YBN Cordae: The Zion of Rap
“Longevity always come from lyricism. From the people who can actually rap.” YBN Cordae
Zion Williamson, the young phenom out of Duke, received the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft this month, a historic ending and beginning to the most hyped player since LeBron James. For many, they see him as a young talented player with the potential to be great. His highlight dunks and athletic ability are unlike anything we have ever seen before. Cordae Dunston, known professionally as YBN Cordae, is a 22-year-old rapper who is in the same vein as Zion Williamson. He rose to fame with his own remixes of older rappers Eminem My Name Is and J.Cole’s 1985. His song, Kung Fu has over 23 million views online as of now, bolstering his brand while showcasing his skill set.
His LA Leakers freestyle showcased his lyrical nimbleness and dexterity as he gave us flows, bars, and all the other technical skills we ask of elite MC’s.
Perhaps more telling than his ability is his voice. His thoughts on the perception of his peers, many of whom are under 23, illustrates his awareness of how his generation is viewed and also how much he studies the generations before him. His talent and his persona are all things that show he is a young phenom in the making. I think there are 3 major things that prove YBN is the next great rap legend.
His Skill Set is Timeless
A student of the game, YBN has mentioned in many interviews how many artists influenced him such as Nas, Big L, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and countless others. His lyrics are just one part of the game. He can rap and give you the bars for a boom bap record while effortlessly switch and drop thought-provoking material right after.
“It’s clear we wasn’t raised the same, rappers lame with fame
I’m known to kill a wack rapper like a bad hobby
I smash hotties and stash bodies, then cop lil’ boats
Like that’s Yachty, and that’s probably
Why I’m so fly that I crash lobbies and after it slap thotties.” Double entendres and alliteration aside, he is also a gifted artist. His most recent song Bad Idea feat Chance the Rapper shows his ability to make heartfelt songs that are lyrical and lighthearted. His BET Awards show performance with H.E.R. and his shout out to Sudan showed audiences his penchant for thoughtfulness. Crazy range. Akin to Zion shooting 3’s.
He has Huge Expectations
Googling YBN Cordae produces a litany of news articles from the usual publications like Pitchfork and Complex up to more mainstream publications such as the Wall Street Journal. Billed as “the new rapper bridging the generation gap”, he has golden era fans and Generation Z rap fans alike clamoring over his ability to blend the two, much in the way Joey Bada$$ does. At the 48th Legislative Conference for the Congressional Black Caucus, he performed in front of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, articulating the influence of hip-hop on the culture. His poise and respect for the culture caused Common to praise him, stating that, “The fact that he’s taking time to learn about hip-hop in that way that just lets me know our future is bright with artists like him.”
He’s done sessions with Dr. Dre, arguably the biggest rap producer of all time, calling him a mentor. To say that people are waiting for an official work from him is a bit of an understatement. Even more than waiting on his project, people are waiting to see if he can be the one to bridge the generational gap that exists in rap. His ascent has garnered comparisons to Big L and other young phenoms whose wordplay excited fans for their release. Young, gifted and black, let’s hope for the best for this young man.
