In the world of music, Kendrick Lamar is a household name. Even people who do not listen to rap music know who he is. He is celebrated as one of the greatest rappers of all time, and for many, he represents the epitome of what it means to be an artist. With universally acclaimed albums like To Pimp A Butterfly and his most recent release, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers, Kendrick has cemented his place in music history. But what about Baby Keem, the rapper with whom Kendrick has collaborated? Are they related?
Baby Keem, a rapper from California, initially built a buzz for himself by releasing a series of singles, each with distinctive cover art that utilized a paint swatch. These singles quickly became recognizable to fans, who knew that a new Baby Keem track was on the way whenever a new paint swatch appeared. But it was the cover art for his single “family ties” that caught the attention of many. Featuring a family photo with most of the eyes covered by a black bar, the cover art indicated that the single was a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar.
The collaboration between the two rappers was highly anticipated, as Kendrick had not released a project since 2017’s DAMN. The song, also titled “family ties,” was one of the singles from Baby Keem’s most recent album, The Melodic Blue. The video for the song featured Kendrick holding a pgLang flag behind him. pgLang is a collective that Kendrick started with Dave Free, and the teaser advertisement for it had generated a lot of interest among fans. The fact that Kendrick and Baby Keem were working together only added to the excitement.
Another song on The Melodic Blue that featured Kendrick, “range brothers,” generated buzz even before the album’s release. A portion of Kendrick’s verse leaked, causing confusion among listeners who were unsure whether it was real or a parody. Once the song was officially released, listeners learned that the verse was indeed unique, but the memes and parodies continued.
So, are Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem related? The answer is yes. They are cousins. However, many fans were not aware of this until recently. Despite Kendrick’s success and status as an older cousin, he and Baby Keem have been collaborating for years. Baby Keem, credited under his government name Hykeem Carter, has production and writing credits on the song “Redemption Interlude” from the Black Panther Soundtrack, which was helmed by Kendrick and TDE. Before officially collaborating with Kendrick, Baby Keem produced for other TDE artists like ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock.
The cover art for “family ties” offers a clear indication of just how far back Kendrick and Baby Keem’s relationship goes. In the photo, Kendrick looks young, and Baby Keem looks even younger, suggesting that they have known each other since childhood. In a further confirmation of their relationship, Baby Keem refers to Kendrick as “Man-Man” in his verse on “family ties.” This nickname was used exclusively by Kendrick’s family members.
It is a success story for both Kendrick and Baby Keem to have achieved so much in the music world, both together and separately. The fact that Baby Keem is signed to Kendrick’s label, pgLang, underscores just how close the two rappers are. Despite their fame and success, they have remained loyal to each other and continue to collaborate. As fans eagerly await their next project together, they can take comfort in knowing that Kendrick and Baby Keem are not just collaborators, but family.
