Quotes from Cordae

I don't wanna marginalize myself. I don't wanna be the overly woke rapper, and I don't wanna be the turned-up rapper.

I just want to use my voice and my platform to help people. Whether it be political or therapeutic.

Nas was a huge influence. That's probably my favorite rapper of all time.

I only know English, so I feel like I can be the dopest French rapper ever if I learned French.

People compare me to Kendrick. I've seen comparisons with Jay-Z, with Nas, with Chance The Rapper. I get a lot of Eminem comparisons.

The artists with lyrical content and who say something seem to outlast the fad rappers - I always noticed that.

My grandmother was a sharecropper. That wasn't even that long ago! My grandma was a sharecropper.

We all take life for granted, one way or another.

I study all the greats.

Jay-Z was huge. I was like 2 years old throwing up my diamond, rapping. I know all of 'The Blueprint.' I've heard that album 1,000 times. And 'Reasonable Doubt.'

My car had broken down, and a neighbor of mine, this old guy, helped me change a tire. We just had a superdope, thoughtful conversation. And I realized, yo, this is rare. Like, this needs to happen more often.

I like to rehearse a lot. Before I hit the stage, I listen to the songs that I would perform and make sure I execute everything.

Hip-hop has always been evolving.

I just always wear Pumas. I like the work they do in local communities, worldwide.

I always keep a hoodie on me at all times 'cause you never know when it's gonna rain, you never know when it's gonna get a little cold at night. So, you always got to keep a hoodie. And I always keep like a earth tone hoodie 'cause it always goes with your outfit no matter what you have on.

I bought an audio technician mic and Pro Tools SE, the demo version and was recording in the basement.

Nahmir is just an idiot. He just glorifies street life. He idolizes it.

I'm really grateful for my mom. And my mom always raised me being a single mother. Being a single mother, a lot of stress comes with that. You gotta work, you gotta come home and do everything.

Everything I involve myself with is an extension of me, so I take everything super seriously, from the music to the shows. That's the only way to do it.

YBN is family. Everybody in YBN is family. Nahmir and Jay, those are really my brothers.

I don't wear jewelry. It's not really my thing.

Experimenting is part of the process. I remember when I was younger, I spent a whole year just writing on straight trap beats because I just wanted to be able to do that at a high level. So it's about perfecting your craft in every way.

I've been through college, and I lived in a trailer park for five years. I've lived in the trenches of Maryland, and I've lived in the suburbs. I've seen all aspects of American life.

When you're not authentic to yourself, you're lying. You're going to get found out and you're going to slip up.