J Cole Album Release

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Posted: Sep 29, 2011 by kazeem

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J. Cole’s story is well documented. Although it is well documented, he makes sure to let the story be told in an elongated format on his debut album Cole World: Sideline Story. The introduction of the album features Jermaine recanting story of signing his record deal with his boys, before cutting himself off by getting off a quick verse over a comforting piano. The quick intro leads into the familiar but too comfortable flow that Cole’s popularized on The Warm Upand Friday Night Lights. “Dollar and A Dream III,” is where Dreamvillians and fans of Cole’s style know what they came for. Jermaine makes what I like to call “headphone music;” it may not translate live but I don’t think it’s supposed to. His style screams out “lend me your ears,” while he spits verses like:

“My goal this year is a real one, gonna stack a million
And as soon as I do, mama that 9 to 5 is through

And I know I ain't been callin', but I'm thinkin' bout you
And all the shit that you been through
My girl and then my brother too.”

The next song serves as Cole’s first legit and non apologetic attempt at a sure-shot radio single. “Can’t Get Enough,” features Trey Songz and seems like it might have reached higher heights had it been released in the beginning of the summer because of the song’s bouncy and luxurious island feel, reminiscent of Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’.” The song serves its purpose and best of all it doesn’t have Trey Songz over take the song as he just takes a back seat to the star of the show. In a blank stare moment of the album, Cole puts the almost-three-years-old song, “Lights, Please” on the album. Still a very good song, but I know I’m not alone when I say I could’ve done without having this on the album.

“Sideline Story,” sounds like things we’ve heard before from Cole’s catalogue. Although good, it doesn’t sound like much growth from his previous free efforts, however “Mr. Nice Watch,” is a far departure from what we are used to. Although different, the dub step-inspired collaboration doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Jigga is still the best alive, but his verse seemed a little bit too phoned in. “Cole World,” also seemed like a track that could’ve been left on the cutting room floor. Even though these tracks slightly disappoint, Cole’s verses have never been his problem, he is lyrically one of the best out right now. It’s admirable that Cole took on the bulk of the production on the project, however his production tends to become redundant.

After J.Cole and Drake’s collaboration “In the Morning,” is when the album shines the brightest. “Lost Ones,” is a song where Cole tells the story of a couple coping with a pregnancy; and Jermaine plays both the male and the female. The production is refreshing, and Cole spitting lyrics as a scorned woman who is trying to fight off getting an abortion:

"You got some nerve
To come up to me talking about abortion
This my body nigga, so don't think you finna
Force shit! See I knew that this is how you act
So typical, said you love me but now
You flipping like reciprocals,”

This highly emotional track would’ve been the high point of Cole’s debut if it wasn’t for the Missy Elliot-assisted “Nobody’s Perfect.” The late 90s-early 00s bounce that accompanies an easy flowing Jermaine and sweet voiced Missy. A track like this speaks to the potential of how great Cole can be. A song like this which brings out the best of his lyrical ability, production, and ability to make listeners hit the rewind button is what made supporters of the St. John’s graduate ready to crown Cole as the next to blow. “Never Told,” serves almost as a continuation to “Nobody’s Perfect,” where stories are recanted from his childhood to young adulthood including his father telling him he cheated on his mother as well as the all too familiar story of young heartbreak. “Rise and Shine,” and “God’s Gift,” are two of Cole’s lyrical shining moments as well as moments where he shows that he didn’t give some of his best beats away to XV and Kendrick Lamar.

All in all, Cole World: The Sideline Story has more bright spots than lowlights and serves as a solid debut for an artist who seems to be more substance than style. Because he used most of his own production for his debut, he’s already made people yearn to hear him on some beats from some of hip-hop’s hottest producers. Lyrically, Jermaine is top notch, but concept wise he is far along but still has a way to go. Songs like “Lost Ones,” Nobody’s Perfect,” and “Never Told,” showcase his storytelling ability; and although songs like “God’s Gift,” “Rise and Shine,” and “Breakdown,” showcase his lyrical ability it also shows Cole’s room for improvement. In basketball terms, it seems like J. Cole is ready to make the starting line-up, but time will tell if he will be a star player. – Kazeem Famuyide

J. Cole- "Nobody's Perfect" Ft Missy Elliott

   

Posted In: Record Report, B-13 PEER REVIEW,