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How a “Hi Level” Mindset Helps You Realize Your Potential | Cordae | TED

What does it take to build a legacy? Hip-hop artist Cordae tells how he went from mixtape-dropping high school kid to Grammy-nominated music star whose “Hi Level” mindset helps him achieve his dreams. If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas: Follow TED!…

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What does it take to build a legacy? Hip-hop artist Cordae tells how he went from mixtape-dropping high school kid to Grammy-nominated music star whose “Hi Level” mindset helps him achieve his dreams.

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128 Comments

  1. BreH

    June 14, 2022 at 12:13 am

    Loved this!

  2. Denigrader

    June 14, 2022 at 12:13 am

    Amazingly explained, impressed by how well he handled that big public 👏

  3. Hero

    June 14, 2022 at 12:16 am

    Cordae with a TED Talk? That’s legendary

  4. abstract jem

    June 14, 2022 at 12:16 am

    cordae is such a 🐐

  5. Donte Brown

    June 14, 2022 at 12:20 am

    🐐🖤💪🏾

  6. Raffael Paiva

    June 14, 2022 at 12:20 am

    ONLY TRUTHS. Thank you Cordae. Vida longa, mlk bom!

  7. Christal

    June 14, 2022 at 12:26 am

    Loved this Ted talk! Wish it was longer.

  8. kbnick

    June 14, 2022 at 12:32 am

    Amazing

  9. Yes Sir

    June 14, 2022 at 12:37 am

    Did he mean to put it as “hi”?

  10. P3RCEPTI0N

    June 14, 2022 at 12:40 am

    look at cordae man, so inspirational

  11. 9ineE11ven

    June 14, 2022 at 12:40 am

    🔥🐐

  12. the jhit

    June 14, 2022 at 12:45 am

    i 🖤 cordae

  13. Grant Legacy Gugino

    June 14, 2022 at 12:47 am

    CORDAE DID A TED TALK

  14. Rizzle FoSizzle

    June 14, 2022 at 12:47 am

    I feel like this came at a perfect time! Thanks Cordae x TED! Love this

  15. Daniel Sims

    June 14, 2022 at 12:49 am

    Look at cordae so inspirational

  16. What The Function

    June 14, 2022 at 12:51 am

    Worst Ted talk ever

  17. This Guy

    June 14, 2022 at 12:52 am

    Wow this was awesome I actually went to the From A Birds Eye tour concert in SF and I remember him mentioning that he was close to thinking about cancelling the tour but I really didn’t think anything of it at the time but to hear him say it again in relation to his disappointment in the reception of his album is crazy. I like how he talks about this too it kinda humanizes his feelings about the media. I liked the album A lot tho great Ted talk

  18. MelloWillTV

    June 14, 2022 at 12:53 am

    That was beautiful bro. Making MARYLAND proud. The high level way. 👁

  19. Yeetsckeerrrrrrrrr

    June 14, 2022 at 1:00 am

    Well spoken 🔥🔥🔥

  20. Polaar Name

    June 14, 2022 at 1:06 am

    Even when he talks if you put a beat it sounds like a rap

  21. Xavier Robertson

    June 14, 2022 at 1:08 am

    Put it in your music bro

  22. The Lion

    June 14, 2022 at 1:10 am

    Wow. Cordae my respect for you after watching this is through the roof, def born to be a legend.

  23. Midspiker

    June 14, 2022 at 1:14 am

    Gotta love Cordae. Watching the way this man changed his life for the better is amazing and he’s just getting started

  24. chowder

    June 14, 2022 at 1:19 am

    ayee

  25. Mqtt

    June 14, 2022 at 1:21 am

    this is pretty inspiring to me, as a student and seeing someone up there on ted talk who is young just proves that everyone is capable of anything. its your mindset, it plays a very important role in achieving success.

  26. Luca’s Experience

    June 14, 2022 at 10:32 pm

    Chillllssss fucking love it !!

  27. Whitebolls92

    June 14, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    Guy dressed like a clown gives “life advice”

  28. LikeJane

    June 14, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    Sometimes the most negative people in your life are your family, It can be really hard. Thank you Cordae

  29. King Of The Nerds

    June 14, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    I have no clue who this man is….

  30. OhLight

    June 14, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    Here from tiktok

  31. Seth Wikle

    June 14, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    whyd i think the friend was gonna be nahmir

  32. Squad wipes™

    June 14, 2022 at 11:20 pm

    1 minute in I’m already sold. Cordae the best XXL freshman out the last decade ♥️

  33. Jonathanobody

    June 14, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    This man is so inspirational

  34. Sensory Alchemy

    June 14, 2022 at 11:27 pm

    I don’t think the audience got the witty Chapelle Ja Rule reference at the beginning!

  35. HunTer DNA

    June 14, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    YEEYEEEEEEE YEEAAAAA BOOOOIIIIIIII LEEGGGGGOOOOOOO!!!! 🔥🍗❤️

  36. Sensory Alchemy

    June 14, 2022 at 11:40 pm

    Love Cordae, but for someone who’s job is a mastery of words, you would think he would have spelled High correctly on his TED Talk

  37. PremeV8

    June 14, 2022 at 11:47 pm

    this is so cold that he did this so much respect

  38. Liv Yett

    June 14, 2022 at 11:51 pm

    Jesus loves you he died on the cross for your sins. Believe in him and you will be saved and go to heaven!

  39. Rc

    June 14, 2022 at 11:51 pm

    He’s probably gonna sample this in one of his future songs.

  40. K C

    June 14, 2022 at 11:54 pm

    LFG

  41. Cristian Caporallini

    June 14, 2022 at 11:58 pm

    SPOT!

  42. Robert Casares

    June 15, 2022 at 12:03 am

    where do ik this kid from🧐🧐

  43. Fantas-eye

    June 15, 2022 at 12:08 am

    I’m at a time in my life or stage where I REALLY needed to hear exactly this. Sitting in this tiny room in Ecuador my first stop in my solo traveling journey I know there’s so much I wanna accomplish in life but I’m lacking the true faith and belief in myself. This really struck a cord and I’ll put these points into practice. I believe Ultimately God send this message to me. Allowed me to see it at no better time. Thank you Cordae for sharing this and your heart to help and inspire others ♥️

  44. 4D7onViDeo

    June 15, 2022 at 12:09 am

    This was great @Cordae! Gave me something to remember as I continue to work thru my own troubling times and trials. All these “Losses” are just going to make my story that much more exciting to remember later on! Good luck to everyone else that’s also chasing their dreams and/or finding themselves out there

  45. Venkatesh Bhat

    June 15, 2022 at 12:25 am

    Well spoken Cordae!!

  46. Jean Pierre Reynoso-Fournel

    June 15, 2022 at 12:27 am

    Thank you for this.

  47. AmonyNous

    June 15, 2022 at 12:35 am

    Get rich, surround yourself with yes men. Such a beautiful dream.

  48. Kilo

    June 15, 2022 at 12:50 am

    Cordae! I’ve been listening to your music for a couple of years and thought this talk was dope. Listen, I’m not crazy for asking this but I’d love to work with you. My co-founder and I are building a an app to help men explore their feelings via bite-sized audio content and it would be a dream to partner with you. Let me know.

  49. Travis Sutton

    June 15, 2022 at 12:57 am

    EVERYTHING HI LEVEL!

  50. Brandon

    June 15, 2022 at 1:12 am

    really dropped off since the days of tom thumb and reggie watts

  51. Marcus YT

    June 15, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    this changed my life and it all starts today.

  52. SquadWipes YT

    June 15, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    This is lit af to see Cordae on stage at TED 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  53. Lilith Amethystius

    June 15, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    I am aware of my potential, the issue now is how to get out of a place, a space (In this case my country) where i absolutely can’t exploit it… *Sigh*

  54. LegendaryAlex

    June 15, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Love how he is wearing a coat

  55. cashglocks

    June 15, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    cordae fr made it look at cordae man so inspirational

  56. THEJT413

    June 15, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Needed to hear this 🔥🙏🏽

  57. joshua wiley

    June 15, 2022 at 7:23 pm

    Watching cordae explain this for some reason just made this stand out. People have always tried to explain this to me. But I think it’s cause I’ve listened to his music and I actually admire him.

  58. jayee

    June 15, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    “each chapter isn’t gonna be perfect , but how do you wanna let your story end”

  59. Alumita 🌹𝗙**𝗖𝗞 Me ! Check 𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲

    June 15, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    ‘Don’t let your small failures make you lose sight of your bigger picture.’ I needed this today. Thank you, Cordae

  60. faraz lotfi

    June 15, 2022 at 8:19 pm

    My boy Cordae 🙏🙏

  61. Carol L

    June 15, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    Love it…don’t give up…keep trying 😊

  62. Colter Crockett

    June 15, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Sad nobody got the Ja rule joke 🙁

  63. ZAY ISO

    June 15, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    shorty is the truth! i been playing the album on repeat but this was much needed

  64. Riley Quin

    June 15, 2022 at 10:31 pm

    Wow. Thank you.

  65. IgniteNick

    June 15, 2022 at 10:36 pm

    Wow cordae not only a rapper a great Ted talk at 24 with some wisdom thanks for simplifying this and sharing you’re experience. 👏🏽

  66. dwyl HQ

    June 15, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    07:52 remove all negative people from your life _immediately_

  67. Ishaan Mishra

    June 15, 2022 at 11:08 pm

    The who cares what Ja Rule thinks line deserved a bigger chuckle. L crowd

  68. Notorious Niccolo

    June 15, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    The Dave Chappell reference😂

  69. Karsyn Eat my Mangos💦

    June 15, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    ‘Don’t let your small failures make you lose sight of your bigger picture.’ I needed this today. Thank you, Cordae

  70. Simon Maied

    June 15, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    Cordae I gotta start writing my dreams and goals hate when people judge you because of your past and swear you have no future

  71. Chastity Freeman

    June 15, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    Cordes this was great as a pg native keep it up🔥🔥

  72. Pierce Mondesire

    June 16, 2022 at 12:32 am

    What was the umm count

  73. Tmac

    June 16, 2022 at 12:54 am

    Where is that coat from?

  74. COBY SPECTRUMS

    June 16, 2022 at 1:03 am

    Redefining rappers and artists
    S/O to CORDAE

  75. Devin Nelson

    June 16, 2022 at 1:25 am

    Cordae went from just a brilliant artist to a brilliant man

  76. Cesar Barahona

    June 16, 2022 at 1:45 pm

    how great Cordae.. Love the energy. your time will come stay focused!!

  77. Joshua W

    June 16, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    Yes good point writing down your goals is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. If you didn’t believe you could achieve them then you would never set them. Yet by writing them down it focuses your attention on getting them completed.

  78. Binty Dee

    June 16, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    This is absolutely refreshing and I am so happy I came across this video ! 😍♥️ ! Can’t wait for my feature 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂 🥰♥️ I WILLLLL align with all that is meant for me 🥰💕

  79. Brandon Le

    June 16, 2022 at 3:09 pm

    Best Ted talk I’ve watched yet really hit me for real.

  80. Ramon Pamatz

    June 16, 2022 at 3:48 pm

    Every successful person almost has the same story but in different little ways crazy

  81. Wendy Warren

    June 16, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    What a great talk! Great wisdom in a captivating presentation 🙂 Woot!

  82. Steven Levernier

    June 16, 2022 at 4:10 pm

    Nonody has heard of him or cares lmao

  83. Gigi H101

    June 16, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    I love you Cordae 👏🏾👏🏾❤️‍🔥🫶🏾

  84. Mr B

    June 16, 2022 at 4:40 pm

    Good talk young man.

  85. Bete Rose

    June 16, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    TED … Terrible Entertainment Displayed

  86. Camille Morris

    June 16, 2022 at 4:53 pm

    Love this! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!🙏🏿🤗

  87. German Meza

    June 16, 2022 at 5:08 pm

    The JA RULE shot lmao

  88. Dali

    June 16, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    EXCELLENT. absolutely brilliant

  89. Dali

    June 16, 2022 at 5:20 pm

    I’m going to share this to all the groups I’m a part of

  90. Danielle F

    June 16, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    “Your habits are based on your habitat.” What a line!

  91. Selva Kumar S S

    June 16, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    Very motivating 👏

  92. Josemanuel Cruz

    June 16, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    “Who cares about what ha rule thinks” iykyk😭

  93. Native Mind

    June 16, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    this is HIPHOP

  94. Seth Moody

    June 16, 2022 at 6:28 pm

    “A high level mindset is doing anything you put your hands on, at a high level… come on now

  95. Gab M.

    June 16, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    dropping games

  96. Alecia

    June 16, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    This is so hard! Cordae did amazing

  97. Nicholas Haggar

    June 16, 2022 at 8:10 pm

    These jokes are funny and nobody laughing 😂😂😂

  98. Anthony

    June 16, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    Amazing!

  99. Tyoxy

    June 16, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Cordae did a great job

  100. Alphonsus Ho

    June 16, 2022 at 11:55 pm

    Hope all the young people who listen to him watches this Ted Talk

  101. King

    June 17, 2022 at 4:42 am

    I’m a young Generation Z baby. I’ve been listening to Cordae’s hip hop, rap music for a long time. I appreciate the insight from Cordae. I’m a few years younger than Cordae. It’s great that someone from my young generation spoke at this Ted Talk.

  102. Sajitha Balasooriya

    June 17, 2022 at 5:16 am

    This is good one broh ❤️

  103. water foker

    June 17, 2022 at 6:32 am

    Save you 13m of your life: 1) don’t give up on your big dreams

  104. Godlikegio

    June 17, 2022 at 7:47 am

    Dude this kid is so uninspiring. Like I’m tired of the whole “I’m a rapper but I’m smart” shtick.

    Drop some bangers or a hit brah I’m already in college, ion need no lectures 😂😂😂

  105. i made a song for Loona

    June 17, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    brother looks like J.Cole

  106. NadaSurferTube

    June 17, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    Thank you.

  107. Julio Correa

    June 17, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    This is very impressive from Cordae. Provided some much needed perspective!

  108. DCFanatic7

    June 17, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    Bruh ain’t no way my man Cordae on Tedtalk that’s incredible! Dudes such a talent

  109. Witchy

    June 17, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    Thank you

  110. A.C. J.

    June 17, 2022 at 9:56 pm

    He had so much going for him in life, but then he decided to buy that outfit.

  111. The Tbone Zone

    June 18, 2022 at 4:28 am

    watched this before bed, kept the video open gonna watch it in then morning again.

  112. JROD

    June 18, 2022 at 5:05 am

    Fucking love Cordae man

  113. snow white

    June 18, 2022 at 5:08 am

    Agree with you:)
    Cut off the negative people is very important, but in life there’s lots of those people with their very stubborn Passionate to pin down their life…gossiping. Jealousy. Envy. Hatred. Even set up all for just for defeat others satisfied their low minded…..I feel drained still learning how to cleansing the low energy.
    Very inspiring 💜✨

  114. Ark

    June 18, 2022 at 6:17 am

    Solid

  115. Wiz’Swank

    June 18, 2022 at 8:19 am

    You a big inspiration Cordae 💯❤️‍🔥

    Things don’t turn out how we always plan it, don’t loose sight of the bigger picture.

    High level mindset 💫

    🇳🇬

  116. Kristi Kola

    June 18, 2022 at 8:43 am

    He tried so hard to make some educated jokes that didn’t work out as well as he expected. Still, he remained positive xp. Good message though!

  117. Kristi Kola

    June 18, 2022 at 8:43 am

    He tried so hard to make some educated jokes that didn’t work out as well as he expected. Still, he remained positive. Good message though!

  118. Ger -

    June 18, 2022 at 11:25 am

    That whole Dave Chappelle Ja Rule joke went over everyone’s head

  119. Ger -

    June 18, 2022 at 11:31 am

    I know where I wanna be and I’m nearly there but I told some people about my goals and I’ve noticed some of them trying to stop me already

  120. Thajack Andrew

    June 18, 2022 at 11:50 am

    Hi Lever

  121. em g

    June 18, 2022 at 2:56 pm

    If we plan, God laughs 😲

  122. Berakah Emmanuel

    June 18, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    I love u vision board … God First

  123. Brian Gitachu

    June 18, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    Cordae is the truth.

  124. Michael

    June 18, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

  125. Ty Cross

    June 18, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Good to see cordae up there

  126. June 18, 2022 at 10:48 pm

    I gotta do one of these one of those days

  127. T0MapleLaughs

    June 18, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    Removing all negative people is so key. Esp. if you’re getting over something like addiction.

  128. Landon Funk

    June 19, 2022 at 1:07 am

    Mannnn why they not laughing at his jokes smh

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