American rapper Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr, more known as “Baby Keem,” released his highly anticipated album, “Ca$ino,” on Feb. 20. This came after a five-year hiatus since his last and first studio album, “The Melodic Blue,” which was flowered with awards at the 64th Grammy Awards, winning “Best Rap Performance” for the song “family ties.” Baby Keem announced his tour centered around the album, which will begin April 15 and end June 7.
Baby Keem was born and raised in Carson, CA, and has had a lifelong interest in music. Carter began his rap career by releasing his own songs at age 15. He became well known for his wide range of music genres, which he blends together, including melodic rap, old-school beats and trap rhythms. Carter reached celebrity status in 2022 with the release of his first studio album, “The Melodic Blue,” which featured Grammy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar and nominee Travis Scott.
Shortly after the success of his first studio album, Baby Keem began dealing with mental health and personal issues that caused his five-year hiatus. Primarily, the passing of his grandmother and his mother’s struggles with rehabilitation caused him to take time away from the spotlight and focus on his mental health. Carter has credited this time for allowing him to find the right artistic direction for “Ca$ino” as he details these hardships with his family and traumatic experiences.
Baby Keem also continued his hands-on approach to production, building this new sonic landscape from his debut. While there are many songs on this album that show Carter’s talent through his emotional and vibrant vocal performances, a few notable tracks stand out among the rest.
The album begins with the second track, “Birds & the Bees,” which blends a melodic and catchy beat with a sample from the Canadian artist Feist. This complements the chorus in the back as well and creates a song that reels the audience in and encourages them to keep listening.
The album continues with “Circus Circus Freestyle,” which exemplifies what fans are accustomed to with Baby Keem’s music in the past. It brings that rowdy, high-energy feel that you hear in other Baby Keem songs, such as “Family Ties” and “Range Brothers.” The track also contains a unique beat switch that captivates the audience.
Another key song on the album is “Good Flirts,” featuring Kendrick Lamar and upcoming artist Momo Boyd. The track once again shines a light on the beauty that’s produced when Lamar and Carter join forces on a song.
As of March, “Ca$ino” by Baby Keem holds the number one spot on the charts for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums and is number four on the Billboard Top 100 chart. I highly recommend listening to this album because it is a great second studio album for an artist who is slowly becoming one of the top names in the R&B and hip-hop industry.
