Las Vegas rapper Baby Keem returned from his five year hiatus with “Ca$ino.” The tracklist of 11 features artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Momo Boyd, Too $hort and Che Ecru.
“No Security,” the first track on the album, opens up a new vulnerable era for Keem. The track starts with subtle piano keys and low background vocals. Themes of grief are set for the album, with Keem acknowledging the emotional risks he takes without feeling protected.
Keem is inviting the listener into his new world of authenticity. It reflects his confidence, while coinciding with the feeling of vulnerability. These set themes play into the project’s title, “Ca$ino,” creating an image of Keem as a gambler with nothing to lose.
The title track brings the listener back to Keem’s “Family Ties” era. The high-energy and video-game synths create a futuristic, playful undertone that provides a bed for Keem's recognizable flows and raps to shine.
The beat switch in the song provides a time for Keem to take the listener from the “real” Las Vegas residents experience to the commercialized version of what people perceive Las Vegas to be.
“Birds & the Bees,” switches gears into a more melodic, romantic mood. The beat is smooth and catchy, and the lyrics play on riddles about love and attraction.
The title also pays homage to the late Marvin Gaye’s “If This World Were Mine” from Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s joint 1967 album “United.” This is also the original sample for Lamar and SZA’s “luther.”
“Good Flirts” is the fourth track on Keem’s album, featuring frequent collaborator and cousin Kendrick Lamar as well as Momo Boyd.
This collaboration brings a playful, flirtatious energy. Momo Boyd’s vocals give the hook a smooth feel, and Kendrick adds humorous, introspective bars about love and relationships. It’s one of the more radio-friendly, upbeat tracks on the album.
The song “House Money” was first revealed in episode one of the “Ca$ino Documentary” series on Keem’s YouTube channel. The song features Kendrick Lamar giving a gritty hook and clean chorus, and some sly ad-libs from Florida native rapper Denzel Curry, even though both artists are uncredited.
This is a standout moment in the album where the tone shifts to self-belief. “House money” in gambling refers to playing with winnings you’ve already earned, and here it symbolizes Keem betting on himself and his work ethic. Paired with tightly packed tap drums, snare hits and layered synths back the high-energy vocals.
One of the most raw tracks on the project is “I am not a Lyricist.” Over piano-driven production, Keem reflects on his upbringing and the influences that shaped his artistic identity.
Keem is defying labels that were placed on him while showing his technical and emotional depth. He uses his voice like a storyteller on this track, pacing his bars thoughtfully and letting pauses and phrasing emphasize the emotional weight of the song.
True to its title, “Circus Circus Free$tyle” is chaotic in flow and energy, like stepping into a noisy and unpredictable casino floor. Featuring heavy bass in the first part of the song, he then touches on the main theme of the album in the latter part.
Although sonically a less polished and more raw freestyle, the track captures Keem’s experimental energy and wild creativity while homing in on the theme of living on the edge like a high roller.
The album closes on a vulnerable, but powerful emotional note. Track 11, “No Blame,” was the most theatrical arrangement with more narrative weight than any other song on the project.
With “Ca$ino,” Keem sharpens both his pen and his presence. The production and his vocal performances are dynamic, with the themes cutting deeper than surface-level scars. With a tracklist of 11, the message was clear. It was never luck but always strategy.
Rating: 4.5/5
