lil Keed, and LoLife Blacc. The following year saw further momentum: Lil Duke joined Young Thug on Chris Brown’s commercial mixtape Slime & B, released additional singles with Hoodybaby and Snypa, and unveiled the solo pieces “So Different” and “Nobody on E,” both of which later surfaced on Duke Hefner.