On 27 August, 2021 the song “Family Ties” was released, announcing to the world Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s relationship as cousins. The song was a massive success going viral on social media platforms. It was a single to Keem’s studio album “The Melodic Blue” released on 10 September, 2021. After the album was released, Keem didn’t say much about another album for a while and proceeded to go on a five year hiatus from making any music. On 20 February, 2026 “Ca$ino” was released. On the album, Keem was able to catch everyone up on what he’s been up to and even go deeper into his past.
The album opens with a track titled “No Security”. On this song Keem comes in with his voice immediately sounding deeper with a more mature cadence to the way he raps. He dives into the events that have happened since his last album like his uncle Andre passing away. He explains that he felt guilty because he could have helped with his newfound wealth. This song sets the tone for the album with Keem being very vulnerable, explaining that his hiatus was caused by loss, pressure in the limelight, and feeling uninspired.
“No Security” ends with the sound of a spinning wheel in a casino which transitions into the sound of a slot machine at the beginning of the second track, “Ca$ino”. This track was produced by Cardo and is very upbeat but still vulnerable in Keem’s lyrics. He revealed the passing of his grandma on this song. On “The Melodic Blue” he talked a lot about his grandma raising him while his mom was absent due to drug abuse. This was clearly a huge driving force to Keem’s absence the past five years.
The third track “Birds & the Bees” is easily one of the best on the album with a very catchy chorus and infectious beat. The song has an upbeat feeling and talks about Keem’s romance with a girl.
From one romantic cut to another, track four is titled “Good Flirts” and features Kendrick Lamar and Momo Boyd. The first collaboration between Keem and Lamar since the cousins released “The Hillbillies” on 30 May, 2023. The track is reminiscent of an R&B song with Boyd’s beautiful chorus throughout. Lamar begins his verse interpolating Common’s “The Light” and raps about his love for his partner. He mentions that he is “in the house with it watching ‘Sinners’”. “Sinners” (2025) was one of the most successful and well received movies of last year and is nominated for 16 Oscars this year. The most nominations for any film in history beating “Titanic” (1997). The film is directed by Ryan Coogler who also directed “Black Panther” (2018) which Lamar did the soundtrack for.
Track five, “House Money” is a hard hitting song with yet another Kendrick Lamar feature. Keem and Lamar rap about their spot in the hip-hop industry with Lamar saying “Powered up, who gon’ stop me?” solidifying his spot in the game. Keem’s verses are confident and Lamar’s chorus intense.
The sixth track, “I am not a Lyricist” is a very beautiful classic hip-hop song with Keem flowing over a mellow but complex beat. Keem goes further into his history and explains that when he raps, he does it for himself. It is apparent Keem treats music as therapy with him being able to open up through his pen. He explains it is very easy to write when it comes from his heart, hence the title of the song.
Track seven is an homage to the California hip-hop scene, featuring Too $hort. Keem and $hort flex their boisterous attitudes over an amazing bay area inspired beat.
“Highway 95 pt.2” is the eighth track and also my personal favorite. Keem provides a certain feeling of a broken child always on the run, never being able to trust anyone. He gets very deep into his upbringing in this song and is the most vulnerable he has ever been. The chorus is amazing and perfectly sets up the story he tells in the song. He raps about driving down the highway 95 and somehow keeps a consistent tone that makes you feel as if you are speeding down the highway in a place of pain.
Track nine, “Circus Circus Free$tyle” is a fun rap song with clever verses and exciting beat switches. The song starts out with a confident Keem until he eventually reveals more details about his family dynamic growing up. The track stays a consistent tone but still weaves into the themes of the album.
The tenth track “Dramatic Girl” is very fun but unfortunately not up to par with the rest of the material on the album. As a song alone it works and could be played on the drive to the beach but it feels very different from the rest of the album. It sets you up for shell shock when you go into the last song.
The final track entitled, “No Blame” is a somber and vulnerable song about Keem forgiving his mother for her actions and being absent. He tries very hard while talking about the things his mom did to not let it turn to resentment. It is a wonderful close to the album, wrapping up this feeling of a lingering pain from his childhood.
Overall, “Ca$ino” is an amazing return to the industry by Baby Keem. It is so clear how much he is evolving and maturing in all facets of his work, proving he is more than “Kendrick Lamar’s cousin”.
4.5 Pomegranate seeds
