Lil Derik’s Red Dragon is a three-track EP that distills focus, soul, and experience into a concise, potent statement. From the first notes of “Buick Lesabre,” it’s clear this is music that wants to breathe. Silky loops and warm instrumentation wrap around Lil Derik’s flow, giving his words space to land. Memory, reflection, and confidence sit side by side in his verses, creating a sense of intimacy that draws the listener in.
“Fall In Love,” expands the sonic palette with rich samples and organic grooves. Derik’s delivery shifts effortlessly between introspection and swagger, landing lines that are both vulnerable and commanding. It’s the track that lingers, the one that makes you hit play again to catch the nuance the first time around.
Finally, “Til Death Do Us Part” closes the EP with rising intensity. Every line carries weight, every note of the production enhances the emotion. It’s a track that feels cathartic not just for the artist but for anyone willing to sit with it, a reminder of what thoughtful, lived-in hip-hop can achieve in just a few minutes.
Red Dragon is a project that shows an artist who doesn’t need to fill space to prove himself. He’s focused, intentional, and deeply expressive, making every verse count.
After a year of festivals, co-headlining shows, and a standout freestyle on Connect The Dots, Lil Derik could rest on his momentum. Instead, he uses it to explore, reflect, and share music that feels intimate yet expansive. Red Dragon is a small collection of songs with a large impact, a snapshot of an artist moving through life, craft, and creativity with purpose.
Hailing from the South Side of St. Louis, Lil Derik has always moved between two worlds. By day he’s a substitute teacher and basketball coach; by night he’s one of the city’s sharpest independent hip-hop voices. Inspired by Rakim, 2Pac, OutKast, and Lil Wayne, he started rapping in high school and formed the collective More Than Music with his friends. In 2018, he released Huey vs. Riley: The Mixtape, a project that quietly became a local cult favorite. Since then, he’s built an impressive body of work including five solo albums, four collaborative projects, thirteen EPs, and countless singles, culminating in his 2025 studio album Enter The Dragon.
Listen to his new EP Red Dragon, produced by BREY10, here now:
