With surprising numerical successes, this young rapper appeals to generations new and old. The twenty something Cordae fly's the flag of a fading art form among trendy Trap and Mumble Rap stylings of his peers. With a sturdy cadence and steady pace, his raps embody the 90s and 00s flows, bringing fresh faced youthful wisdom to his verse. Navigating the trappings of success with an anchoring in family values, his rhymes birth beautiful reflections on upbringings and personal growth as a human.
The backing instrumentals navigate classic vibes. Tuneful, jazzy, soulful moods and bouncy bangers channeled through an updated percussive aesthetic. Snappy snares and slicing hi-hats provide cutting tones to power along a mix of orchestrated sounds and samples easy on the ears and effective. Among its fifteen tracks, a Hip Hop head will find many familiar moods spun to great effect. Spliced with a couple of folksy interludes, roots in Church and Gospel music add an authenticity in roots.
The Lost Boy cruises by on good vibes, dipping into emotional strides that culminate towards the records ending. Family Matters lays down some surprising introspective maturity, seeing the struggles of his family not wishing to burden a young Cordae chasing his dreams. This thoughtfulness is striking, trending as the lyrical highlight, engaging expressions walking you through a reflective artists inner workings.
Rating: 7/10