2014 Forest Hills Drive
What an amazing album. It starts off with a beautiful intro with J. Cole serenading us to the album. The intro is metaphorical in the sense that Cole is also introduced to the world by this voice underlying what life on earth is about namely happiness and freedom – things that people in the world strive for in vain. We can say the voice is mothernature preparing J. Cole to the world. The intro is smooth, patience and nurturing. Then just like that J. Cole is dropped into the world on January 28th. The date signals the date of Cole’s birth. It is not the first time a rapper has done this: Jay Z on the Black Album released in 2004 does this on “December 4th” the song is also preceded by a short and reassuring intro too. On January 28th Cole reintroduces himself to the world by showcasing his skills on the mic setting the tone for the album. The beat is cool and easy-going and the hook is iconic. On the hook he talks about “Don’t give them too much you” and he ends up giving all of himself up in the album. From his earliest years to the Cole who has made it and conquered the world. January 28th is personal and ambitious as he warns everyone and lays claim to the crown proclaiming that he is a God.
After he is born he takes us to his first sexual encounter on Wet Dreamz with a girl that he was in school with. He tells the story off a young Jermaine in pursuit of his first piece of ass. The story-telling is impeccable. He tells the story in the first person, second person and third person. A similar technique he used on “Lost Ones” on his debut album “Cole World: Sideline Story” where he gets his girlfriend pregnant and is not ready for all that responsibility. His girlfriend has her say on the second verse and she explodes with emotions and a lot of hurt telling her cowardly boyfriend that she doesn’t need him and that she’ll raise the baby all alone. Similar to “Lost Ones” – there is a lot of vulnerability on Wet Dreamz as Cole admits to the listener that he is indeed a virgin but she can’t really show that. We also learn on the third verse that the girl was also a virgin. The song is a masterpiece! I love how Cole maintains his “Rapper voice” despite the vulnerability and uncertainty in his lyrics, the contrast in those two elements are amazing.
In his philosophical works Carl Jung talks about the Anima and Animus. He says we are all born neutral in terms of sexual orientation. A hypothesis backed back the godfather of psychology Sigmund Freud who famously stated that the “libido” is bisexual. Meaning we are born in the world with both male and female traits and it’s 50/50. Because there are standards and an order in the world certain traits are repressed to conform to the norm. So for example a young boy is taught from a very young age that sensitivity and emotions are not a very seductive element. Or that a lady doesn’t wear pants or go hunting. Stereotypes often repress this Anima or Animus. Anima according to Carl Jung is the female side to the male and Animus is the male side of the female. Carl Jung explains that we must access our Anima and Animus in order to reach our subconscious mind and that Anima or Animus will give us untold creative power! We see examples of this with Coco Chanel, a designer who created female apparel but got her inspiration from male clothing. She would simply alter man’s clothing and present them as women clothing and she attained great power. We also see this from Urban Artists like Drake who are able to reach into their Anima to create music that is appealing for both male and female. Through the Anima, Drake controls popular culture every time he releases a single or album. Drake redefined what it is to be a Rapper by adding vulnerability and emotions to his songs.
J. Cole on “Wet Dreamz” reaches through his Anima and the result is devastating. He created a song that will last forever! A song everyone will be able to connect with through infinity. J. Cole himself is not a stranger to connecting to his Anima and that has given him untold power and set him above everyone else as he often does it with impeccable story-telling and mind-boggling metaphors. There is a misconception about tapping into your Anima or Animus – it does not entail that one is a homosexual. There is no such thing as “homosexual” or “gay” or “lesbian” – only homosexual acts! We are all children of mothernature.
After the masterpiece Cole takes us to his years as an adolescent on “03 Adolescence”. He is growing up in the world and beginning to understand how the world operates. He is very observant and sees the struggle of the people all around him. He is young and energetic and beginning to create and identity for himself. He sees the system as a trap and doesn’t regard 9 to 5 as an option – he would rather push with his homies. We gather from the second verse that he is a very likeable guy as he has a conversation with one of his homies. In a conversation with his friend, he salutes him and tells him that his doing pretty well from himself and he would like to join him. That he needs the money too. His friend disapproves and gives Cole a tongue lashing that he will never forget, it is an honest tongue lashing, one with a lot of love and worship. Cole takes the lashing and commits himself to being the best person he can be – not for himself but for everyone who has a dream but can’t reach to it.
On a “Tale of two Citiez” Cole is slapped with the reality that life is hard. He is now in New York City and everything is fast. He has dreams of making it as a Rapper and becoming rich. But the reality is that he is poor. Nonetheless, he is striving and fighting. The city is so harsh and cold not like Fayetteville where he is from. The hook of the song talks about how he was robbed and that he doesn’t blame them because he understands the city and its rules. That the street is like the jungle and only the strong survive. He internalizes this information to make himself a better person – a more informed person as he strives for his dreams in the big city.
“Fire Squad” is a reflection of how far he has come. At this time he has perfected his craft and in his own mind is the best to ever do it. The song sounds like it too. The beat, the lyrics, the bridge, the bold declaration, the speech, and the iconic “who’s the king?” rhetorical. It is a skillful song that is charismatic, unapologetic and assured. It is bold and in your face. It is easily one of Cole’s best songs ever! It is this song that takes him to Hollywood on “St. Tropez”. St. Tropez is the interlude of the album, the transition in Cole’s life. “St. Tropez” is somber, reflective and nostalgic. It feels like destiny. The lyrics are full of adjectives that are abstract that are backed by melodies and reflective horns and the sound is beautifully intertwined. It feels like a dream about a trip you have been waiting for all your life. A moment created by the stars – the moment when the Universe finally smiles at you and gives you a thumbs up. “He’s on his way, he’s bout to get paid, he’s on his way to Hollywood” I love it!
On “GOMD”, Cole makes it in Hollywood and all his dreams come true but at the cost of his soul as he starts to lose it. He gets tangled in a meaningless world and he doesn’t recognize the person he has become. He reflects on “Love” and “Happiness” the focal point of the intro and decides he now wants to pursue that. That he wants the simple life. For the second time in the album Cole changes and returns to his roots. He now sees everything clearer and is knowledgeable. Hollywood is to thank for that. Hollywood was the catalyst. Hollywood saved him. He maintains the same tone until the end of the album.
Now Cole is in pursuit for Love and Happiness. On “No Role Modelz” he meets girls that don’t fit the profile. He meets girls that are shallow, narcissistic and materialistic. Knowing Hollywood so well he cites it and blames “Reality Shows”. He explains that this is the life that these women have chosen and trying to save them is a waste of time. It is the make-up of their fabricated and plastic psychology. Cole explains that they are empty and being with them won’t make you happy. A theory he knows firsthand from his transition to “Hollywood Cole” to J. Cole as exhibited on “GOMD”. Cole doesn’t feel petty for them and moves on with his life.
He decides to rekindle an old relation on “Hello” but finds out that she has already started a new life. Cole tries to reach out but to no avail. The hook is an emphasis, a cry out for attention and it is repetitive and effective in creating a tone full of melancholy. The dark chords of the piano also emphasize and tie the mood together. What now for Jermaine Cole? He decides to redirect his love on “Apparently” and talks about his mother. The chords are striking and up tempo. It is a sweet and grand gesture that is heartfelt and full of love. He is reflective and honest.
On “Love Yourz” Cole comes to the realization that everything in the world is temporarily. That everything fades and no amount of material can make you happy. He recommends being content with what and who you are. He advises the listener to practice love in their loves. To be around people who genuinely love you. He recommends taking charge of your life. He advises the listener to stop comparing and live life the best way you can. He is philosophical in this message and it ties the whole album up. He extends this message on “Note to Self” when he states “Nothing matters, you’ll see in the end”. He uses the existentialist approach in conveying this message. He gave us his whole life in 13 songs. The album is philosophical – it teaches you how to live. It is art. It is tied together. It is forever!
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