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Baby Keem

Born 2000 · Age 25

American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer (stage name Baby Keem). Gained recognition for production credits on major projects and for his own breakout singles and debut album The Melodic Blue (2021). Cousin of Kendrick Lamar.

Total Events
47
Career Span
24 years
Peak Net Worth
$7,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

2000Age 0

Experienced family hardship in childhood

Family faced eviction and relied on food stamps; mother had alcohol issues and father was largely absent — formative background.

1/1/2000Source
Confidence
90%
2000Age 0

Born in Carson, California

Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr. was born in Carson, California.

10/22/2000Source
Confidence
99%
2008Age 8

Raised by grandmother until age 8

Was raised in Las Vegas by his grandmother until age eight; considers her his second mother.

1/1/2008Source
Confidence
90%
2013Age 13

Began producing music using Apple software

At 13 he started producing music on his computer using Apple software.

1/1/2013Net Worth: $1,000Source
Confidence
90%
2014Age 14

Began pursuing music career (years active 2014)

Cites 2014 as the beginning of his active music career.

1/1/2014Net Worth: $500Source
Confidence
85%
2014Age 14

First song created ('Come Thru')

Made his first song 'Come Thru' during his freshman year of high school (later removed from the internet).

1/1/2014Net Worth: $500Source
Confidence
80%
2015Age 15

Bought first bedroom recording setup ($300)

Borrowed $300 from his grandmother and purchased a small recording setup on Craigslist for his bedroom.

1/1/2015Net Worth: $300Source
Confidence
95%
2017Age 17

Released EP 'Oct' (under birth name)

Independently released the 9-track EP Oct under his birth name on November 7, 2017; it was later removed from major streaming services.

11/7/2017Net Worth: $2,000Source
Confidence
95%
2018Age 17

Produced two songs on Jay Rock's 'Redemption'

Earned production credits on Jay Rock's third studio album Redemption (2018).

1/1/2018Net Worth: $15,000Source
Confidence
90%
2018Age 17

Sent sample to Top Dawg Entertainment; contributed to Black Panther soundtrack

After emailing a production sample to Top Dawg Entertainment he earned production credits on Black Panther: The Album (2018).

1/1/2018Net Worth: $10,000Source
Confidence
90%
2018Age 17

Released EPs 'No Name' and 'Hearts and Darts'

Released two summer 2018 EPs; Hearts and Darts was his first project under the stage name Baby Keem.

1/1/2018Net Worth: $12,000Source
Confidence
90%
2018Age 17

Released EP 'Midnight'

Released his second EP Midnight on January 16, 2018 — his delivery was noted as more confident.

1/16/2018Net Worth: $3,000Source
Confidence
95%
2018Age 17

Released debut mixtape 'The Sound of Bad Habit'

Debut mixtape released through The Orchard and Sony Music in October 2018; executive produced by Cardo.

10/1/2018Net Worth: $30,000Source
Confidence
92%
2019Age 19

Released debut single 'Orange Soda'

Released 'Orange Soda', which later became a sleeper hit and his breakout as a lead artist.

1/1/2019Net Worth: $75,000Source
Confidence
90%
2019Age 19

'Orange Soda' charts and sleeper-hit breakout

'Orange Soda' became a sleeper hit, leading to Baby Keem's first appearances on the Billboard 200, Hot 100 and Emerging Artists charts.

1/1/2019Net Worth: $200,000Source
Confidence
90%
2019Age 18

Produced on ScHoolboy Q's 'Crash Talk'

Produced two songs on ScHoolboy Q's fifth album Crash Talk (2019).

4/1/2019Net Worth: $90,000Source
Confidence
90%
2019Age 18

Produced for Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift' and released mixtape 'Die for My Bitch'

On July 19, 2019 he produced a song on Beyoncé's soundtrack The Lion King: The Gift and released his second mixtape Die for My Bitch.

7/19/2019Net Worth: $150,000Source
Confidence
95%
2019Age 19

Die for My Bitch Tour (US)

Supported Die for My Bitch with his first concert tour across select US venues from November 12 to November 20, 2019.

11/12/2019Net Worth: $225,000Source
Confidence
95%
2019Age 19

Debuted on Billboard Emerging Artists Chart

Began appearing on Billboard charts (Emerging Artists) following 2019 releases.

12/17/2019Net Worth: $250,000Source
Confidence
90%
2020Age 20

Released 'Orange Soda' remix featuring Rich the Kid

A remix of his breakout single 'Orange Soda' featuring Rich the Kid was released in 2020.

1/1/2020Net Worth: $650,000Source
Confidence
85%
2020Age 19

Announced partnership with pgLang

Appeared in pgLang's visual mission statement; pgLang was founded by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free — early association/signing to their creative company.

3/5/2020Net Worth: $400,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 19

Included in XXL 2020 Freshman Class

Named to XXL magazine's annual Freshman Class (2020), a notable industry recognition for emerging hip-hop artists.

8/11/2020Net Worth: $500,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 19

Signed with Columbia Records; released 'Hooligan / Sons & Critics'

Upon signing a recording contract with Columbia Records released the two-song single 'Hooligan / Sons & Critics' on September 18, 2020. 'Sons & Critics' confirmed his familial relation to Kendrick Lamar.

9/18/2020Net Worth: $600,000Source
Confidence
90%
2021Age 20

Co-produced most of The Melodic Blue

Co-produced 14 of the 16 standard tracks on The Melodic Blue, demonstrating his dual role as artist and producer.

1/1/2021Net Worth: $2,600,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 20

Released single 'No Sense'

Released the single 'No Sense' on March 5, 2021 ahead of later singles from his debut album.

3/5/2021Net Worth: $850,000Source
Confidence
80%
2021Age 20

Released 'Durag Activity' featuring Travis Scott

Released 'Durag Activity', a high-profile collaboration with Travis Scott, on April 30, 2021.

4/30/2021Net Worth: $1,100,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 20

Released 'Family Ties' with Kendrick Lamar

Released 'Family Ties' with cousin Kendrick Lamar on August 27, 2021 — one of the Melodic Blue singles that gained major attention.

8/27/2021Net Worth: $1,500,000Source
Confidence
98%
2021Age 20

Featured on Kanye West's 'Praise God' (Donda)

Featured alongside Travis Scott on Kanye West's song 'Praise God' from the album Donda (2021).

8/29/2021Net Worth: $1,600,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 20

Album debuts at #5 on Billboard 200

The Melodic Blue debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 — his first US top-10 album.

9/1/2021Net Worth: $3,000,000Source
Confidence
97%
2021Age 20

Performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Appeared on The Tonight Show to promote The Melodic Blue and debuted a new single during the performance.

9/9/2021Net Worth: $2,950,000Source
Confidence
92%
2021Age 20

Released debut studio album 'The Melodic Blue'

Debut studio album The Melodic Blue released on September 10, 2021 via PGLang/Columbia — critical success and major career milestone.

9/10/2021Net Worth: $2,500,000Source
Confidence
98%
2021Age 20

Released B-side to The Melodic Blue

Released a B-side to the album on September 22, 2021.

9/22/2021Net Worth: $3,000,000Source
Confidence
90%
2021Age 21

Launched The Melodic Blue Tour

Embarked on The Melodic Blue Tour visiting cities across North America and Europe from November 2021 through July 2022.

11/1/2021Net Worth: $3,500,000Source
Confidence
95%
2022Age 21

Co-opening act on Kendrick Lamar's Big Steppers Tour

Served as co-opening act on the Big Steppers Tour (2022) and appeared in the tour's film companion.

1/1/2022Net Worth: $5,200,000Source
Confidence
92%
2022Age 22

The Melodic Blue certified platinum (RIAA)

The Melodic Blue was certified platinum by the RIAA (date not specified in source).

1/1/2022Net Worth: $5,500,000Source
Confidence
70%
2022Age 22

Multiple award nominations (BET, Billboard, Grammys, NME, XXL)

Received nominations across major awards including BET (Best New Artist), Billboard Music Awards, Grammy nominations (Best New Artist, Album of the Year credit for Donda), and industry nods from NME and XXL.

1/1/2022Net Worth: $5,500,000Source
Confidence
90%
2022Age 21

Credited on album-of-the-year nominated projects

Received Album of the Year nominations as a contributor/featured artist on Kanye West's Donda (64th Grammys) and Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (65th Grammys) credited as featured artist, songwriter and/or producer.

1/1/2022Net Worth: $5,200,000Source
Confidence
95%
2022Age 21

Won Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance ('Family Ties')

'Family Ties' (with Kendrick Lamar) won Best Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (April 2022).

4/4/2022Net Worth: $4,500,000Source
Confidence
99%
2022Age 21

Contributed to Kendrick Lamar's 'Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers'

Produced two songs and was featured on Kendrick Lamar's fifth album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022).

5/13/2022Net Worth: $5,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2022Age 22

Released deluxe edition of The Melodic Blue

Released the deluxe edition of The Melodic Blue on October 28, 2022.

10/28/2022Net Worth: $5,250,000Source
Confidence
95%
2023Age 23

'Orange Soda' certified quadruple platinum (RIAA) [source-stated milestone]

According to the summarized sources, 'Orange Soda' received quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA (exact date not specified in source text).

1/1/2023Net Worth: $6,500,000Source
Confidence
60%
2023Age 23

Continued production and high-profile collaborations

Maintained production and feature credits for major artists and toured extensively with high-profile acts, continuing brand growth.

1/1/2023Net Worth: $6,500,000Source
Confidence
85%
2023Age 23

Surprise-released 'The Hillbillies' with Kendrick Lamar

On May 30, 2023 Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar surprise-released the single 'The Hillbillies'.

5/30/2023Net Worth: $6,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2023Age 23

Headlined Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival (Night 1) as 'The Hillbillies'

Headlined the first night of the 2023 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival performing as a duo with Kendrick Lamar.

11/1/2023Net Worth: $6,200,000Source
Confidence
94%
2023Age 23

Acting debut and executive produced short film 'The Melodic Blue'

Made his acting debut in the short film adaptation of The Melodic Blue, released December 5, 2023; executive produced through his company Eerie Times.

12/5/2023Net Worth: $6,300,000Source
Confidence
95%
2024Age 24

Ongoing public profile and awards trajectory

Incoming award nominations continue (e.g., 2024 nominations cited for Best Rap Performance) and continued industry visibility.

1/1/2024Net Worth: $7,000,000Source
Confidence
80%
2024Age 24

Announced second studio album 'Child with Wolves'

Announced plans for his second studio album entitled Child with Wolves (TBA).

1/1/2024Net Worth: $7,000,000Source
Confidence
90%