Baby Keem Hits No. 1
Baby Keem scored his first No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with "Ca$ino," moving 72,000 units in its debut week. He celebrated with his first live show in three years at NYC's Webster Hall, electrifying the crowd with new tracks. The album marks a major milestone for the Kendrick Lamar affiliate.
The success of "Ca$ino" marks a significant commercial leap from his 2021 debut, "The Melodic Blue," which opened at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with 53,000 album-equivalent units. On its first day, "Ca$ino" amassed 13.8 million Spotify streams. The 12-track album features several notable collaborators. Keem's cousin, Kendrick Lamar, appears on the track "Good Flirts" alongside Momo Boyd, while West Coast legend Too $hort is featured on "$ex Appeal." Keem himself is credited as a producer on every song, working with a team that includes heavyweights like Cardo, Sounwave, and Danja. Actress Yara Shahidi also has a co-production credit on the track "Birds & the Bees." "Ca$ino" was released via pgLang, the multidisciplinary creative company founded by Kendrick Lamar and his partner Dave Free. The company, which also operates as a record label and production house, also has artist Tanna Leone on its roster. Critical reception for the album has been largely positive, though some reviews are mixed. While outlets have praised its vulnerability and concise 37-minute runtime, Pitchfork described it as a "garbled tonal mess" despite its reflective lyrics. The album is the official follow-up to "The Melodic Blue," which was certified Platinum in 2023. That project featured the single "Family Ties," a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar that won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. To support the album, Baby Keem has announced a multi-leg tour that will kick off in North America on April 15 before heading to the UK and Europe later in the year.
