Baby Keem Hits No. 1
Baby Keem's *Ca$ino* debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with 72,000 units first week — his first chart-topper. He celebrated with his first major live show in three years at NYC's Webster Hall, a surprise drop announced just hours before the sold-out performance.
This success follows his critically acclaimed 2021 debut studio album, *The Melodic Blue*, which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, earning 53,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. That album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2023. His breakthrough was significantly bolstered by the single "Family Ties," a collaboration with his cousin, Kendrick Lamar. The track peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Keem his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. Both of Keem's studio albums have been released via pgLang, the multidisciplinary creative company founded by Lamar and former Top Dawg Entertainment president Dave Free. Keem was one of the first artists to partner with the company, which also functions as a record label in a joint venture with Columbia Records. *Ca$ino* features guest appearances from artists like Too Short and Che Ecru, in addition to another collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the track "Good Flirts." Keem himself handles a significant portion of the production on his projects. The Webster Hall show was a rare intimate performance, as Keem is no stranger to large stages. He embarked on a multi-continent tour for *The Melodic Blue* through 2021 and 2022 and served as a co-opening act for Lamar's "The Big Steppers Tour." To support the No. 1 album, Keem has already announced a 36-date world tour for *Ca$ino*. The tour is scheduled to run through North America in the spring before heading to Europe and the UK in late summer.
