Over the past year, Baby Keem went from a bubbling, young, wide-eyed rapper with loads of potential to one of the most talked about artists in the entire genre. This is likely due to his appearance on Kanye West‘s Donda album and him releasing the single “family ties” to aid in Kendrick Lamar‘s return to hip-hop, which debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He channeled this momentum into his new album The Melodic Blue (released on Sept. 10), with more feature performances from his cousin and label mate in Lamar as well as another from Don Toliver and Travis Scott. Keem is the most spontaneous and exciting character in rap at the moment, and his lyrics certainly reflect that. So it’s only fitting we present to you our ten favorite bars from The Melodic Blue:
Immediately after the first beat drop of the album, Baby Keem lets his listeners know what belongs to him.
Trademark on that pussy, trademarkin’ my brand-new bitch
YĐľah, duh, hol’ up, blood, hol’ up, cuh, hol’ up, sis, huh (Hol’ up)
LLC the Glock and I LLC my bitch, huh (LLC)
Baby Keem on “trademark usa”
“Seinfeld” is famously known as the show about nothing, so Keem is really drilling home how bored he is waiting for sex.
Put my soul in these condoms, spent time, lil’ bitch
Laid up at the crib on some Seinfeld shit
We overdue for some fuckin’, huh
Baby Keem on “pink panties”
This verse features some of Keem’s best lyricism to date, with a ferociously unapologetic bar about Fetty Wap‘s lost eyeball.
You know I’m borderline more than rich, had to tame the orphanage
Navigated two bitches, textin’ them the coordinates
Two phones literally, house party loiterin’
Deals so dummy had to let several lawyers in
One day, I’ll tell you how my life was unfortunate
For now, I’ll tell you how fast these Porsches get
Story of the young and reckless, ’bout to eat my bitch for breakfast
Pink pussy been a prĐľference, nĐľver fold under pressure
Cheap shots, let it rock, eye open, Fetty Wap
Baby Keem on “scapegoats”
Kendrick and Keem going back and forth on “range brothers” is one of the highlights of the album, and K. Dot opens up the exchange firing on all cylinders.
Everybody wanna be great but the work don’t relate him to life
Be mistakin’ the truth, nigga
I remember bankin’ with Chase, like four-hundred K
Starin’ at it, I don’t know what to do, nigga
Now I look at money like a resource
Every contract gotta put my kid’s family in school
Health and wealth, goin’ deep for it, do right for my next life
Kendrick Lamar on “range brothers”
Keem creatively discusses how hard work got him to this point, and how anybody can accomplish anything with his type of effort.
Trophies hidin’ in the nosebleeds
Baby, get to know me, I got rich off no sleep
Baby got the Rollie, workin’ through the proceeds
Baby, I go toe-to-toe-to-toe with the whole league
Baby Keem on “gorgeous”
It’s a well-known trend that rappers like to keep it Lowkey when looking for significant others. If you’ve been involved with Drake‘s crew, you’re sadly scratched off the list of wifey material candidates.
Tryna find me a bitch that no one knows
I’m tryna find me a bitch that no one knows
You see that bitch right there, she fucked OVO
You see that bitch right there, she fucked Romeo
Baby Keem on “lost souls”
Here we see Keem flexing his lavish lifestyle, while still maintaining his drama-free mentality.
You ain’t comin’ home with us, please, don’t you ask
I might throw a hundred ones, please, don’t be mad
Tit-for-tat, goin’ back and forth is not my passion
Took a trip to Paris to post another caption
Baby Keem on “cocoa”
Aug. 27 was one of the most exhilarating days of the year for hip-hop, as Kendrick returned in one of the most entertaining fashions with his playful cowboy/hick vocal inflections in his multi-faceted “family ties” verse. Even The Weeknd was loving K. Dot’s performance.
I’m trippin’, I’m juugin’, my mental is amazing, brother
Pop off, only on occasions, brother
Rich nigga, momma know I made it, brother
Go figure, never caught cases, brother
Face it, brother, gracious brother
New flows comin’, be patient, brother
Show my ass and take y’all to class
I can multitask like Megan, brother
Kendrick Lamar on “family ties”
Baby Keem paid homage to his recent collaborator Kanye West by utilizing a sample from Ye’s most emotional album 808s & Heartbreak. The vulnerability of that project certainly inspired Keem to share his emotions in a similar fashion.
I ask God (God)
Why this life you gave so hard?
Why all the choices that I make leave me with scars?
I feel like everyone I meet confuse my heart
Baby Keem on “scars”
A very underrated aspect of Kendrick Lamar’s artistry is his ability to impact a song by just providing a powerful hook, also evident in J. Cole’s songs “Forbidden Fruit” and “Under The Sun” also with Lute and DaBaby from Revenge of the Dreamers III.
Have you ever been punched in your motherfuckin’ face?
What you say? Oh, you haven’t? Alright, wait, bitch
Kendrick Lamar on “vent”
The Melodic Blue is a career-elevating project for Baby Keem, full of diverse song topics and ideas, and intriguing lyricism. Decide for yourself which bars from the album are your favorite below.
