"Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself, My Name Is COLE!"
J. Cole's solo sophomore album 'Born Sinner' has finally arrived! June 18 was the release date, which was also Kanye West's 'Yeezus' and Mac Miller's 'Watching Movies With The Sound Off' release date. J. Cole decided to bump his release date which it was originally June 25, the same release date has Wale's 'The Gifted' (I guess J. Cole wanted to go up against real competition). Cole's album actually did get leaked a week early, which will change his weekly sale predictions. He recently sent out tweets basically going on a tweet rant about he opinions about publications and who represents Hip Hop. He seemed on the edge if you ask me.
The anticipation of 'Born Sinner' was huge, it's his sophomore album, he is no more a "new rapper", he is an established Hip Hop artist that doesn't need be featured in another artist song to stay relevant. His single "Power Trip" featuring Miguel is a complete success, receiving a numerous spins on the radio. Cole recently did a live stream of 'Born Sinner' for his fans which was pretty cool. He was also interviewed by the GOAT Elliott Wilson for CRWN.
'Born Sinner' started off with "Villuminati" writted and produced by truly yours, J. Cole of course. "Villuminati" sampled Biggie's "Juicy", Big's voice repeated "Born sinner, the opposite of a winner" while J. Cole raps "Sometimes I brag like Hov" (Shit I would too!). Cole made a good point in this song; he talked about how people think him and other rappers are in the Illuminati. He raps, "This Next three bars is dedicated to the retards, keep on asking me about illuminati. Is you stupid nigga? Young black millionaire, old white billionaire. I'm sure they can do without me and I ain't really into sacrificing hukan bodies. A couple more A's I could've been a summa cum laude."
The "Kenney Sermon" skit was symbolic. A man preached and was asking for donations. The reason it was on 'Born Sinner'? The fact of the matter is, do we really have to spend money to recieve blissings? I myself believe in God and believe in giving back to others less fortunate, or those in need but the "Kenny Sermon" skit makes you think well why is it on the album?
Cole sampled Outkast's "Da Art of Storytellin" Pt. 1 for "Land of the Snakes". Cole opened the song up spitting, "Know some hoes from the past like 'damn Cole wish I knew you would be rich'. Well shoulda asked". In "Land of the Snakes" J. Cole reminisces about his upbringing in Fayetteville, NC, moving up North to NYC, and love/females.
Aren't we all sick of hearing "Power Trip"? Not really, if you think about "Power Trip" compliments the album. As Miguel sings "Would you believe me if I said I'm in love, baby I want you to love me!" (Man, I love Miguel in this song), Cole raps about a past relationship. In the video, J. Cole ends up killing Miguel in this "Power Trip" record.
Watch "Power Trip": http://m.vevo.com/watch/j-cole/power-trip-explicit/USQX91300747
Now, "No money"? J. Cole spit some cold ass shit, like this interlude is one of the best interlude I have heard in a while. Can we get a whole song J. Cole? Please? "No Money" seriously reminds me of a old Nas flow. I loved loved loved this short little song, too bad it was just an interlude. I barely paid attention to the production because I was too focused on the truth which he was spitting.
Trouble, Trouble Trouble. I would say this is one of the darkest songs on the album. "Trouble" was produced by J. Cole as well every song on the album. This is my favorite and might be my favorite song on the album. After Cole's intro at the beginning of the record a church choir roared, blessing us with a chorus that continued throughout the song. J. Cole used his lyrical gifts in "Trouble" to talk about temptation and women problems. Cole raps, "Could write a book called 'The Things Hoes Say'. Show a lot of love to my sisters though, but these bitch so predictable".
"Runaway" gave me a jazz feel, with electric guitars, bass solo, and subtle Rhodes chords. The jazz vibe played out so perfectly while J. Cole kind of sung the hook, "Runaway, Runaway, Runaway, Runaway...I'm holding on desperately". In "Runaway" Cole expressed his struggles with his morals affected by a trouble relationship. Cole raps "Unbelievable, seen evil that not even Knievel know. At age 3 I knew this world was 3 below. Listen even though my ego low, achieve the unachievable.". It was like a Common joint, I felt like Common was just about to come in at anytime.
Real quickly, "She Knows" was so well produced and orchestrated. If any, J. Cole deserves his props for this record. If you noticed, Cole actually pocketed the production of the songs from Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience' album. At the end of "She knows", we think it is over until Amber Coffman continues to grace us with her vocals, which extends the track. Switching up cords, J. Cole learns from the best.
"Rich N****s" started of with the sound of running water while opens up to us, giving us an insight on his opinions about money. He raps, "I hate rich n****s God damn it, cause I ain't never had a lot. Damn it, who you haf to kill? Who you had to rob? Who you had to fuck to make it to the top?" In "Real N****s" J. Cole talkings about is mother working a second job because his dad wasn't there, he also talked about how there can be bittersweet success. In the end of the record, Cole expresses something deep to us. He raps about how he wants success but he doesn't want to sell his soul for it.He raps, "Now I'm Cobain with a shotgun aimed to my brain 'cause I can't maintain no more. Tad bit extreme I know, money can't save your soul". Great story telling Cole.
"Where is Jermaine?" was a funny interlude, and a great start to "Forbidden Fruit" which was sampled from A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation", but the original track was Ronnie Foster's 1972 "Mystic Brew" . Kendrick Lamar, the only rapper in the album was featured in the song, singing more than rapping In this record Cole expresses is lust and love one again saying, "Me and my bitch, took a a little dip, down to the garden. Took a little sip, apple juice falling from her lips, took a little sip". The song really was about temptations in life but you taking that sip juice from the forbidden fruit can lead to destruction. As I digress, Cole even references Adam and Eve. He raps "Do you believe that Eve had Adam in check? And if so, you gotta expect to sip juice from the forbidden fruit and get loose". Cole even mentioned dropping his album the same day as Kanye West, he goes on and raps, "Ima drop the album same day as Kanye just to show the Boyz to men now like Wayne. And i dont mean disrespect to the legends but this whats next the boy sick cant disinfect." But can we please have Kendrick lay down a verse for the remix, Cole?
"Chaining Day" reminded me of a little bit of Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" with the lust of money, but then having control of his lust with "Jesus Walks", and then the period of "New Slaves". Cole talks about all three watch: " Iced out crazy, I wanna shine like Baby. Compared to that nigga I ain't even got a bib yet. Truth be told I ain't even brought a crib yet. This is everything they told a nigga not to do. Image is everything, I see it got a lot to do with the way people perceive and what they believe. Money short so this jewelry is like weave, meant to decieve and hear people say I see you". Then with the hook, "Told my accountant it's the last time, I swear it's the last time.....so don't take my chains from me...cause I chose Slavery....This is the last time, cause I love this Slavery". All sounds familiar? Great minds really do think alike!
"Ain't That Some Shit" has a lot of similar techniques to Timbaland's chopped up and double timing beat method, good concept for just an interlude.
"Crooked Smile" ft. TLC is J. Coles biggest pop hit yet, that will hopefully receive radio play. I didn't really like this record but it's a great record.
Now "Let Nas Down" is one of my favorite productions because J. Cole sampled an artist that I grew up listening to, Fela Kuti. Fela Kuti is a famous Nigerian artist known all around the world, but is later deceased. J. Cole sample Fela's "Gentleman", which the bluesy sax played in the background while J. Cole raps about how his mentor No I.D. told him that Nas didn't like Cole's single from his first album, "Work Out". Cole, still dissapointed, rapped about how he let Nas down. But does the "No ID, my mentor now let the story begin" line sound familiar.
Read Part 2 Tomorrow
Buy 'Born Sinner': https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/born-sinner/id651105499
