In the world of music, first impressions matter—or do they? Cordae recently addressed critics labeling his latest album ‘Crossroads’ a ‘flop’ due to its debut sales, standing firmly by his creative vision.
Cordae is standing tall against the buzz surrounding the first-week sales of his album ‘Crossroads’, which hit around 10,000 units. During a chat with The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne Tha God relayed a review that termed the project a flop. Cordae didn’t hold back, stating, “No…it’s [written by] some white boy in Indiana.” He emphasized that such reviews often come from platforms thriving on negativity, saying, “Every artist in music, you can find something negative and nitpick at where they lack.”
He underlined that despite modest initial numbers, his past tours have been successful. Cordae questioned the logic behind focusing on just one week of sales, asking, “Why spend all this time focusing on one week?” He highlighted that comparing his stats with mega stars like Kendrick Lamar is unfair, pointing out that his numbers stack up well against peers with similar music styles. Despite acknowledging that “comparison is the thief of joy,” he remains undeterred by criticism.
Prior to ‘Crossroads’ debut, Cordae took to social media, saying, “I don’t give 1 f— about a first week sale.” He argued that current metrics don’t truly reflect an album’s impact. Cordae highlighted a case where an artist did just 11K first week but still rocked an arena tour. His point was clear: numbers aren’t everything.
Cordae’s music consumption perspective is rooted in history, referencing the days when hitting big numbers meant physical sales. Now, with streaming dominant, he noted, “You can have 300,000 people listening… and the units equivalent is 200.” This modern music landscape leads him to champion the purity of music over sales figures, urging, “Let’s stop making music about numbers and money, it’s killing something that’s so pure.”
Cordae’s past projects haven’t topped significant charts, with neither climbing over 25,000 in weekly sales or gaining RIAA certification. Yet, his resolve shows a focus on artistic expression over commercial validation.
Cordae remains steadfast, valuing artistic integrity over sheer numbers. His message is clear: music should transcend metrics, focusing instead on creativity and long-term impact.
