On Feb. 10. Baby Keem released his second studio album “Ca$ino.” This project comes almost five years after his critically acclaimed album “The Melodic Blue” debuted. “Ca$ino” has garnered a lot of attention surrounding its release. In its first week, it got 72,000 sales of album-equivalent units and debuted at number four on the billboard top 200, being Keem’s highest charting album to date.
In the weeks leading up to the album rollout, Keem released a three part documentary series following his early life called “Booman.” This series ties into the overarching theme of the album, being Keem’s childhood.
Hykeem Carter Jr., known professionally as Baby Keem, was born in Carson, California, however, grew up primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada. On “Ca$ino,” Keem opens up about his childhood, specifically growing up surrounded by violence, drug abuse and poverty. Each of these themes are referenced in “Ca$ino” and create an often dark and gritty atmosphere. However, he is also able to utilize high energy songs throughout the album.
This album has many songs that mirror Keem’s previous work, with bouncy drums, energetic 808’s and powerful vocals. However, it also sees major developments in Keem’s penmanship that are noticeable in songs like “I am not a Lyricist” and “No Blame,” that each feature mellow performances and depressing atmospheres. Keem also experiments with a more pop-oriented style seen in songs like “Dramatic Girl.”
“Ca$ino” also features a darker tone than “The Melodic Blue.” In many songs, Keem describes navigating complicated personal relationships with his family and learning how to grow from the often violent childhood life that he experienced.
His song “I am not a Lyricist” illustrates these themes perfectly. “I am not a Lyricist” has a simple beat, simple piano melody and gentle vocals which creates the perfect atmosphere for Keem’s writing to take center stage. The song follows Keem’s rough upbringing, with lyrics focused on being surrounded by drugs and violence throughout his youth. “I am not a Lyricist,”, while not the most flashy or energetic, is easily the lyrical highlight of the album. It has also been compared to music from legendary rapper Andre 3000 several times on social media, a comparison well deserved.
“Ca$ino” is the second and title track of the album and comes after the melodic and lyrically heavy song “No security.” “Ca$ino” has a high energy atmosphere with heavy 808’s, and is reminiscent of many songs off of “The Melodic Blue.” The contrast between “I am not a Lyricist” and “Ca$ino” highlight Keem’s growth as an artist and how he continues to improve his classic energetic style while still evolving his lyrics and melodies.
The 10th track on the album, “Dramatic Girl” employs another one of Keem’s song prototypes, that being pop-rap. With its very catchy melody, “Dramatic Girl”is easily one of the most fun songs on the album and is nothing short of a banger. This pop-oriented approach has been used previously by Keem, but never before has it felt like a defining trait of his style. This entirely flips on “Ca$ino”, however, where Keem expertly crafts catchy melodies. It is evident that he spent much of his time in the making of this album honing this aspect of his songwriting.
Keem’s cousin Kendrick Lamar is featured twice on the album on the songs “Good Flirts” and “House Money.” Lamar is one of the most influential rappers of the modern era and has cemented himself as a legend in the music community, however, these features are subpar. In both of his features, Kendrick is unable to carry the same energy as Keem making his contributions feel like they don’t fit. This duo has proven in the past that they can create amazing songs, making these features disappointing.
The 11th and last song of the album, “No Blame,” is the emotional climax of “Ca$ino.” This song navigates Keem’s complex and often strained relationship with his mother who, throughout her life, dealt with severe drug issues and homelessness. In the “Booman” documentary, Keem opens up about this relationship, which is part of the reason why this song feels so intense. Throughout it, Keem heavily insinuates that his mother was sexually assaulted as a young woman, leading to him ultimately not blaming her for her absence. Keem’s voice also makes the song feel like he is on the verge of tears, adding to its emotional weight. This tragic story feels like the primary source for many of Keem’s familial issues, and is a perfect way to end such a tense album.
After five years, “Ca$ino” feels like an appropriate evolution of Keem’s craft. The high energy moments are balanced with equally as somber ones and Keem immediately catches your attention on several songs, whether through his lyrics or performance. These amazing songs are occasionally interrupted by lackluster features or boring performances, which taint the album as a whole. However, it is still a memorable and enjoyable experience.
