Cordae has opened up and reflected on why the YBN collective eventually split up.
The American rap trio comprised of YBN Cordae, YBN Nahmir and YBN Almighty Jay was formed in Birmingham, Alabama Back in 2014 The group released their mixtape ‘YBN: The Mixtape’ in 2018 which featured their single ‘Bread Winners’. In 2020, Cordae quietly dropped YBN from his moniker and never addressed the state of YBN.
Now, while appearing in one of YouTuber Peaks100’s Vlogs, Cordae opened up about the group and why they went on a hiatus. “It was a number of reasons, bro,” he said. “Name one group that stayed together. Not even the Jackson 5, and them n***as were brothers.”
“We never recorded a song with all three of us,” Cordae continued. “The business side of it was kind of like, super fucked up, honestly. N****s got into a big argument in Europe. People say certain things they can’t take back. It’s still love, but it’s just some shit that you can’t take.”
Though the group are no longer a thing, the rapper went on to reveal that he remains close to both of his former YBN colleagues. “Nahmir, that’s still my homie. Jay, I still fuck with bro. Nahmir threw n****s that [alley] oop so I’m very grateful.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Cordae also discussed the realities of becoming a rapper and the financial hardship that comes with it. “When you’re first starting, it’s all putting in. And you might not ever see the money you put back in.”
Cordae’s latest release was 2024’s ‘The Crossroads’. It marked his third studio album and featured guest appearances from the likes of Anderson .Paak, Joey Badass, Jordan Ward, Juicy J, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Ravyn Lenae, and Ty Dolla Sign. The album followed his previously released LP 2022’s ‘From A Bird’s Eye View’, and his debut album, 2019’s ‘The Lost Boy’.
In a five-star review of ‘From A Bird’s Eye View’, NME shared: “This is an album to give you goosebumps, as Cordae sets glorious tales to nostalgic hip-hop sounds, crafting three-minute bursts of quality.
“The older generation may wish to cast doubt on younger artists, but he breathes hope into the continuation of hip-hop with his imaginative, playful flows. ‘From A Birds Eye View’ is a true delight, revealing greater depth with each listen, and Cordae truly seems to be having fun while proving he’s here to stay.”
