Our Favorite J. Cole Song From Each Album
Today is J. Cole's birthday, and as one of the more consistent rappers of his generation, we want to give him his flowers. Although all albums aren't equal, every album has some standout moments that we wanted to check out. We're going to look at our favorite song from each of his six studio albums. We're only including solo studio projects in this list, so there will be no mention of the Revenge of the Dreamers projects.
Cole World: The Sideline Story - Dollar And a Dream III
There were high expectations for his debut album, and even though some people felt as though it wasn't what they expected, there was no question by the end that he could rap and that he was here to stay. Anytime an artist has a series of songs, fans expect every entrant into the series to be top tier. Part 3 of Dollar And a Dream didn't fail. With multiple beat switches and Cole showing off the dexterity of his flow, this song showed that he's a student of the game. As the second track on his debut album, it showed that he was here to rap. No gimmicks. No games. Just rap.
Born Sinner - Runaway
The sophomore slump is a term used for artists who are coming off the success of a first album. Oftentimes the second album doesn't live up to the standard that the first album set. This wasn't the case with Born Sinner. It felt like Cole began honing on on his craft a bit more. He was figuring out a consistent sound and his storytelling was getting more refined. Runaway showed off glimpses of his development. He has a narrative on the last verse of his racist manager, equating it to slavery, then eventually brings it to his lineage. The ability to take us there and hold our hands through a narrative is rare. Cole did it well here.
2014 Forest Hills Drive - 03' Adolescence
2014 Forest Hills Drive is considered by many to be Cole's magnum opus. In a little over an hour, Cole narrates his life from his childhood home (2014 Forest Hills Drive) to fame. 03' Adolescence tells a story of a high school Cole trying to figure things out. He reflects on insecurities and being ungrateful for the life he was living. He expresses his fear of dying in his hometown and conversations with friends that helped him not stray onto the wrong path.
4 Your Eyez Only - Foldin Clothes
This album, at the time of its release, was polarizing in many ways. As a follow-up to Forest Hills Drive, it was disappointing to some, and satisfying to others. A lot changed between this album and the last one. Now we're hearing Cole as a father and a husband. This is an interesting perspective when you've been listening to an artist for years and sometimes don't realize they're human and naturally things change. Foldin Clothes is Cole talking about being home and just being a husband. Helping around the house and just making life easier for his wife. Rappers, generally, don't speak like this. It was good to hear him let loose in this way.
KOD - Friends (feat. Kill Edward)
In some ways, this album was Cole as an elder statesman talking to the younger generation about some of what was going on at the time. The drug use and glorification of certain lifestyles were all examined by Cole for this album. Friends has Cole's alter ego named Kill Edward. Addiction is the core of this song. He speaks about trauma and who is to blame for the issues in the black community for the issues. Cole enumerates a list of things and people to blame and alludes to the fact that he can rap forever about who to blame. In the end, he suggests meditation as an alternative to self-medication.
The Off-Season - Let Go My Hand (feat. Bas and 6lack)
If anyone over the course of the last few albums forgot Cole could rap, they were reminded with this album. From the beginning to the end, he took no bars off. It was very reminiscent of the mixtape Cole that people fell in love with. Let Go My Hand often feels like someone is rambling. Cole speaks about dabbling in different religions and his duties as a father. He revisits themes about fears of dying and some of the lessons life has taught him.