Check Out The Real Li’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Real Li

Hi The Real LI, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m The Real LI and I’m an artist or more specifically a rapper from Ventura County, CA.

Being a fan of Hip-Hop since I was 9 or 10 is really how I got into the space. I started making my own music just by messing around on Audacity on a laptop in my garage when I was 15. I didn’t even have a real microphone to record on, I’d just record on the built-in laptop microphone. Since I didn’t know how to make beats, I’d remix popular rap songs. A few of the first ones I remember doing were 56 Nights by Future and Unlock the Swag by Rae Sremmurd.

That was in 2015 and it’s 2025 now, so I’ve had a decade in between my first experiences making music and where I am now. I’d describe how I got to where I am now by being persistent and really loving the craft. This isn’t an industry you can make it in if you don’t love it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. This music sh*t is hard man. I’ve had way more failures than successes. I almost quit a couple times. Most recently was back in 2023. I just felt hopeless and like I had lost direction.

I didn’t release a single song that year, but instead of quitting I focused on artist development. I realized I had to lock in because music is really all I’ve ever loved and I gotta make it happen one way or the other.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a rapper. I specialize in melodic rap and trap style music.

I’m known for making 2 types of songs:
1. Catchy melodic rap songs with hard hitting trap drums
2. Ambient “in your feelings” or emotional rap songs

I’m most proud of my versatility. I feel like there isn’t anything I can’t do, or a sound I can’t pull off. The thing that sets me apart is my storytelling and unique experiences nobody else can speak to. I put out a concept album called “The Black Sheep” in December 2024 and it address themes many modern rap songs don’t speak on. A few of them being how social media algorithms influence human relationships, how ambitious goals isolate one from everyday society, and how it feels to be consumed by dark spiritual energy.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My brother and photographer/videographer KeekersMedia deserves a lot of credit for helping bring my musical vision to life in visual form.

I’ve had a few people I’d consider mentors. One is Milwaukee rapper, Wave Chapelle who made me believe in my ability to make it in the music industry after we collaborated on an event for a Hip Hop Club I started in 2021 at Marquette University. He took the time to listen to my music and give me feedback after we connected. I still talk to him often via social media. Another mentor I had was an entrepreneurship professor named Elmer Moore. He really changed my life forever. Elmer understood me and my musical ambitions unlike any other educator I ever had. At a time where I was unsure which direction to take, he helped come up with ideas on how to market myself and to pursue creating content on TikTok. We worked together for a semester on what the best approach was for me to start my own record label.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/thereal_li
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/thereal_li
• Twitter: https://x.com/therealli_?s=21&t=aQJLcNqiWDkDlMWxD2vIbA
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thereal-li805?si=JtGxb7bA5oLIzOIp
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/8S64z7ccyk82VYBQA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereal_li

Image Credits
Keekers Media, Keenan Indra