Family Ties
by Baby Keem (featuring Kendrick Lamar)

Album: The Melodic Blue (2021)
Charted: 52 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first official collaboration between Baby Keem and his cousin, Kendrick Lamar, but the two have been working together for some years on other projects. Keem helped with the production of "Redemption Interlude" from the Lamar executive produced Black Panther: The Album. He also featured in the visual mission statement for his cousin's multimedia company, pgLang.
  • The song splits into two parts. Keem takes the first half, rapping about his superstar cousin opening doors for him.

    Keem then cedes the floor to Lamar, who flexes about his position at the top of the rap game, referring to himself as "the omega, pgLang, Rollie gang, SIE." The self-anointed GOAT references his relative silence during the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matters movement. K.Dot says he has no need to make trending comments addressing racial inequality and police brutality, as he is already a "prophet," having consistently rapped about inequality and political turmoil in his music.
  • Baby Keem co-produced the track with Cardo, Outtatown, Roselilah, Deats, Jasper Harris and Frankie Bash. There is a notable change in tempo between the two parts.
  • Former Top Dawg Entertainment co-president and regular Lamar collaborator Dave Free directed the video. R&B singer Normani features multiple times in the clip.
  • This won for Best Rap Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2022. Baby Keem was also up for Best New Artist, but lost to Olivia Rodrigo.

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