After a nearly five-year hiatus, Baby Keem dropped his highly anticipated sophomore album, “Ca$ino.” This album is the Grammy Award-winning artist’s most vulnerable work, with themes like inclusion, identity, relationships and family ties taking up most of the album.
Keem really broke into the music scene with singles released in 2019 with songs like “MOSHPIT” and “ORANGE SODA.” This was followed up by his first studio album, “The Melodic Blue,” which showed Keem’s potential, but it was also bare-boned and left people wanting more.
Not only does “Ca$ino” meet fans’ expectations, but I think it’ll be a project that will come up a lot during award season.
Keem grew up in Las Vegas, which lends itself to the album name, but the city plays a huge role in the project as it serves as a place of inspiration for Keem and a place of isolation and longing.
Keem was born in Southern California before moving to Las Vegas with his aunt and grandmother due to his absent mother. The move and his family arrangement are prevalent on almost every song on the album, creating a vivid listening experience.
This is best explored on “Highway 95 pt.2” and “No Blame,” both on the latter half of “Ca$ino.”
“Highway 95 pt.2” is a continuation of “Highway 95” off of Keem’s deluxe version of his first album, named after U.S. 95, which runs through Las Vegas, highlighting Keem’s early life and his struggles with poverty.
Whether it’s production or the lyrics, part two blows the first version out of the water. “Highway 95 pt.2” has a simple, soothing beat, but it’s complemented with personal lyrics and heavy subject matter. But it goes beyond the theme of poverty and struggle.
Highway 95 seems to be a place of solace for Keem. Besides it being talked about in “The Melodic Blue,” the highway makes its first appearance in the album’s title track, “Ca$ino.”
In this song, he talks very briefly about going on Highway 95 to reflect on the loss of his grandmother and using the drive as time to gain perspective. While not focused on, it’s a key lyric to the later parts of the album.
“Highway 95 pt.2” is a song where Keem is revealing the perspective and clarity he gains on this highway. This is incredible storytelling.
Keem is letting his audience be there on his journey down the highway. But beyond creating inclusive experiences throughout the album, there are amazing moments of transparency and vulnerability.
“No Blame” is the last song on the album and is essentially a letter to Keem’s late mother as he forgives her, but in the process, he’s retelling all the traumatic events of his childhood with his mother.
I thought the way this track sounds and the writing is incredible, best on the album by a mile, but it’s not what really matters.
This was the perfect way for him to end an album. It was calm but intense and shows that Keem is an ever-evolving artist whose maturity continues to grow.
Since the drop of “The Melodic Blue,” the biggest talking point was how Keem would take advantage of his potential. Keem’s first album was about him stepping into fame and gaining confidence, while still grappling with the version of himself that existed before it.
“No Blame” balances those ideas by grounding Keem, something that I really enjoyed. And the same goes for the rest of “Ca$ino.”
The production is minimal and spacey, leaving Keem’s voice exposed and fragile. Instead of overwhelming the listener with energy, it sets a stage for whatever Keem wants to explore; it’s similar to a score in a movie. That matters; it puts Keem’s performance and songwriting in the spotlight.
If you take “family ties,” one of Keem’s most popular songs that really leans into this grandiose sound before we hear any bars, and compare it with something like “Ca$ino,” it’s almost night and day.
Keem has a lot more confidence in his songwriting and performance in this album, as his contribution vocally provides more depth than the production. This exposure cements Keem’s ability as an artist.
That being said, there are some really great moments, production-wise. The title track, “Ca$ino,” was great and the most fun song on the album, and what will probably become the most notable song off the whole project.
“Dramatic Girl” has this pop, MGMT-inspired feel that sounds like springtime. It’s lovely and a good way to put something fun into the second half of the album, which is a bit darker in tone. It also shows Keem’s singing side, really giving the album diversity.
Then there’s early 2000s club music with “$ex Appeal” that has a feature from Too $hort. I had a blast with this song, despite it being the weakest song on the album, which says a lot for the quality of the whole project.
If there’s one area where “Ca$ino” falls short is the length of the album. It’s only 36 minutes, but in that short time, so much is explored. I just really wanted more of everything.
At times, I felt like this album was a buffet. There was so much of everything, whether it’s the multiple Kendrick Lamar features, instant hits or just quality music. Having 36 minutes to digest all of that seems a little rushed.
However, it’s almost a perfect 36 minutes, and there actually are no skips, so complaining seems obsolete. This is just a personal gripe.
The production is simple but on point and has plenty to do, the themes are strong but not overly complex and the songwriting is perfect.
If “The Melodic Blue” was flashy lighting, “Ca$ino” would be the loud, deep thunder that always follows. It’s a complex and beautifully executed story of Keem’s upbringing that goes all in.
I’m impressed and so excited for anything “Two-phone” Baby Keem will be a part of. I can confidently give “Ca$ino” a 8/10 and a solid recommendation for anyone interested in great storytelling through music.
