Family Ties

"**Family Ties**" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rappers Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar. The song was released on August 27, 2021, by Columbia Records and pgLang. The song serves as the fourth single from Keem's debut album, *The Melodic Blue*, and Lamar's first musical release under pgLang, a production company he co-founded in March 2020. It peaked at No. 18 on the *Billboard* Hot 100. The accompanying music video was directed by Dave Free and premiered to YouTube the same day. It features a cameo from Normani.

## Personnel

Song
* Colin Franken – writer
* Dominik "Deats" Patrzek – writer, producer
* Frankie Bash – writer, producer
* Hykeem Carter "Baby Keem" Jr. – vocals, writer, producer
* Jake "Jake the Snake" Kosich, Scott Moore – assistant engineer
* James Hunt – mixing engineer, recording engineer
* Jasper Harris – writer, producer
* Johnny Kosich – assistant engineer, recording engineer
* Kendrick Lamar Duckworth – vocals, writer
* Matt Schaeffer – recording engineer
* Nicholas de Porcel – mastering engineer
* Ronald LaTour "Cardo" Jr. – writer, producer
* Roshwita "Roselilah" Bacha – writer, producer
* Tobias "Outtatown" Dekker – writer, producer

Video
* Dave Free – director
* Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar – pgLang executive producer
* Jamie Rabineau, Drew Scott, Sophia Rothbart, Kevin Murphy – producer
* Brandy Zeigler – production supervisor
* Neal Farmer, Jack Begert – 2nd unit
* Travis Knight – 1st AD
* Bruce Cole – cinematographer
* Liam Clark – steadicam
* Eric Hersey – production designer
* Taylor McNeill – Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar stylist
* Kollin Carter – Normani stylist
* Shannon Stokes – background talent stylist
* Charlie Grisham – stunt coordinator
* Neal Farmer – editor
* Jensen Noen – VFX
* Mikey Rossiter / The Mill – colorist
* Sean Brown – typography
* Bryan Younce/Columbia – comissioner
* project3 – production company
* Anthony Saleh, Niya Morton, Cornell Brown – management
* Kevin Rodriguez – director's assistant
* Special Thanks: Normani, Tunji Balogun, Brandon Silverstein, Jay Cao

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Part I]

[Intro: Baby Keem]

Jump in that— (Hah, Hah), summon that bitch

Jump in that— (Hah, hah), jump in that fire (Hah), jump in that bitch

Hittin' that fire, jump in that whip, thumb in that bitch

Cum in that bitch (Ho), drummin' that— (Hah, hah)

Drummin' that bitch (Yeah)

[Verse: Baby Keem]

Choppa doin' circles, it's a Bird, Bird

Take him to the potty, he's a nerd (Pop out)

I ain't seen n\*\*\*as hit corners in the motherfuckin' 'burbs, huh (Pop out)

Done politickin' with the competition, what's the word? (Yeah)

Put that on my mama, n\*\*\*a, eight in the process

N\*\*\*as tryna tippy-toe through the progress

Tongue-tied when the truth is an object

What's the pros and the cons of this next check?

Wasn't nobody 'round, I was independent

In the '90s, sittin' bum with the windows tinted

Heard a bum got a strap in the party

Who the fuck let this \*\*\*\* in the party?

Beat 'em up, beat 'em up, beat 'em up, beat 'em up (Ah)

I was seein' double in the projects

Mad at myself, learned to put it to the side

Mama had to cater for the coupe

That we rode after school on the way to Popeyes

And n\*\*\*as wanna play both sides

It's a red dot, don't get on the wrong red eye

It's a headshot, Damien Kane, woo, them guys

Fuck around and bury two of them guys

I'm OD in Paris, I'm OD in France

I thought that I told you, I need the advance

Put down your IG and look through my lens

A million to grandma, who did I offend?

The girl of your dreams to me is a fan

I netted ten million and did a lil' dance

I'm fuckin' the world, I unzip my pants

My uncle G told me that I had a chance

So then I popped out and did it again

And did it again and did it again

I can not respect them, where did he begin?

Advice from the council, let nobody in

Been swervin' through rumors

Avoidin' the trends and duckin' the hoes

I'm duckin' the loonies that come with the shows

I'm grateful to Man-Man, he opened up doors

A bunk on the tour bus to come and compose

I reach to the stars on my tippy toes

This greatest success where most n\*\*\*as fold

I tell you my past, that shit don't get old

But how could you ask like I don't be writin' my raps?

These critics got everyone tapped

You gotta relax, the city where nobody sleep

Just tap in and ask where I'm at, ho

[Part II]

[Intro: Kendrick Lamar]

Smokin' on your top five tonight, tonight

Yeah, I'm smokin' on your, what's his name, tonight, tonight

Smokin' on you, shores, ain't two-nine, yeah, two

[Verse: Kendrick Lamar]

I am the omega, pgLang, Rollie gang, SIE

Don't you address me unless it's with four letters

I thought you'd known better

I been duckin' the pandemic, I been—, social gimmicks

I been duckin' the overnight activists, yeah

I'm not a trending topic, I'm a—

Hold on, y'all n\*\*\*as playin' with me, man

I am the omega, pgLang, Rollie gang, SIE

Don't you address me unless it's with four letters

Bitch, I thought you'd known better

I been duckin' the pandemic, I been duckin' the social gimmicks

I been duckin' the overnight activists, yeah

I'm not a trending topic, I'm a prophet

I answer to Metatron and Gabriel

Bitch, looking for a better me

I am a legacy, I come from the seventy

The Al Green offspring, guns and the melody

The big shot, wrist on cryotherapy

Soon as I press that button

N\*\*\*a better get right like the ambulance comin'

Us two ain't alike, he ain't been through nothin'

Dave Free got at least one B in the oven

I'm trippin', I'm juugin', my mental is amazing, brother

Pop off, only on occasions, brother

Rich n\*\*\*a, momma know I made it, brother

Go figure, never caught cases, brother

Face it, brother, gracious brother

New flows comin', be patient, brother

Show my ass and take y'all to class

I can multitask like Megan, brother

2021, I ain't takin' no prisoner

Last year, y'all fucked up all the listener

Who went platinum? I call that a visitor

Who the fuck backin' 'em? All been falsified

The facts mean this a vaccine and the game need me to survive

The Elohim, the rebirth

Before you get to the Father, you gotta holla at me first, bitch

Smokin' on top fives

Motherfuck that album, fuck that single

Burn that hard drive (Burn that shit)

Ain't nobody safe

When I come, I'm killin' everybody that's outside (Who you with?)

Yeah, Kanye changed his life

But me, I'm still an old-school Gemini (Lil' bitch)

Let me jump in this bitch

[Outro: Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar]

Let me jump in this bitch

Two phones, but I only bring one in this bitch

*One daughter, but they all my sons in this bitch*

No hoes, ain't shit gettin' done in this bitch

*I'm scary, I got a gun in this bitch*

*Smokin' on top fives*

*Stop playin', I'm that guy*

Number two DM'ing my bitch

That's cool, I don't ask why

## References

1. ↑ Blistein, Jon (August 27, 2021). "Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar Link Up for New Song 'Family Ties'". *Rolling Stone*.
2. ↑ Powell, Jon (August 27, 2021). "Normani stars in Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar's "family ties" visual". *Revolt*.

Template:Kendrick Lamar songs