Cordae

Cordae is an American rapper from Suitland, Maryland who emerged as one of the most acclaimed new voices in hip-hop in the late 2010s. He first gained wide attention with a viral remix of Eminem and Logic's «My Name Is»/«1-800-273-8255» posted to WorldStarHipHop, followed by «Old Nigga», a response to J. Cole's «1985» that showcased his sharp, technically dense lyricism and drew comparisons to golden-era rap.

He rose through the YBN collective, initially recording as YBN Cordae before dropping the affiliation from his name in 2020. His debut album The Lost Boy (2019) was praised for its lyrical craftsmanship and thoughtful, introspective songwriting, earning him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, and featured collaborations that placed him alongside respected figures in both classic and contemporary hip-hop.

His sophomore album, From a Birds Eye View (2022), continued to develop his introspective, conscious-rap sensibility, blending dense wordplay with themes of identity, ambition and personal growth. Cordae is often cited as part of a wave of lyrically-focused rappers bridging classic hip-hop values with a modern sound.