Okay, so let’s be real. For most of us, 2019 was not the most profound year of our lives. Forgettable, even. Like every other year, it went by incredibly fast and was filled with less-than-memorable highs and lows. There’s always the political turbulence, general money problems, and drama within our inner circle. But, as I always do in times of stress or elation, this past year I especially turned to music to validate my feelings and provide an escape from the realities of chaos.
In my journey out of this world, I happened upon a young, talented rapper who goes by the name YBN Cordae. This 22-year-old dropped his first solo album last year, titled The Lost Boy, and instantly gained both listeners and respect for his genuine flow and versatility as a songwriter, producer, and rapper. Having dropped out of college to pursue music, he did not receive a lot of fame or following until around 2018, when he came out with “Old N****s” in response to J. Cole’s “1985”. Like this song, his album discusses the thrills and drawbacks of entering the rap game at a young age. This youthfulness is what attracted me to his album in the first place.
YBN Cordae’s emphasis on being a student of the rappers that came before him, and simultaneously inventing his own sound is highlighted throughout the entire work. This multidimensionality is something very unique for a young rapper. His bold lyrics and fresh beats cannot be missed. He has the ability to make a bop, like “Broke as Fuck”, that gets you amped up. He also has the ability to vary his sound. Within that same song, “Broke as Fuck”, there is this drastic beat switch that is incredibly smooth. Possibly the best beat switch I’ve ever heard.
It isn’t just his versatility that is so enticing. It is his defiance of the stereotypical rapper persona. Not once has he ever attempted to be a hypermasculine, hard man. He raps about struggling to grow up without a father and he raps about having fun while he can in the spotlight. Sure, he speaks of being rich and being surrounded by drugs, but he always comes back to his roots. His childhood. “Thanksgiving” and “Bad Idea” are just two of the songs that demonstrate his closeness with his family and the relatable memories he has with his friends. This appreciation for family is a theme that more rappers should stress.
Perhaps the best part about The Lost Boy, though, is its all-embracing nature. There are songs about darker, more sociopolitical issues and there are songs about goofy, youthful experiences. YBN Cordae can make a trap hit, but also something very reflective, without abusing his platform to take away from the raw music itself. His lyrics and melodies remind me a lot of an earlier, Forest Hills Drive, J. Cole. His flow is slow enough to understand what he’s saying, yet follows an infectious beat. It is one of those albums where every single song is significant. There is a song for every mood.
I highly recommend listening to The Lost Boy in its entirety. You’ll quickly understand the hype around “We Gon Make It”, “RNP”, and “Have Mercy. You’ll also become grateful that an artist, like YBN Cordae, is out there representing our generation in a positive and honest way. I only hope that his career blossoms and that more people our age get the chance to give him a listen and dissect his lyrics. The Lost Boy. Damn, he really did that.