Keem’s verse precedes Kendrick’s, accompanied by a regular blow of a high horn and the pounding of a low drum that sets the beat’s pace. Will some element within the lyrics explain why Keem’s music so effectively reels me in? What will it teach us about literary merit as a criterion of rap? I ventured to answer these questions in the only way I know how, laying the lyrics of “family ties” victim to the coveted close read. Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that the duo did something right in their new scathing single.
Perhaps I’ve been too hard on his lyrics, which really aren’t much different from those of the rest of his peer generation of rappers. Perhaps Keem uses this tour de force to expel rumors that nepotism acted as the source of his fast-track to the top. Dot on the track pushed his cousin to perform at a higher standard. Perhaps the presence of Pulitzer Prize-winning K. Look no further than this choice line from the song “first order of business” off The Melodic Blue to get a sense of what I mean: “What’s your favorite color? Oh, that’s mine too / Just to get that p*ssy, I’m gon’ lie to you.” So why should “family ties” be different? That is, there’s nothing particularly prosaic about his lyrics that could immediately explain their allure. If his first hit “ORANGE SODA” had me bouncing off the walls in my empty dorm room, it’s only because I blinded myself to the words Keem was saying in favor of the way he’s saying them. Yet, I cannot hide my own confusion as to why I’m so drawn to Baby Keem’s discography. Kendrick’s 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Music for the album DAMN.).Īs someone who has always loved rappers because of their ability to beautifully tell heart-wrenching stories while riding the beat the entire way, the rising awareness of rap’s literary appeal seemed like old news to me. Furthermore, the literary merit of rap has also become widely appreciated, with rappers’ bars making their way into high school English classrooms and rappers themselves winning the same prizes previously awarded to classical composers and world-class poets (i.e. Yet now, critics are beginning to agree that rap acts not as the progenitor of violence, misogyny, and financial despair, but rather as the reaction to them. After its inception in the 70s, rap spent the first few decades polarizing the masses––pastors and politicians denigrated the genre as moral filth and dangerous propaganda while others heralded it as a means of self-expression for oppressed communities.
In recent years, it seems that rap and hip-hop have garnered a sizable share of respect. The two dropped a shared single titled “family ties” that immediately blew up the Billboard 100, soaring to spot N.18 and awarding Keem his first-ever Top 40 song. Perhaps more importantly, Keem played a critical role in the much-awaited return of his cousin Kendrick Lamar from a prolonged hiatus that had left fans of the rap world starved. The young Vegas rapper has had for himself a massive year, releasing his first studio album The Melodic Blue this past September and appearing on projects with Kanye (“Praise God”), Travis Scott (“Durag Activity”), and Don Tolliver (“OUTERSPACE”) on some of their biggest recent hits. What artist makes you feel untouchable, carefree, and occasionally cringe? You can likely guess my pick. Showering in my quad’s bathroom when my roommates are out? Baby Keem.
Walking to McCosh 50 on my way to bomb an Orgo midterm? Baby Keem. This piece was written in January, and “family ties” has since then earned Baby Keem his first Grammy for 2022 Best Rap Performance.īiking to 7 am lift through pre-daybreak fog? Baby Keem. Content Warning: Cited lyrics contain profanity and language that may be inappropriate
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