"For a minute became lost in my ways
this for my n***as that was tossed in a grave
every so often I fade deep in my thoughts
and then get lost in a daze,
we used to play befo' yo
coffin was made......" - J. Cole
People have focused too much on the flo' bananas, peel back line
and
completely overlooked moments like this. If you're at a loss
as to why people feel J. Cole, it's the moments like these that people
love, it's this introspection and reflection on the past and now that show
why a certain rapper on atlantic has been left in the dust by his peers.
Peers who all feature similar content.....
With that said having listened to the album a few times :
1. J. cole, enlist a singer or drink that autotune Kool-aid like Drake breh.
Some of these songs get dragged down by his singing
That isn't the case for all of em, in fact his singing adds a certain charm
to others that would otherwise be lost with a different singer but in other cases
it makes an otherwise good song a difficult listen.
2. This is J. Cole's ethos on full display. He
IS the every man and he revels
in that. He lied to lure a girl to his spot so he can lose his virginity. He didn't
perceive himself as fortunate until comparing his situation to his friend, who felt
unloved in his own home. He
IS the kid who used to tape pictures of his favorite
rappers on the wall and is now in a situation where he can call those very rappers
he once admired, his peers. It's inspirational and he seems to want to inspire people
to
aspire. Something he examines on his 03' adolesence where he converses with a friend
on potentially becoming a dealer.
The problem with this is after over 11 projects, I kinda agree with other posters
on here, these are topics that Cole has covered several times over.
He appears to be running out of topics to cover which really leaves us
to the overall delivery of these same topics and this is where the issue kind
of evaporates. The production allows the sameness of certain topics to take
a backseat, he's saying similar things but over production that outclasses his
older homegrown projects which tends to give these current songs a "big" sound
compared to the older ones.
The overall theme of this project differs from Born Sinner though and this
culminates in "Love Yourz". Instead of being a potent examination of the ills
of fame and excess, it looks at appreciating what you have and what you've had, though
it does underline his views on "hollywood" types and the power of the dream.
3. Seems he's co-opting a lot of the music styling's of his peers. At moments
J. Cole sounds like he's evoking TDE members like Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar
and sounds very far from his Warm Up/ Come Up beginnings. It's not so bad
that it makes his music a cheap knock off version of other rappers but it's pretty
apparent he is apart of "now" and has taken parts of "now" and put it into his music.
I heard mention of pretension in this project, there is certainly some of it
there but it's more akin to Kendrick Lamar's approach to his music.
He makes those that would be described as being lesser's of society in
his peer's music into actual
PEOPLE.
There are grey areas to these situations, Ignorance is dashed when situations are
found out to be more complex and it's one of the ways J. Cole often draws in listeners.
A simplistic premise suddenly has multiple layers such as lying to get laid for the first
time or envying his friend who sells pot to white students.
The songs I like on this album :
January 28th arguably the strongest song on this album.
03' Adolescence - another really strong song on this album.
A tale of 2 citiez - "Trap",Hip Hop to a T, only difference is theme, dope track.
Fire Squad
St. Tropez - just
G.O.M.D.
No Role Modelz
Apparently
Hello
Intro
Love yourz was really, really drug down by his singing which is unfortunate
because it's a pretty blatant call back to one of his "classics", still a good song
but I think someone else should have sung that. The verses and the instrumental
however are good probably will get replayed the least for me though.
I don't really count the outro as a song but before he launches into his shoutouts
and "ending credits". It nearly sounds like one and before anyone asks I did listen
to the whole outro, it was easier the ears
This is a good piece of work, a nice break from all the Jazz and instrumental
music I've been listening to.
"2014 forest hills drive" cements my belief that Hip Hop still does and likely will continue to produce
some good talents though they may be judged a bit unfairly like J. Cole and Wale.
If I were to rate this album I'd say it's 8/8.5 out of 10, very good release, not totally
flawless but good.
*pardon the grammar, I wrote this at like 5/6 in the morning.
I've corrected any errors I see.
@ your opinion on Cole mixtapes and albums. This project is a solid 7.5 to 8 tho off 2 listens. Best mainstream release of the year.
