The Crossroads (album) explained
| The Crossroads |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Cordae |
| Cover: | Cordae - The Crossroads.png |
| Released: | November 15, 2024 |
| Length: | 48:09 |
| Label: |
|
| Producer: | - Alex Goldblatt
- Angwang Jin
- Ashton Sellars
- Biako
- BongoByTheWay
- BoogzDaBeast
- Camper
- Cordae
- Darko
- Dem Jointz
- Dkjbeats
- Don Mills
- D. Phelps
- Elkan
- FnZ
- Hitmaka
- Illuid Haller
- Jaasu
- J. Cole
- Johan Lenox
- Linden Jay
- Ryan James Carr
- Smoko Ono
- Tarron Crayton
|
| Prev Title: | From a Birds Eye View |
| Prev Year: | 2022 |
The Crossroads is the third studio album by the American rapper Cordae, released through Art@War and Atlantic Records, on November 15, 2024. The album features guest appearances from Anderson .Paak, Joey Badass, Jordan Ward, Juicy J, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Ravyn Lenae, and Ty Dolla Sign, while the production was handled by several producers such as FnZ, Hitmaka, J. Cole, Thelonious Martin, Cordae himself, as well as several other producers. The album serves as a follow-up to his previous studio album, From a Birds Eye View (2022).[1]
Background and recording
Prior to the release of the album, Cordae appeared in an interview with Billboard, during which he described the record as his strongest work yet, stating that he believes it's the correct time to release the album: "I think it’s ready. I think I’m better than I’ve ever been as an artist".[2] He revealed that the time between his previous album and this one was spent to live and "access life". He stated that the time was spent with Cordae growing as an artist.[2]
When asked about the album's title, Cordae stated that he reached a turning point where he felt as though he was at a crossroads in life: "It was like life or death. … If I go right, everything is gonna be perfect and yay, life is great, and if I go left, all life is horrible. I’ve kinda realized that one decision doesn’t hold that much weight. It’s a culmination of decisions".[2]
Release and promotion
On January 25, 2023, Cordae released the album's lead single, "Two Tens" featuring Anderson .Paak.[3] [4] The album's second single, "Saturday Mornings" featuring Lil Wayne was released on July 24, 2024.[5] [6] The album's third single, "Summer Drop" featuring Anderson .Paak was released on August 28, 2024.[7] The record's fourth single, "Mad as Fuck" was released on October 11, 2024.[8] The album's fifth single, "Syrup Sandwiches" featuring Joey Badass was released on November 7, 2024.[9]
Track listing
Notes
- signifies a co-producer
- signifies an additional producer
Sample credits
- "Intro" contains a sample of "Tha Crossroads (D.J. U-Neek’s Mo Thug Remix)", written by Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Byron McCane, Charles Scruggs, Tim Middleton, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley|Rudolph Isley, and Cristopher Jasper, as performed by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
- "Nothings Promised" contains a sample of "Someone That I Used to Love", written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin, as performed by Natalie Cole; and interpolations from "Heard 'Em Say", written by Masser, Goffin, Ye, and Adam Levine, as performed by Kanye West and Adam Levine.
- "All Alone" contains a sample of "A House Is Not a Home", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, as performed by Luther Vandross.
- "Never See It" contains a sample of "Who'd Ever Think", written by Ronnie Baker, as performed by Barbara Mason.
- "Pray" contains a sample of "Killing Me Softly with His Song", written by Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel, and Lori Lieberman, as performed by Fugees.
- "Saturday Mornings" contains a sample of "I Really, Really Love You", written by Nick Smith, as performed by Father's Children.
- "No Bad News" contains a sample of "Inside Voice (Reprise)", written and performed by Joey Dosik.
- "Shai Afeni" contains a sample of "Keep It Comin'", written by Bobby Eli and Jeff Prusan, as performed by Atlantic Starr.
- "What Really Matters" contains a sample of "Wild Flower", written by Doug Edwards and David Richardson, as performed by New Birth.
Personnel
Musicians
- Cordae – vocals
- Tommy Parker – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 13, 14)
- Brandy Haze – background vocals (tracks 2, 5, 15)
- Dem Jointz – background vocals (track 4)
- The Last Artful, Dodgr – background vocals (track 4)
- Alex Vaughn – background vocals (tracks 5, 9)
- Lekan – background vocals (tracks 5, 16)
- Darius Coleman – background vocals (track 13)
- Jabari Rayford – background vocals (track 15)
- Lydia Kitto – background vocals (track 15)
- Caleb McLaughlin – background vocals (track 16)
- Ashton Sellars – guitar (track 2)
- Kelsey Gonzales – bass (track 4)
- Linden Jay – bass (track 10)
- Ryan James Carr – drums (track 10)
- Alex Goldblatt – guitar (track 10)
- Dominique Sanders – live bass (track 12)
- Johan Lenox – strings (track 16)
Technical
- Zach Pereyra – mastering (tracks 1-16), mixing assistance (tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
- Emerson Mancini – mastering (17)
- Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
- Elton "L10" Chueng – mixing (tracks 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 16)
- Chris Galland – mixing (track 5)
- Jeremie Inhaber – mixing (track 17)
- Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance (tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
- Trey Station – mixing assistance (tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
- Daniel Vargas – mixing assistance (tracks 5, 7, 12, 15, 16)
- Robert Mendioro – mixing assistance (tracks 5, 7, 12, 15, 16)
- Luca Zadra – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 14)
- Mesa D – engineering (tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 8-10, 12-16)
- Shaan Singh – engineering (tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17)
- Bryan Schwaller – engineering (track 10)
- Jhair Lazo – engineering (track 17)
Charts
Notes and References
- Web site: Horvath. Zachary. Cordae Claims The Crossroads Is The One. HotNewHipHop. November 15, 2024. November 19, 2024.
- Atkinson. Katie. Cordae on The Crossroads, His Evolution & Why Kendrick/Drake Feud Was "Great for Hip-Hop". Billboard. November 12, 2024. November 19, 2024.
- Paul . Larisha . Cordae and Anderson .Paak Reunite on J. Cole-Produced Song 'Two Tens' . . November 19, 2024 . January 25, 2023.
- Bowenbank . Starr . Cordae & Anderson .Paak Hit the Club, Ponder Relationships in 'Two Tens' Video: Watch . . November 19, 2024 . January 25, 2023.
- Web site: Schube . Will . Lil Wayne Asserts 'G.O.A.T.' Status On New Cordae Collab 'Saturday Mornings' . . November 19, 2024 . July 24, 2024.
- Web site: Bernstein . Elaina . Cordae x Lil Wayne Reflect on "Saturday Mornings" . . November 19, 2024 . July 24, 2024.
- Murray . Robin . Cordae, Anderson .Paak Combine On 'Summer Drop' . . November 19, 2024 . August 29, 2024.
- Web site: Kearns . Sarah . Cordae Drops New Song and Music Video "Mad as F***" . . October 12, 2024 . November 19, 2024.
- Web site: Bernstein . Elaina . Joey Bada$$ Hops on Cordae's New Single "Syrup Sandwiches" . . November 9, 2024 . November 19, 2024.
- billboardcharts. 1861093549237764319. Debuts on this week's #Billboard200.... November 25, 2024. November 26, 2024.
