Baby Keem’s career so far has been pretty complex. After dropping 3 projects between 2018 and 2021, the latest of them being The Melodic Blue, he’s been off the scene for a bit but never entirely out of the picture. With his new album CA$INO on the way, we decided to take a look back at all of his music so far and hand-pick the tracks you need to hear as a new fan—or just to jog your memory.
Here are the 10 best Baby Keem songs and features, and our reasons why, below.
10. “Baby Keem”
“Baby Keem” might be the most brash introduction to an artist you can get. The track served as the closer to his 2018 mixtape, The Sound Of Bad Habit, which dropped when he was around 18 years old—and it’s blatantly obvious in the lyrics and sound. This immaturity, although hilarious and punchy, is a great measuring stick to see his growth across his other bodies of work.
9. “Miss Charlotte”
Another track from The Sound Of Bad Habit, “Miss Charlotte,” was the introduction to the more melodic, sing-songy Baby Keem. His early songs show the development of the motifs that live throughout his discography—conversations with his mom about women, having two phones, his irresponsibility, and other things of that nature.
When he dips into the “But you been changed on me” portion of the lyrics, you can hear the sonics he continued with later in The Melodic Blue.
8. “ORANGE SODA”
Easily his biggest solo hit, “Orange Soda,” really put Keem on the map. While his first project was raw and experimental, DIE FOR MY BITCH was much more refined, focusing on layers and catchy hooks that showcased his artistic flair.
“Lil b-tch, shut the f-ck up/Tell your best friend, shut the f-ck up” was catchy enough to grab a crazy 850M streams, as well as doing numbers across various social media platforms. That traction led to his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Orange Soda,” peaking at No. 98 just six months after its release, when Keem was still a relatively new rapper.
7. “Praise God” by Ye ft. Baby Keem, Travis Scott
While “Orange Soda” might have been his biggest solo moment, getting a feature on Ye’s DONDA album undoubtedly introduced him to a whole new audience. Ye listeners move in huge waves, so a standout verse on one of his projects can create a fan for life.
Keem’s extremely high-pitched delivery made for a memorable performance, and “Praise God” remains the highest-streaming song from DONDA on Spotify to this day with 553M+ streams.
6. “Savior (Interlude)”
If a new listener judged solely from his popular tracks, they’d miss the layers and depth Baby Keem has to offer—when he decides to get in that bag. On Kendrick’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers album, Keem was tasked with detailing his upbringing as an interlude that tied the project’s themes together. And he went crazy.
Rapping-wise, “Savior (Interlude)” is a top-tier performance from him, and possibly his best so far.
5. “HONEST”
In contrast with the previous entry, “HONEST” is early Keem at his most melodic, speaking about his willingness to admit his infidelity while wondering if his girl is being faithful. What the track lacks in bars, it makes up for in emotion. As mentioned, the jump in intention from Bad Habit to DIE FOR MY BITCH was notable, and this is a prime example.
It’s also one of his biggest solo tracks with over 600M streams on Spotify.
4. “16”
Keem’s versatility truly makes him stand out from the pack. The Melodic Blue has a ridiculous amount of range—there’s rage tracks, crooning ballads, rapping exercises, you name it. “16” rounds out the album with a pop/indie punk jam, once again revealing his emotional vulnerability and ear for a catchy hook.
Add in the video, a critical part of Keem’s knack for storytelling, and you can see why his fanbase is so big.
3. “family ties” ft. Kendrick Lamar
We all know Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem are cousins, that’s not news. But when “family ties” dropped, and it was still (relatively) new information, no one was expecting a joint that would eventually go on to do 1.1 billion streams and put the cousins’ hitmaking ability on the map.
Keem takes the first beat and goes absolutely wild on it, with multiple flow switches, deliveries, and a verse that requires the lungs of Michael Phelps to keep up with. Then Kendrick came through on an entirely new beat, smoking on people’s Top 5, and the rest is history.
2. “trademark usa”
The intro track on The Melodic Blue, “trademark usa” showcases each and every one of Baby Keem’s skills to their highest degree. At the very start, Keem is monotonous, speaking about feeling neglected—a common theme in his music. Then he goes directly into the high-octane, full speed ahead style we hear in “family ties,” before switching the beat entirely and going more weird and high-pitched.
Autotune, spaced-out vibes, some raging, and subject density are all on a high in this one, and it’s one of his best songs to date.
1. “range brothers” ft. Kendrick Lamar
Keem and Kendrick will undoubtedly continue making bangers together, that seems inevitable. But while “family ties” showcased their powers individually, “range brothers” shows them in perfect synchronicity, bringing out the best of their abilities. Even the subject matter benefits from having the other’s input, as Keem discusses all of the things he can do with his newfound wealth, while Kendrick tells him to be more responsible with his approach to success.
Then, the production switches, and the two decide to clown for the last minute and 20 seconds. “Top of the morning” took over Twitter/X when the song dropped, and kept people talking in the days that followed. Keem’s willingness and range, from serious to silly, keeps things unpredictable and sonically interesting, making the aptly named “range brothers” one of his best songs so far.
