Friday Night Lights should have been Cole's debut album.

[Lurkio]

cole would be where krit is rn if they didn’t force him to step out his comfort zone…

and yea everything before sideline story >>> that weak ass album

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Jay was on some real Dumbo shyt cuz ALL they had to do was drop In The Morning as a single and Cole would've been good.

 

[The Minister Of Culture]

I remember at the time ALOT of people said the same thing. Sideline story wasnt as good as Friday Night Lights & i think thats where some of the opinions about j.cole you see today first formed cause that album was just okay.

 

[Lurkio]

I remember at the time ALOT of people said the same thing. Sideline story wasnt as good as Friday Night Lights & i think thats where some of the opinions about j.cole you see today first formed cause that album was just okay.

Nah the opinions formed from the mixtapes…ppl thought he was boring off those…hov and them knew he had to make different type of records to become who he is now…Cole would be underground right now if they didn’t force him to make different type of records and expand…that Cole isn’t making middle child or doing songs w 21 savage or durk

 

[Mike the Executioner]

It WAS suppose to be his debut album. With the exceptions of the freestyles, “Best Friend” remix, and the G.O.O.D Friday joint.

A majority of that mixtape was intended for his debut album. But Hov/Roc Nation shot down a majority of the records because he didn’t have that “big 1st single” in their eyes.

Thats we ended up with “Sideline Story.”

It WAS his debut album. Hov told him he was staying on the shelf until he made a hit. He tried with Who Dat but it flopped and in desperation he made Work Out, which was a hit and got him a release date.

Before Work Out he dropped FNL to keep his buzz going.


What Hov and a bunch of other Label Heads and A&R’s didn’t realize was that those very same mixtapes that got them signed WERE these artists debut albums. So Far Gone was already Drake’s debut album. The Warm Up was already Cole’s debut album. The fanbase was already there and ready to support. There was no need to force radio hits.

Hov asking, "Where's the record that the radio could play?"
And I was striking out for months, ninth inning, feeling fear
Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career
But at first, that wasn't clear, nikkas had no idea

Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind that kept on saying, "Where's the hits? You ain't got none"
"And you know Jay would never put your album out without none"
And, dog, you know how come
Labels are archaic, formulaic with their outcomes
They don't know, they just study the charts
Me, I studied the shows, the fans, studied their hearts
I had a feeling I was killin' and this music we were spillin' out
Would change lives forever, fukk the label, put it out
Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number two
Now, it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin' true
Still, no release date from the label, are they insane?
Gucc told me, "Play the game to change the game"

 

[spliz]

I disagree, I would’ve done the same thing - this is hindsight. In real time, no artist has ever blown up and sold 200k first week just off mixtapes without a hit for their major label debut. You were asking those labels to bet on the unknown with artists they had invested in heavily. Hip hop has never produced a superstar who didn’t have hit records first.

@spliz Cole fukked himself over. He could’ve dropped FNL with Work Out and Hov would’ve put out the album. No one told him to drop the whole album. Dude could’ve just put out the Drake record and sat on it to see if it was moving and if the label would out money behind it. He acted emotionally and didn’t understand the business. You can even see it in how he runs Dreamville - dude hates promotion and has to be forced to do it.

He didn't even make Work Out yet. So how would he have dropped it with Work Out. And he tried to Can't Get Enough. Hov still wasn't happy with that. If u remember anything. Work Out was a lucky hit cause it didn't catch on like that until like a month after he dropped it.

 

[spliz]

Jay was on some real Dumbo shyt cuz ALL they had to do was drop In The Morning as a single and Cole would've been good.

Yup.

 

[spliz]

Nah the opinions formed from the mixtapes…ppl thought he was boring off those…hov and them knew he had to make different type of records to become who he is now…Cole would be underground right now if they didn’t force him to make different type of records and expand…that Cole isn’t making middle child or doing songs w 21 savage or durk

This is all cap. Like 100% of it.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Nah the opinions formed from the mixtapes…ppl thought he was boring off those…hov and them knew he had to make different type of records to become who he is now…Cole would be underground right now if they didn’t force him to make different type of records and expand…that Cole isn’t making middle child or doing songs w 21 savage or durk

Dawg you could not have been around in real time because Cole's hype was through the roof 2009-11. The most people complained about was his toilet humor. The boring allegations didn't start until he underdelivered with Cole World

 

[DaSk8D00D]

FNL was super dope I would be pissed if I made that as my debut and the label made me put out sideline story instead

Have Cole & Hov collabed on anything other than Mr Nice Watch and Star is Born? At this point it just seems weird they never did more than a couple songs shortly after he got signed. Even Pusha T be getting Hov verses on demand

 

[Jaguar93]

I remember people back then thought Jay didn’t like Cole.

 

[spliz]

Dawg you could not have been around in real time because Cole's hype was through the roof 2009-11. The most people complained about was his toilet humor. The boring allegations didn't start until he underdelivered with Cole World

Exactly. That nikka just made some shyt up right there. Lol

 

[Lurkio]

Dawg you could not have been around in real time because Cole's hype was through the roof 2009-11. The most people complained about was his toilet humor. The boring allegations didn't start until he underdelivered with Cole World

Hell nah…ppl were making jokes about Cole before FNL…his perception somewhat changed after that verse on looking for trouble but they went right back to it when his album dropped…I was a cole fan as a youngin on the IC I witnessed this in real time

You talking abt his hype from his fanbase not the general public

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Hell nah…ppl were making jokes about Cole before FNL…his perception somewhat changed after that verse on looking for trouble but they went right back to it when his album dropped…I was a cole fan as a youngin on the IC I witnessed this in real time

You talking abt his hype from his fanbase not the general public

Well I mean yeah all lyrical guys got that type of talk from a certain subset of rap fans; the Weezy/Drake type guys. But I think everyone else in the sphere was hyped for him.

 

[Lurkio]

Well I mean yeah all lyrical guys got that type of talk from a certain subset of rap fans; the Weezy/Drake type guys. But I think everyone else in the sphere was hyped for him.

all I’m saying…Hov and them wanted him to be in that Drake Wayne space…the ppl who listened to that music (the majority) called him boring…if it was left to him he woulda been in the same tier as Krit and them…very loyal fanbase/ highly regarded but not some superstar