I am done slamming Cole, it’s hypocritical. I am not going to be one of those guys who thought the album was fire for 2 days and slammed it on the third day. Admittedly, the album sounded different after he apologized. It was infused with disappointment. Yea, he disappointed everyone, if you release a diss record, you have to stand by it and face the music. Is it cowardice or death prevention? Ain’t no shame to run if the amygdala is triggered. Hardly, he just wants peace because the game is toxic. 20 guys dissing Drake, the apparent plan is to end him. Damn! Envy, pettiness and jealously running rampant. How can you plan for another man’s downfall? Cole said it best – p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l. Apologize and sit on the sidelines, stay neutral, forever the middle child, you don’t have to commit to anybody, that’s idiotic. Pride is what will lead to your downfall because even Superman has kryptonite. There’s a huge difference between healthy competition and toxicity. This is toxic. A J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar collabo album might still change everything, we might still get that, that will be healthy competition. We shouldn’t act like Cole’s skills regressed after the apology, quite the contrary, he is in his prime. He says so himself and as somebody who has been listening to him since “The Warm Up” in 2009, I agree. He is still one of the best wordsmiths in the game, you can’t fault his skill and he can still bury rappers. I am done slamming Cole, he chose his mental health and peace over ego and pettiness. At least he is consistent with the messages he preaches, he is a stand up guy, I respect him for that. He is not feeding a facade of what a rapper should be, he is not perpetuating a stereotype, he is just not participating, I can respect that, he has always been conscious. Personally, I can’t leave now, I have been a fan since “The Warm Up”, since “Dead Presidents II”, he got me on the first listen and I’ve been with him ever since. I can’t leave now when he is better, when he is rich, when he is in his prime. I was there when he had no money and was dreaming out loud. “The Off-season” had some of the best writing, he flowed, he had punchlines, he told stories of the underdog, he gave us access to his psyche, he was vulnerable, he educated and he empowered – a full J. Cole album, the moment everything came full circle for him. I am not leaving the moment he says “The Fall off” is like Hov dropping “Reasonable Doubt” last. Hell no! I believe that assertion. Let them fight over the throne, they will tire themselves out, discredit one another and commit silly mistakes, clearing the way for you to ascend. Although he apologized, “7 Minute Drill” still exists, it’s still valid and was named after a whole album that is still streaming. Is he really sorry? Might Delete Later still awesome, still Cole in his prime.
My friend Lloyd once said “I have never seen someone as talented as J. Cole”. This was because he single-handedly produced his album, rapped throughout and featured himself twice – his that nice, on KOD. I had to admit that was pretty dope. Featuring himself was a response to his critics who said he never collaborated with anybody. What a response hey? KiLL Edward. I agree with his sentiments, J. Cole is easily one off the greatest to ever grace the mic. His story-telling sets him apart from everybody. He uses awesome metaphors and similes. His relatable and grounded. He is poetic. It’s his flow, he follows the rhythm. It’s his intelligence. Spits knowledge. His hooks are outstanding and he can sing. He is multi-faceted. Considering he does all his albums alone, you would think they are second rate right? Wrong! Focused energy is better. His albums are generally lauded by critics and are among the most best selling not only in hip-hop but music. To due all his albums have gone platinum. They have all peaked number 1 one the billboard 200. But still no Grammy! What’s a nigga got to do? Yea, I know he won one with 21 Savage on “A lot” but it doesn’t count for me. J. Cole is consistently overlooked by the Academy. How can “Power Trip” not win best Rap Sung song? Really? In 2013? Really? Objectively, what was better than “Power Trip”? “Hotline Bling”? Don’t waste my time. I am not throwing shade on Drake but Power Trip is way better! It’s more intelligent, it appeals more to people. Everybody has been infatuated with somebody to a degree that they couldn’t think properly. Maybe my views are clouding my judgment. Maybe I shouldn’t have referenced “Hotline Bling”. I am being unfair, subjective and biased in my analysis. Maybe J. Cole is another Nas, a artist so great, who was loved by everybody except the executives of coprates. And that’s good because that means they are talking about real things. They are autonomous, they don’t follow waves, the suites don’t have a say in their creative processes, they are true philosophers, the true voice of the people. Cole, Nigga I have “The Come Up”. Let’s not forget “The Notorious BIG” never won a Grammy too, instead they gave it to, Oh wait for this, you’ll love it! They gave to Puff Daddy! Yes, that’s right both “Biggy” and “Puffy” were nominated for “Best Rap Album” and the award went to “Puffy”! Hahahaha, in their demented world “Puffy” is better than “Biggy”! Man, fuck the Grammys for real. Award shows are fixed, it’s all about PR. Real artists never get recognized. I remember when Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won over Kendrick Lamar. It was good kid, maad city Kendrick Lamar, one of hip-hops greatest albums! How does that happen? I am sorry I mentioned the Grammys clearly they don’t have a clear criteria, quite clearly they are unreliable, they lack credibility. I was talking about J. Cole. I first heard him on “The Warm Up”. It was a great mix tape. I instantly fell in love. He had this x-factor. He was authentic and genuine. He had a arrogance. He was super hungry. He had punchlines for days! I remember when I first heard “Dead Presidents II” I lost my mind. The play on words was incredible. He was too quick, he was delivering punchline on punchline. The metaphors and similies were great. I remember a line, he said “ahead of my time, like I live my whole life backwards” and I was like what? I remember “Dreams” too, on the song his talking about the girl on “Power Trip”. Man, Cole is incredible. There was also “Lights Please” that was like conscious, “A Dollor and Dream II” that recalled his struggles and my anthem of the mixtape “I Get Up”. Damn! “The Warm Up” was so awesome. It takes me back to my high school days, riding a train to and back school. Then his debut album came out “Cole World: Sidelines Story”. I expected more. J. Cole let me down. Sure, there were magic songs like “Sideline Story”, “Can’t Get Enough” and Lost Ones” but it wasn’t enough to spark the album into life. The album sounded too controlled and commercial. It didn’t have a clear structure. It didn’t sound inspired to me. Sure it had songs like “In The Morning”, “Lights Please” and again”Lost Ones” but I knew those songs from his previous mixtapes. As a J. Cole, the album didn’t have much to offer for me. It was bitterly disappointing. Then 2013 came and he released “Born Sinner” and my whole world changed. It was the J. Cole that I knew, that I wanted. He was so awesome in the album. The album was so powerful. It was so inspired. And on the track “Let Nas Down”, he officially linked himself with Nas and apologized to the whole world for his first album! He assured us that it was just a part of the plan, he needed to appeal to the commercial space and we all forgave him. He kept his word and he has been the same ever since and now his “the greatest right now!” His third album, a concept album named “2014 Forest Hills Drive” was amazing! A real hip-hop classic! It was the first album to go Platinum without features for over 25 years. He did it alone, from the Raps to production. I have a separate post for “Forest Hills Drive”, take a look at it, I can’t talk about it here. His 4th album too, also a concept album titled “4 Your Eyez Only” is a classic. It got nominated for “Rap Album of the Year” at the Grammys and surprise, surprise it got overlooked. Then in 2018, he released one of hip-hops most important and impactful album titled “KOD”. This is an awesome album. It is J. Cole at his absolute best. The album discusses drug addiction, infedelity, taxes, facing demons, the system and money. This is a big “NO!” from the man and we all understand why this album was overlooked by the Academy. However, it solidified J. Coles name as the voice of the people, the voice of reason and a hip-hop immortal. I lead you astray there “Cold World: Sidelines Stories” was incredible! It talked about an underdog who made it despite time times. He managed to endure and made it to the other side. His done it now, his a superstar! Nigga, I am the underdog like Cole and Jigga! How do you feel about that album now? Think for yourself ntate. St. Tropez OH you made it here, Cole in his prime! Amazing song my nigga, well done! To be honest, I can’t pick between Born Sinner and Forest Hills Drive. They are both great. But I think Born Sinner has an edge. It was released a year earlier. YES! That’s my criteria. That’s something.
antakalipa 