“Ca$ino” is the second studio album of hip-hop artist Baby Keem released on Feb.20. After his debut album in 2022, “The Melodic Blue,” which peaked at number five on Billboard and won Keem a Grammy, he was absent from the music scene until the release of “Ca$ino.” Roll out for “Ca$ino” dropped, teasing a personal driven album, with him as a baby on the album cover.
He packs a 36-minute, 11-track album with loads of content and vulnerabilities, while keeping the same energy he is known for.
The first track, “No Security,” is a short, slow tempo song which kicks off the message this album will tell. Keem goes on to mention that early in his career his mother was homeless and in and out of jail and how that affected him. It’s an amazing heartfelt intro to kick off the album.
“Ca$ino,” the second track, blasts in with a rapid paced beat. One of the best things about Keem is how he can make a beat switch to make a song sound brand new, while conveying the same message. It’s done with perfection. Keem mentions thestruggles he had when his grandmother died, who he was raised by and credits for his upbringing.
“House Money” is the first and only track with a snippet, featuring Kendrick Lamar. This track delivers one of the best choruses on the record and was the most anticipated track on the album. “House Money” is drawn from the gambling term, a feeling of having nothing to lose. This song conveys Keem’s striking confidence in the music industry.
In the eighth track, “Highway 95 pt.2,” Keem opens up about running away from home when he was 13 and sleeping under highways to escape abuse and poverty. The title symbolizes his journey during this time, since it references the actual Highway 95. This track, while carrying such a heavy message, is a vibe. It’d be the perfect song to put behind a scene if there were to be a movie about Baby Keem.
“Dramatic Girl” stands out on the album for not having the same heavy hip-hop sound as tracks before it. It leans towards a refreshing pop sound, showing versatility in Baby Keem’s art.
The industry’s habit of comparing Baby Keem to Kendrick Lamar shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this album. For any hip-hop and rap fan, this is a must listen. You will be immersed in the music.
