Baby Keem has made a bold declaration regarding his place in the modern hip-hop landscape, asserting that he considers himself superior to the industry’s widely recognized “big three”: Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole. The Las Vegas artist shared these sentiments during a recent sit-down with Elsie Not Elise, where he touched upon his latest project, Ca$ino, and his evolving creative philosophy.
When prompted about whether he aspires to reach the status of the aforementioned trio, Keem dismissed the premise entirely. “No. I think it’s like a cop-out,” he explained. “People should just stop saying that. I think music is… Let me reframe that. No. You’re putting boundaries on it.”
Rather than seeking to fit into a pre-existing box or generation-based hierarchy, Keem emphasized a desire for long-term greatness. “I want to be one of the greatest of all time,” he stated. “The new generation thing, I think I’m better than members of the current big three. I don’t view it like that. I never viewed it that way. Yes, there’s age, and there’s a new generation, for sure… I don’t want to be the best of the weakest. I want to be the best of the best. That should be the mentality of everybody coming up.”
During the conversation, Keem also reflected on the diverse influences that have shaped his sound. He cited Eminem, Ye, Lil Uzi Vert, and XXXTentacion as pivotal figures in his artistic development. He specifically noted that his project Die for My B**ch was heavily inspired by XXXTentacion, particularly in the way it challenged the traditional boundaries between singing and rapping.
As Keem continues to push his creative limits, his refusal to settle for industry-standard labels highlights a shift in how the next generation of artists views their own potential and legacy.
