Casino (Baby Keem album)
| Ca$ino | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 20, 2026 | |||
| Length | 36:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Baby Keem chronology | ||||
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Casino (stylized as Ca$ino) is the second studio album by American rapper Baby Keem, released by PGLang and Columbia Records on February 20, 2026. The album features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Too Short, Momo Boyd of Infinity Song, and Che Ecru. Production was handled by Keem himself, along with Cardo, Danja, FnZ, Jahaan Sweet, Michael Uzowuru, Ojivolta, Sean Momberger, Scott Bridgeway, Sounwave, Teo Halm, and Yara Shahidi, among others. It serves as a follow-up to his previous album, The Melodic Blue (2021).
Background and release
Keem announced the release on February 10, 2026 via Instagram, revealing the album cover and announcing the availability of a limited edition vinyl release.[1] A tour was also announced to promote the album, starting on April 15, 2026.[2][3] Casino makes Keem's return, after almost 5 years, following his debut studio album The Melodic Blue, released back in 2021.[4] Rolling Out described the time between the release of the two albums as "an eternity in modern hip-hop", considering this extended interval "a double-edged sword" for the rapper, between fan anticipation and skepticism about his return to the music scene.[5] During his absence, Keem teased some new music, mentioning an album titled Child With Wolves.[6]
To accompany the announcement, Keem shared a short documentary film titled "Booman I" on YouTube.[7][8] The media contains video clips of Keem in the studio, showing personal videos and interviews with his family, including his cousin Kendrick Lamar. The nearly 10-minute video clip was directed by Alexandre Moors and LaConnie Govan, it was co-produced by Lamar, Dave Free, and the duo's label PGLang, along with Eerie Times, and in association with Good Company.[9] Leaving speculation about a collaboration with Lamar at the time of the announcement, this was then confirmed when the tracklist was revealed, also revealing that the album would contain 12 tracks, with Lamar being listed as a feature on the fourth track, entitled "Good Flirts".[10]
The album cover features a photo of Keem as a child. Hypebeast interpreted this choice as "a deeply personal and introspective audiovisual endeavor" that explores different themes and subjects from the previous album, writing that the themes of vulnerability and introspection are present in the associated YouTube teaser. The aesthetic of Casino echoes the vintage vibe of Las Vegas, with Keem's social media profile having been redesigned to match this style.[11] A second short documentary film, "Booman II", was released on YouTube on February 16th, just four days before the album's release.[12] The third short documentary film, Booman III, was released on YouTube on February 19th, one day before the album's release.[13] On February 19th, hours before the album's release, Keem held a listening party in Los Angeles, where the album was played in its entirety, he also live performed some of the tracks, and featured surprise guest appearances by Momo Boyd, Too Short, Desmond Johnson from RDCWorld, and Che Ecru. The event was directed by Mike Carson.[14][15]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Security" | 1:58 | ||
| 2. | "Casino" |
|
| 4:20 |
| 3. | "Birds & the Bees" |
|
| 2:16 |
| 4. | "Good Flirts" (featuring Kendrick Lamar and Momo Boyd) |
|
| 3:52 |
| 5. | "House Money" |
|
| 3:15 |
| 6. | "I Am Not a Lyricist" |
|
| 3:25 |
| 7. | "Sex Appeal" (featuring Too Short) |
|
| 3:04 |
| 8. | "Highway 95 Pt. 2" |
|
| 3:48 |
| 9. | "Circus Circus Freestyle" |
|
| 4:52 |
| 10. | "Dramatic Girl" (featuring Che Ecru) |
| 3:19 | |
| 11. | "No Blame" |
|
| 2:46 |
| Total length: | 36:55 | |||
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer
- "No Security" contains a sample of "You Can Have Me", performed by Natalie Bergman[15]
- "Good Flirts" contains a sample of "The Light", performed by Common[15]
- "House Money" features uncredited vocals from Kendrick Lamar[15]
- "I Am Not a Lyricist" features uncredited additional vocals from Citizen Cope[15]
- "Casino" is stylized as "Ca$ino"
- "Sex Appeal" is stylized as "$ex Appeal"
- "Circus Circus Freestyle" is stylized as "Circus Circus Free$tyle"
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]
- Baby Keem – vocals
- Gavin Finn – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11)
- James Hunt – engineering (3, 4, 6–8)
- Ray Charles Brown Jr. – engineering (4)
- S. Blake Kanicka – engineering (4)
- Johnathan Turner – engineering (5), engineering assistance (1, 2, 9, 10, 11)
- Oli Jacobs – mixing
- Cam Gilfro – mixing assistance
- Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering
- Zach Brown – bass (1, 10)
- Bekon – background vocals (9)
Release history
| Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | February 20, 2026 | Standard | [1] | ||
| LP | [17] | ||||
| CD | [18] |
References
- ^ a b Saponara, Michael (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Announces 'Ca$ino' Album Release Date & Previews Kendrick Lamar Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Baby Keem announces new LP 'Ca$ino' ft. Kendrick Lamar & more ++ 2026 tour". Brooklyn Vegan. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Baby Keem Announces The Ca$ino Tour". Live Nation Newsroom. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Reveals Release Date For New Album "Ca$ino"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Kesiena, David (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar reunite on explosive Ca$ino". Rolling Out. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Johri, Antonio (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Announces New Album 'Ca$ino' f/ Kendrick Lamar, Che Ecru, More". Complex. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Baby Keem Announces New Album "CA$INO": Release Date, Tracklist & More". InMusic. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Centeno, Tony (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Announces Release Date & Tracklist For Upcoming Album 'Casino'". iHeartRadio. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Lindert, Hattie (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Announces New Album Ca$ino". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Reveals Tracklist & Features For New Album "Ca$ino"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (February 10, 2026). "Baby Keem Officially Announces 'CA$INO' Album". Hypebeast. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (February 16, 2026). "Baby Keem Drops Second "Booman" Documentary For New Album "Ca$ino"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Baby Keem Releases "Booman III" Episode Ahead of New Album The Ca$ino: Watch". InMusic. February 19, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (February 16, 2026). "Baby Keem Announces Streamable L.A. Listening Party For New Album "Ca$ino"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Saponara, Michael (February 20, 2026). "Baby Keem's 'Ca$ino': All 11 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Ca$ino / Baby Keem / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Casino - Vinyl (Exclusive)". Baby Keem Official Shop. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Casino - CD". Baby Keem Official Shop. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.