YBN Cordae had a lot of expectations to meet with the release of his debut, The Lost Boy — and above and beyond he went. The most lyrically centred of the gamers-turned-rappers collective gained traction through his verses on YBN tracks, and the release of sporadic singles over the last year, that were met with highly positive critic reception.
The Lost Boy is a clear example of Cordae wearing his heart on his sleeve. The North Carolina native sticks true to his lyrically driven persona while rapping perfectly on bar with fitting beats. At times, the lyrics feel like they could be excerpts from an audio recording of the rapper's time in a confessional booth, in which he opens up to whomever has come to listen. YBN Cordae uses his debut album to openly address the demons of his past ("Wintertime") and of those around him ("Family Matters") in order to make way for his inevitably brighter future.
The 15-track album contains six features, all of which are appropriately chosen for the beat and vibe that the song encompasses. The back-and-forth rhyming between YBN Cordae and Anderson .Paak on "RNP" may be the album's highlight, while the single "Bad Idea" featuring Chance the Rapper remains a close second.
If The Lost Boy was the new wave rapper's most substantial test of talent and longevity, YBN Cordae passed with flying colours.
(Art@War / Atlantic)The Lost Boy is a clear example of Cordae wearing his heart on his sleeve. The North Carolina native sticks true to his lyrically driven persona while rapping perfectly on bar with fitting beats. At times, the lyrics feel like they could be excerpts from an audio recording of the rapper's time in a confessional booth, in which he opens up to whomever has come to listen. YBN Cordae uses his debut album to openly address the demons of his past ("Wintertime") and of those around him ("Family Matters") in order to make way for his inevitably brighter future.
The 15-track album contains six features, all of which are appropriately chosen for the beat and vibe that the song encompasses. The back-and-forth rhyming between YBN Cordae and Anderson .Paak on "RNP" may be the album's highlight, while the single "Bad Idea" featuring Chance the Rapper remains a close second.
If The Lost Boy was the new wave rapper's most substantial test of talent and longevity, YBN Cordae passed with flying colours.