After teasing the release for about a year with singles like “hooligan,” “durag activity,” and “no sense,” fans of Baby Keem were ready for a more introspective turn given the reveal of the album’s title. However, noting that only “durag activity” made it onto the album out of these, Keem likely decided to play this one a bit safer than originally intended, sticking with some of the same vibes and themes as the prior DIE FOR MY BITCH. This is especially evident in cuts like “trademark usa,” which opens the album much the same way as his previous release did: a driving beat and instrumental changeup that puts a listener straight into a Formula 1 race. One difference between this and Keem’s previous release is an apparent fake out of the album’s trajectory with the opening lines “I can’t help but feel neglected / Changing up the schedule, your calendar refreshing” negated by the slap to the face beat drop. The beat switch on this song disrupts the momentum of the track for me (even considering that the second half is just as great as the first). On this cut and throughout the rest of The Melodic Blue, Baby Keem confidently dips his toe into the waters of contemplative songwriting and moodiness, but declines to dive into this sound fully.