Legendary Houston rapper Lil Keke was awarded one of the nation's most prestigious awards at the Exclusive Palace Reception Hall in South Park, Houston, Texas, Friday (April 29). Keke, born Marcus Edward, was given the gold sealed President's Volunteer Service Award, signed and delivered by Obama himself. 

“In my Inaugural Address, I stated that we need a new era of responsibility – a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our Nation, and the world. These are duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult task,” The certificate reads before it's salutation is signed, Barack Obama. “Your volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise.”

The award, which was established by then President George HW Bush and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, has acknowledged citizens for participating in the well being of their communities, since 2003. The honor is awarded to citizens of all ages, with adults needing to accumulate at least 500 hours of volunteer service. Lil Keke was granted a certificate from the Life Time Achievement category of the award for his contributions to the United States National Committee for UN Women [an entity for equality and women's empowerment]. He was one of 4,527 honorees across 50 states.

Lil Keke is most famously remembered as one of the members of the legendary Screwed Up Click. Through their work under the production of the late DJ Screw they popularized the chopped and screwed technique that everyone from Grammy Award winning producers, to people posting Youtube videos still use today.

Source: theboxhouston.com