Kendrick Lamar usually waits a few years between releasing new work. But thanks to the “Rich Spirit” rapper’s creative service company, PgLang, which he runs with Dave Free, he’s making an exception. On January 20, in a joint upload to Instagram, the company unveiled their latest creative endeavor with high-fashion house Chanel.
Chanel shared the official trailer for their forthcoming short film, The Button, starring Margaret Qualley, Anna Mouglalis, and Naomi Campbell, which is written and directed by Free. The ad features what seems to be an unreleased track from Lamar.
As Qualley searches for her missing fastener, Lamar’s record hypes up the viewer as they prepare to join the actress in her quest. On pgLang’s official Instagram, the company provided a synopsis of the collaboration:
At the invitation of Virginie Viard, Kendrick Lamar, and Dave Free meet the world of Chanel Haute Couture for the first time, bringing to life a story about time and transmission. Actress and House ambassador Margaret Qualley plunges us into the tale ‘The Button’ alongside actress and House ambassador Anna Mouglalis, as well as friend of the House, Naomi Campbell.
According to a note posted online, the film will be revealed in its entirety during Chanel’s spring/summer 2024 haute couture show on Tuesday, January 23, at 2 p.m. Paris time. View the full trailer below.
Baby Keem, whose real name is Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr., is an American rapper and record producer worth an estimated$2 million in 2024. Born on October 22, 2000, in Carson, California, Baby Keem has rapidly gained popularity in the hip-hop community since the release of his second mixtape Die for My B*tch in 2019.
Early Life And Journey To Stardom
(Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)
Relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada at a young age, Baby Keem found musical inspiration in artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Eminem. His family, which includes his cousin and renowned rapper, Kendrick Lamar, encouraged him to pursue a rap career. He released his first song, “Come Thru” at the tender age of 15. However, he adopted his moniker “Baby Keem” in 2018, giving him the cover of having two different aliases.
In 2018, Baby Keem’s first EP Midnight, as Hykeem Carter, was released, featuring nine tracks he recorded from his apartment. His next EP, No Name, was released the same year. However, it was the release of his album Die For My Bitch in 2019, with its hit single “Orange Soda,” that catapulted him into mainstream success. The song became a viral hit and was later certified Platinum by the RIAA in August 2020.
Continued Success and Collaborations
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 01: Baby Keem performs onstage during the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 01, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Baby Keem’s career continued to soar with the release of more tracks like “Hooligan,” “Sons & Critics Freestyle,” and “No Sense.” He also collaborated with artists like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar. His debut studio album The Melodic Blue which included these tracks, arrived in September 2021, with a deluxe edition following in October 2022.
Alongside his solo career, Baby Keem also contributed to the Black Panther soundtrack and produced several tracks for TDE artists. His co-signs include high-profile artists such as Drake, and he has worked with Kanye West on his album Donda.
US rapper Baby Keem accepts the Best Rap Performance award for “Family Ties” during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Baby Keem’s brief yet impactful career boasts several highlights. These include the hit song “Orange Soda,” his debut album The Melodic Blue, and winning the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and the 2022 BET Award for Video of the Year.
Sources Of Income And Current Net Worth
Baby Keem’s impressive net worth mainly comes from releasing his own tracks, collaborations, live concerts, and streaming platforms. He also earns income from producing tracks for other artists and from his eponymous YouTube channel, which garners millions of views every month. As of 2024, Baby Keem’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
With his continued musical endeavors, Baby Keem’s net worth is expected to rise, reflecting the successful career he has already carved out for himself in the music industry at such a young age. His story serves as an inspiration for emerging artists around the world.
Baby Keem‘s debut album The Melodic Blue continues to stand the test of time. Though it was released back in 2021, the PGLang signee just announced a hotly-anticipated companion project for the album. This week, Keem will drop a film called The Melodic Blue to accompany his critically-acclaimed album. He first showed the trailer at Camp Flog Gnaw earlier this month, but today (November 28), Keem dropped the trailer online.
With so many music-related films arriving on different formats this winter, fans are excited to tune in for this one.
Will Baby Keem’s The Melodic Blue movie be on streaming?
The Melodic Blue will be available to stream next month via Prime Video. A trailer reveals that Keem will star in the film, alongside Amandla Stenberg, Shakira Ja’nai Paye, Francis Lovehall, and Séréna Sy. Keem serves as an executive producer on the film, as well as his cousin Kendrick Lamar, and Dave Free. The film was directed by Savannah Setten.
“Keem’s internal battle leads us through fragments of memory and temptation as he navigates the depths of The Melodic Blue,” said a press release describing the film.
Watch the trailer for Baby Keem’s The Melodic Blue movie
You can see the trailer for The Melodic Blue below.
The Melodic Blue will be available to stream on Prime Video beginning 12/5.
The Hillbillies, more or less an alter-ego duo of cousins Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar, headlined Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival last weekend. Before their set, a mysterious trailer played on the stage’s screen for what we now know to be Baby Keem’s forthcoming The Melodic Blue visual. This morning, November 16, a press release confirmed that The Melodic Blue will be available to globally stream on Amazon Prime Video on December 5.
“Keem’s internal battle leads us through fragments of memory and temptation as he navigates the depths of The Melodic Blue,” the press release teased.
The Melodic Blue first arrived as Baby Keem’s major-label debut album in September 2021, which Uproxx’s Wongo Okon reviewed as “Baby Keem’s attempt to balance his individuality with a reduced dose of his trademarked chaotic energy.” Keem dropped a deluxe version in October 2022.
According to the press release, The Melodic Blue visual was directed by Savannah Setten. It stars acclaimed actress Amandla Stenberg opposite Keem, Shakira Ja’nai Paye, Francis Lovehall, and Séréna Sy. The visual presented by Eerie Times, pgLang, and Amazon Music was co-executive produced Keem, Kendrick Lamar, and Dave Free. Jamie Rabineau and Cornell Brown are also credited producers.
As per a press release, The Melodic Blue visual will be presented by Eerie Times, pgLang, and Amazon Music to stream globally on Amazon Prime Video on December 5. Information is sparse, other than the fact that it stars acclaimed actress Amandla Stenberg. “Keem’s internal battle leads us through fragments of memory and temptation as he navigates the depths of The Melodic Blue,” the press release teases.
Last Saturday, November 11, The Hillbillies — comprised of Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar — headlined Tyler The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival (newly labeled “The Best Festival In America” by Uproxx’s Aaron Williams and Philip Cosores). Before the set’s start, a trailer for Keem’s The Melodic Blue visual played.
Someone in attendance captured the trailer on video, later circulating on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Along with Stenberg, the Savannah Setten-directed visual will co-star Baby Keem, Shakira Janai Paye, Francis Lovehall, and Séréna Sy. The press release confirms that it was co-executive produced by Keem, Kendrick Lamar, and Dave Free. Jamie Rabineau and Cornell Brown are also credited producers.
Despite being one of the biggest rappers in the world, Kendrick Lamar doesn’t have much of a social media presence. Updates on the rapper can be few and far between usually coming from other outlets entirely. This time it was the rapper’s fiancé Whitney Alford who took to Instagram to share some photos of their children. The pair have two children Uzi and Enoch both of whom make an appearance in the new photos.
“Me and them… Always, in all ways. The greatest and toughest job I’ve ever been tasked with. Love my babies,” Alford captioned the post. She showed off four pictures and a video of herself with the children and fans took the comments to praise them. “As a little girl who also had her daddy’s whole face… I stan,” and “baby kdots,” two of the top comments read. They’re both in reference to the fact that fans think Kendrick’s children look a lot like him. Check out the full post and the fan reactions to it below.
Over the weekend, Kendrick Lamar headlined Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Festival. He teamed up with Baby Keem as “The Hillbillies” where they performed the song of the same name together for the first time. Tyler himself joined them on stage during the performance referencing his cameo in the music video for the song.
Speaking of festivals, Kendrick and his company pgLang recently announced a new concert series. The “Move Afrika” series of concerts will see the company producing a series of festivals across Africa expanding to 5 different countries by 2025. Kendrick himself will be headlining the first festival in the series which takes place in Rwanda on December 8. What do you think of Kendrick Lamar’s fiancé sharing some adorable photos of their children on Instagram? Let us know in the comment section below.
Kendrick and his business partner, Dave Free, have been busy, cranking out music videos with Baby Keem, film projects, artist signings, and brand partnerships (i.e., Calvin Klein). On Monday, October 30, they announced their latest venture: the Light Phone, their collaboration with Lang.
pgLang, in partnership with tech company Light, will release 250 Light Phone II phones that aim to reduce users’ screen time, described as: “A premium minimal phone designed to be used as little as possible.”
According to Light’s website, the device will not feature social media applications, email, or an internet browser. But it will contain essential phone functions such as phone calls, text messaging, and hotspot capabilities. The devices will be exclusively available for purchase on November 2 via the pgLang official website.
In a statement, the three spoke about the inspiration behind the product. “As humans, we’ve become habitually overwhelmed, unconsciously opening and re-opening smartphone apps,” the note read. “Part of the ethos at pgLang is to embrace the present with less distractions. Built with the essential utility of our modern smartphones without the distractions, the Light Phone II is ‘just a phone.’”
Back in 2020, Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free co-founded a new company called pgLang. It was unclear to many what the company even was at first, and it’s developed into an all-purpose creative force. It was named in new singles Lamar dropped alongside Baby Keem and on Lamar’s newest album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The company has also dipped its toes into fashion collaborations first with Calvin Klein last year and then Converse earlier this month.
Now, they’re entering the tech world with a new collaboration. pgLang is teaming up with tech company Light to release a new cellphone. A trailer for the phone focuses more on what it doesn’t have than what it does. It’s marketed as an alternative to phones like the iPhone which come with endless features and distractions on top of its baseline phone capabilities. The new phones will be pretty hard to come by with just 250 being sold. Fans can try and get their hands on them when they go on sale on November 2. Check out the trailer for the new phones below.
Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang’s New Minimalist Cellphone
Over the weekend, Kendrick Lamar surprised fans by popping up on one of the biggest musical events of the year. Taylor Swift released the official re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” of her 2014 album 1989. Consequently in the spirit of re-recording her old songs she recruited Kendrick to re-record his notorious guest verse on her single “Bad Blood.”
A few months ago Kendrick also got the co-sign of another one of the biggest stars of 2023. He joined Beyonce on stage for her birthday performance to perform their collaboration “America Has A Problem REMIX.” While there Bey called Kendrick a “Legend” and referred to him as someone she “deeply appreciates.” The pair also famously collaborated on the track “Freedom” from Beyonce’s 2016 album Lemonade and again on the Lion King soundtrack cut “NILE.” What do you think of pgLang’s new cellphone collaboration with Light? Let us know in the comment section below.
The Converse x pgLang collaboration is making a bold return, unveiling a sleek black version of the pgLang for Converse Chuck 70. This time, they’re adding an element of chance, as they’ll randomly ship one of two unique variations of the shoe. In a world inundated with choices, Converse and pgLang are letting fate dictate your sneaker destiny. pgLang, co-founded in 2020 by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free, is all about transcending language barriers and connecting people through shared experiences. Their values of curiosity, accessibility, and creativity shine through in this latest Converse venture.
This ongoing partnership between Converse and pgLang has evolved since its inception in 2022, with talents like Baby Keem and Tanna Leone contributing their unique artistry. Now, brace yourself for short films starring Baby Keem and Dominic Fike as they launch alongside this new collection, further cementing the powerful synergy between the two brands. The canvas upper proudly showcases “pgLang for” above the Chuck ankle patch, seamlessly fusing Converse’s classic style with pgLang’s creative vision.
This second collaboration revisits the minimalist Chuck 70, now in black, offering two distinct versions. Upon closer inspection, you’ll spot subtle differences setting them apart. One flaunts Converse Navy pinstriping on the left shoe and Irish Cream on the right, while the other sports Irish Cream on the left and Converse Red on the right. The pgLang for Converse Chuck 70 returns with hiking-style eyelets and an asymmetrical rubber varnish. Messages and graphics on the insole and outsole embody pgLang’s mission.
More Photos
The pgLang for Converse experience will go live at Converse.com and pg-lang.com at 12:00 PM ET on November 2. As far as the retail price goes, we currently have no word on an official number. Expect an update to come closer to the release date. Let us know what you think of these sneakers, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. We will be sure to bring you the biggest releases from the biggest brands.
Although he wasn’t physically present, Kendrick Lamar’s aura was felt during the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards. The Compton rapper broke new records as he came out on top in four categories: Hip-Hop Artist Of The Year, Best Live Performer, Lyricist Of The Year, and Video Director Of The Year alongside Dave Free. It’s not surprising that he’d win in these categories. However, with his latest string of awards, he’s reached new milestones in his career, per Billboard.
His win in the Hip Hop Artist Of The Year category made him the first rapper to achieve this award three times. Then, in the category of Best Live Performer, he ties Jay-Z and Kanye West. Meanwhile, he continues his hot streak in the Lyricist Of The Year category with his ninth win. Through this, Kendrick Lamar continues his reign as the rapper with the most wins in the category. Finally, he and Dave Free became the first directors to achieve back-to-back wins since Hype Williams, although the famed director took home the award each year from 2009 to 2012.
Kendrick Lamar at Life Is Beautiful 2023 on September 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
While Kendrick Lamar made major strides at the awards, there were other notable wins during last night’s awards. Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss won the award for Hip-Hop Album Of The Year as well as best duo or group. Additionally, Lil Durk and J. Cole’s “All My Life” took home the awards for Best Collaboration and Impact Track. Cole has taken home the award in the latter category on three other occasions in the past.
The rapper is still riding high off of the release of 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, as evidenced by his four wins in each of the categories he was nominated in. However, it seems like he might be gearing up to release some new music in the near future. Earlier this year, he and Baby Keem teased their side project with the release of “The Hillbillies.” The two are expected to co-headline Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival later this year. It’s a strong indication that they might have even more music ready to drop soon.
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