Baby Keem Rolls the Dice with Energetic New Album 'Ca$ino'

It's been over five years since Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar's cousin and protégé, dropped his debut album, The Melodic Blue. Not long after, Keem and Kendrick teamed up to release a single and co-headlined Camp Flog Gnaw as The Hillbillies. After a period of relative quiet, Keem is back with his second album, Ca$ino, released today.

Ca$ino is a concentrated burst of energy – 11 tracks clocking in at 37 minutes, with a select few guest appearances. As anticipated, Kendrick Lamar makes an appearance, delivering a lighthearted verse on "Good Flirts," a funk-infused track about relationships that also features Infinity Song singer Momo Boyd. Keem showcases his vocals on this track. Kendrick raps about watching Sinners and admits, "Shit, I gossip with my bitch like I'm Young Thug, too." Elsewhere, Oakland rap pioneer Too Short and frequent Keem collaborator Che Ecru also contribute to the album.

Ca$ino navigates a variety of beat styles, leaning heavily into Baby Keem's signature, passionate delivery. While somewhat unfocused, the album remains engaging. There are notable highs, along with some questionable moments, such as the line in "Circus Circus Free$tyle" where Keem states, "I almost died when I took the vaccine/ I was gone for two years, down bad, reflecting." In "Birds & The Bees," he raps over a chipmunk-soul sample of Feist's "Honey Honey." Keem co-produced every track on the album, with contributions from producers like Danja, Sounwave, Cardo, and Ojivolta.

Baby Keem Rolls the Dice with Energetic New Album 'Ca$ino'

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