“My thought was, ‘OK, I have to find someone who is from this newer generation,’” Chery says. “Lyricism isn’t something that’s as prevalent as it used to be, so there’s a short list of artists that make sense. I wanted to make sure we had some fresh blood, someone that really represents this streaming generation, which Cordae does.”
He adds that Gibbs “is more someone that came of age during the blog era. I feel like, between the three of them, they’re compatible, but they hit on different pockets. Gibbs is a very street dude. Obviously, Nas touches on the street, but he’s always been a storyteller, observer, narrator. And I think Cordae wants to be thought-provoking. I think he wants to be someone who provides substance whenever he can.”
That’s the exact energy that comes across on the track, with Cordae rhyming, “I live life on this earth to complete what’s assigned,” and Gibbs telling one of his patented tales from the pyrex, qualified by proclaiming, “Streets cold, ain’t nothin’ cuttin’ throat like the rap game.”
As most fans of Gibbs or Cordae could guess, they were both immediately down with jumping on the track with Nas.
“My Trentwood neighbor Carl Chery put me in this process and I’m glad he considered me for a record with such a great rapper as Nas,” Gibbs says. “The fact that he thought I could rap as good as Nas on a record is very much appreciated.”
Cordae expresses a similar sentiment, noting, “My dog Carl Chery hit me up and said Nas wanted me and Freddie on this record. And I was like, ‘fukk yeah.’ I cut my vocals for it as soon as I got the MP3.”