The best songs on the project, however, come when the rapper doesn’t sacrifice too much production to accomplish his goals for the album. It’s clear that Keem had a lot to get off his chest on The Melodic Blue, and in addition to crafting the appropriate lyrics to get that done, the rapper also placed himself in a sonic landscape that would accentuate the impact of his words. Even trap-leaning tracks like “ First Order Of Business” and skeletal efforts like “Scapegoats” are superior for the things Keem says rather than for their sounds. “Scars” is similar in the sense that Keem dips into the same pain-driven lyrics with conquering production. It’s a song that the rapper says “means a lot to him” and with lyrics like, “I knew since we first got evicted out our roof / My new since rehab, I was six, tryna see you,” the weight of the track becomes clear. Airy production uplifted by climatic drums adds to the whirlwind of unsolved issues in Keem’s life.
The remaining majority of The Melodic Blue is occupied by records that show a more tender and reserved side of Keem.Īn early example arrives on “ Issues,” a spacious track that lays life’s most harrowing conflicts down like a deck of cards. Kendrick Lamar contributes to the raucousness of “ Family Ties” and “Vent.” The former is by far the rowdiest track on the album thanks to Lamar’s proclamation of “smoking on your top five” rappers, while the latter invites aggression from all corners with the knowledge that Keem and Lamar can handle it all. “Trademark USA” is a sucker punch to start the album that would also invite Gen-Zers all over the world to the mosh pit at the risk of their once-clean sneakers. The Melodic Blue is Baby Keem’s attempt to balance his individuality with a reduced dose of his trademarked chaotic energy, something he tries to harness on the project. That body of work promotes screaming and mosh-pitting your anger out as opposed to healthier and less-fun habits like meditation or therapy.
It’s a sharp contrast compared to his 2019 breakout project, Die For My B*tch - an erratic and chaotic release inspired by a failed relationship. Comprised of 16 songs with help from stars like Kendrick Lamar, Don Toliver, and Travis Scott, the Vegas rapper dulls the loud colors and sonics just enough to deliver his version of a mellow atmosphere without sounding monotone or robotic. That’s something that Baby Keem’s major-label debut album The Melodic Blue understands. With that being said, while the openness to all that is “weird” is clear nowadays, there are also limits to how funky, unique, and unorthodox things can get.
Kid Cudi, who Keem has cited as an inspiration on multiple occasions, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and many more, are clear-cut examples. Abiding by them for too long hinders the chance for evolution and change as a whole to occur. “Rules” were broken, torn up, and disregarded, and rightfully so. Keem is part of a generation of hip-hop that prides itself on going against the grain. Many of today’s rappers are, and this often triggering adjective for some is not meant to be disrespectful to the 20-year-old Vegas rapper or any of his contemporaries. Baby Keem is weird, but that’s not a bad thing at all.
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