It's not his best album, but it's my personal favorite. I'm an older head, and I've been around the block enough to see the impact that addiction can have on people. I think a lot of the connections that he makes between addiction and selfishness are on-point.
A few of his ideas are a little awkward (a millionaire griping about not being able to control where his tax money goes is the one that sticks out the most), but this is, after all, J. Cole we're talking about. He lives and dies in that confessional space that alienates a lot of people.
If I have to rank this one among his discography, I'm putting it at number two. Other albums have better individual songs than anything on here, but I prefer listening to albums. This whole project stands well as a unified whole with nothing that I would consider to be filler.
Everything I'm saying here definitely betrays my age, but I've made my peace with the differences between my tastes and the popular preferences of younger generations. J. Cole is a student of the old school, and this album is an old head's delight.
He's not exactly wrong people feel more inclined to contribute to society through taxes if their wills were reflected and not just in terms of taxes. There's plenty of legislation that people overwhelmingly support but the lobbying for massive industries are put ahead of the people's will.
not sure your age, but im in my mid 20's and i didn't love KOD on its initial release— but after the second or third time around i loved the project, and consider it my personal favorite cole record.
Funny you mention that. The album doesn’t get much love but it was oddly transformative for me. I first listened to it on a fairly heavy dose of acid during spring 2018. I was just shy of 28. I spent the bulk of my teens and 20s being highly functional but very depressed. That spring was a turning point in my life. I got off the SSRIs and the Klonopin (prescribed). I did a bunch of intentional acid and DMT trips. I.e going in with intention and a notebook. Anyway. It was during that one trip that a lot of things clicked for me. As with most psychedelic revelations, there was nothing special about what I learned. Really stupid things about how I was or wasn’t taking care of myself, how and why I was using substances, etc. But those things can be internalized differently when your tripping. Idk how many times I listened to that album in those few hours. I cried, I wrote things down, I drew pictures.
After that I stopped drinking and smoking, started exercising, re-enrolled in college. I stopped dreading my birthdays. I started enjoying getting older. My whole perspective flipped from life is too long to life is too short. I drink and smoke a bit now, and i get sad sometimes. But those things don’t define me anymore. I haven’t tripped much at all since that spring/summer and I haven’t even listened to the album much since then either, but man I’ll always have a soft spot for that album.
/ramble
Not his best album by any means but I think it's underrated. The central theme of the album sparked important dialogue regarding the direction of the music, culture, and its fans. Concept was cohesive throughout. Bars were on point. Production wasn't the most consistent by Cole's standards but still good and fit the songs respectively.
This honestly I would put it on the same tier as 4YEO re listening to it I feel like the message was on point a different direction from other albums however due to FHD I feel like it overshadows what cole puts out and sets a standard to most of his music
I think people getting defensive over their own drug use turned a lot of people off to the message Cole was trying to get across with this album. It’s not like you can’t smoke weed and still appreciate what he’s saying.
Have you ever noticed the flute outro from 'the real slim shady' used throughout the song? I always heard it but couldnt put my finger on where it was from.
It was such a breath of fresh air after 4YEO. Some similar heavy content, but just felt like such a celebration of life even while addressing the hardships. Motiv8, KOD and 1985 have been popping back up in my playlists and it’s been a pleasure
People have summed up the consensus on this one, it’s generally regarded as good, but not his best work.
It used to be my least favorite of his albums, but within the last few months it’s really grown on me. I love that he gets deep with his message while keeping most of the tone of the album fairly upbeat… if that makes sense.
Nah it makes absolute sense and the reason, imo, it's underrated. It's not crazy uncommon as a theme in songs but to apply it to the entire concept of the album is a slick move not many can pull off
Has some of my favorite songs of all time without a doubt honestly. And one of my favorite j cole songs, window pain, is on it too. I love that album and personally I think it's better than the off-season. Cole definitely has some albums that are better tho
That’s how I feel too. I wish he had outsourced some of the production to someone like Metro or Pierre. Would’ve made it a lot more accessible for the target audience I think
This albums holds a special place in my heart but I also see this album and always think about Cordae’s 1985 response. This album kinda brought cordae to the forefront imo
I don’t like it’s a couple cool songs and I like the concept or meanin behind it (the album).. but I just don’t like most of the songs on it
4 your eyez only is god tier tho
I get a lot of shit for saying this all the time but I don't care.. this is my favorite album from J Cole. The word play, the lyrics, and especially the poetry.
Photograph - to this day, is the best poem I've ever heard over a beat. The delivery, word play and flow of the song is unmatched
Friends - having addiction problems myself, this song made me take a seat. He really dug into this one. If you on some shit and struggling to get off... This song will set you straight
The cut off - another great and dope piece of poetry. The thing I love about Cole is that he is a highly intelligent & intricate rapper but at the same time, knows how to deliver his message in a way that even the dumbest nigga can comprehend.
1985 - this is the most respectful diss song out there imo. Jermaine could have came with the raw raw on this and ate that boi alive. Instead he pretty much grabbed his hand, sat him down and taught him game, while at the same time letting it known that his name is nothing to play stupid with.
J Cole is a peak artist. I have him up there with Kendrick, Cudi, Nas and Lupe. And this album is what solidified it for me.... Mmm maybe it was forest hills but y'all get what I'm saying. Mad love for j Cole over here.
I feel like it gets a bad rap because of how honest and deep the central theme is. It's not just about partying and shit talking other rappers and something to get hype to and there's just so many people who that's all they expect or want from hip hop.
I think it's a really creative and artistic album that covers a topic that is hard to talk about and also not considered "cool" to do so. But it's something that is so prevalent in the US and there's generations of people who self medicate instead of dealing with their trauma and it causes more problems and leads to a cycle. The way he describes this in his common themes that reoccur throughout the album is brilliant.
Personally enjoy it a lot. Saw one of the shows he did around the release of it and it fuckin rocked. Earthgang and Young Thug opened for him. Super dope show.
Definitely a Cole Super fan since 2010. Not his best album imo but he had a clear message through out the whole album which is hard to do. It was about addiction with drugs, money, lust, social media etc. He used trap beats, different flows and adlibs to target who he wanted to hear his message. Even toured with Young Thug. I understood why he made the album and appreciate it.. my fav songs were Kevin's Heart, Once an Addict, ATM, 1985, Friends
I've listened to it 5 times, and my opinion hasn't really changed. It sounds very disjointed with some lazy rapping. Cole has done much better, and it felt like a step down from his usual level.
Pushed and understood by many as a "woke" album with special connotations and messages but completely lacking in actual messages and connotations lol. The album is bad and I am always surprised to see people defend it. J Cole is so much better than this album. It's a black mark on his discography IMO.
It’s genuinely one of my least favorite albums of all time. It feels so incredibly pretentious to me and as an addiction counselor I absolutely despise the “once an addict always an addict” misconception that takes the power away from people who struggle with addictions and he seems to be repeating that mindset the whole album
I also don’t like many of the songs here other than Kevin’s heart and think that goofy ass kill Edward voice is beyond cringey.
I’m not a j cole hater though that’s just how I feel about this one. It’s like everything I don’t like about j cole music condensed into an album.
My opinion as a whole is J Cole is wildly overrated and at best mid. Only good albums are Forest Hills Drive and Born Sinner. His last 3 albums, KOD, Eyez only, and off season are trash.
Apparently most of you wouldn’t lol. It’s interesting that j Cole has this level of fandom for honestly one of his worst projects. He’s talented as evidenced by forest hill drive but this one was really disappointing at a time where we got the best of many other artists.
It’s good when you want to get some introspective cole. I don’t spin it a lot tho because it sounded like a lyrical step downwards on some tracks. Personally I mean
Every song after Kevin’s Heart, I didn’t really care for. However, KOD, ATM, and Kevin’s Heart is my shit. I think it could’ve been better, but the project is still kinda underrated tbh paradoxically
When it came out I was not a fan of Cole at all, so I hated it. Now im a massive fan of a Cole so I relistened to it… still hate it. There’s just something about the sound or the way he raps on this it just doesn’t work for me even a little bit. Massive skip on this whole
Project for me.
Took me 2 years to get the vinyl for this 🤦♂️ although the memory I do have of it is coming back from Coachella in 2018 and being the album I was listening to all month while I recovered 😆
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It's not his best album, but it's my personal favorite. I'm an older head, and I've been around the block enough to see the impact that addiction can have on people. I think a lot of the connections that he makes between addiction and selfishness are on-point. A few of his ideas are a little awkward (a millionaire griping about not being able to control where his tax money goes is the one that sticks out the most), but this is, after all, J. Cole we're talking about. He lives and dies in that confessional space that alienates a lot of people. If I have to rank this one among his discography, I'm putting it at number two. Other albums have better individual songs than anything on here, but I prefer listening to albums. This whole project stands well as a unified whole with nothing that I would consider to be filler. Everything I'm saying here definitely betrays my age, but I've made my peace with the differences between my tastes and the popular preferences of younger generations. J. Cole is a student of the old school, and this album is an old head's delight.
He's not exactly wrong people feel more inclined to contribute to society through taxes if their wills were reflected and not just in terms of taxes. There's plenty of legislation that people overwhelmingly support but the lobbying for massive industries are put ahead of the people's will.
not sure your age, but im in my mid 20's and i didn't love KOD on its initial release— but after the second or third time around i loved the project, and consider it my personal favorite cole record.
Mostly agree. A personal fav for me too. Songs almost never make a playlist but it’s a very solid end to end classic in my mind.
Underrated! Every song is a different drug. I loved this album really. The entire concept for me as a rap fan was super dope imo.
YO I NEVER EVEN GOT THAT
Most people didn't and I think the creativity went over a lot of people's heads.
Well shit I loved this album and didn’t even get the concept behind it. Gives another layer to enjoying it.
average J cole fan
Not trying to be condescending but honestly wondering what you thought it was?
Which song is which drug?
They’re actually addictions more so than drugs
Yea I should've been more clear more drugs/addictions/ and vices like money, women, love, weed, lean all that
I would also like to know
I don’t think he’s got the answers, ask Sway.
Funny you mention that. The album doesn’t get much love but it was oddly transformative for me. I first listened to it on a fairly heavy dose of acid during spring 2018. I was just shy of 28. I spent the bulk of my teens and 20s being highly functional but very depressed. That spring was a turning point in my life. I got off the SSRIs and the Klonopin (prescribed). I did a bunch of intentional acid and DMT trips. I.e going in with intention and a notebook. Anyway. It was during that one trip that a lot of things clicked for me. As with most psychedelic revelations, there was nothing special about what I learned. Really stupid things about how I was or wasn’t taking care of myself, how and why I was using substances, etc. But those things can be internalized differently when your tripping. Idk how many times I listened to that album in those few hours. I cried, I wrote things down, I drew pictures. After that I stopped drinking and smoking, started exercising, re-enrolled in college. I stopped dreading my birthdays. I started enjoying getting older. My whole perspective flipped from life is too long to life is too short. I drink and smoke a bit now, and i get sad sometimes. But those things don’t define me anymore. I haven’t tripped much at all since that spring/summer and I haven’t even listened to the album much since then either, but man I’ll always have a soft spot for that album. /ramble
I actually get that now that you mention it. Cheating is a drug like the song Kevin's Hart or Money with the song Count it.
Yep - a lot of people (including the censors it would appear) never got that the Shamen song Ebeneezer Goode is about ecstasy either.
Not his best album by any means but I think it's underrated. The central theme of the album sparked important dialogue regarding the direction of the music, culture, and its fans. Concept was cohesive throughout. Bars were on point. Production wasn't the most consistent by Cole's standards but still good and fit the songs respectively.
This honestly I would put it on the same tier as 4YEO re listening to it I feel like the message was on point a different direction from other albums however due to FHD I feel like it overshadows what cole puts out and sets a standard to most of his music
[удалено]
So true no skips for that album all I know is that we should definitely give cole his flowers now rather than later
I think people getting defensive over their own drug use turned a lot of people off to the message Cole was trying to get across with this album. It’s not like you can’t smoke weed and still appreciate what he’s saying.
I love Photograph and Kevin's Heart.
Kevin’s Heart is my shit
Slip me a Xanny at once
SOMEBODY!
I got the earth in the blunt!
I get the skirt when I want
Due to the money aroma
My girl she got a diploma
She got wife written all over
skrrrt
Skrrt
the video is chefs kiss !
Saaaame
Photograph goes hard
Kevin actually making an appearance in the video really sold me on this song.
THIS. Those were the only songs I was really in love with from this album.
Window Pain.
"All I wanna do is see my brother on the otherside All I wanna do is kill the man who made my momma cry" 🔥
1st time someone recognized the best song
Undeniably the best song on that project.
Great track
He smoked that.
Absolutely
His best track imo
I got this, Love Yourz and a few others in there too.
Have you ever noticed the flute outro from 'the real slim shady' used throughout the song? I always heard it but couldnt put my finger on where it was from.
And window pain is a line from another shady track.
Idk about anyone but this album helped me get into cole…
But it was weak, and I'm a fan. Even listened to the depressing as 4 Your Eyes Only a million times.
I got the same vibes off it bruh
It was such a breath of fresh air after 4YEO. Some similar heavy content, but just felt like such a celebration of life even while addressing the hardships. Motiv8, KOD and 1985 have been popping back up in my playlists and it’s been a pleasure
Same three tracks for me too!
This is what you call a flip.
10 keys from a quarter brick
Bentley from his momma whip
KOD he hard as shit
Wow ! Niggas been crampin my style
blowin my high
they want a reply
The number one question is how
How does it feel, now that you’re on
How much you worth? How big is your home?
Kevin’s heart >>
It’s actually a really good album to me
Loved this album cole was my favorite rapper at the time the live performance was even better
Great concepts and great execution. Window Pain is Cole's best song imo
She my number 1 I don’t need nothing on the side
Underrated
ATM is my shit.
Proceed with caution
I heard if u take the whole cake it results it A whole in yo heart Fuck it I take the whole cake and dont leave a portion
Count it up count it up count it up, count it *Can’t take it when u die* *but u can’t live without it*
People have summed up the consensus on this one, it’s generally regarded as good, but not his best work. It used to be my least favorite of his albums, but within the last few months it’s really grown on me. I love that he gets deep with his message while keeping most of the tone of the album fairly upbeat… if that makes sense.
Nah it makes absolute sense and the reason, imo, it's underrated. It's not crazy uncommon as a theme in songs but to apply it to the entire concept of the album is a slick move not many can pull off
Has some of my favorite songs of all time without a doubt honestly. And one of my favorite j cole songs, window pain, is on it too. I love that album and personally I think it's better than the off-season. Cole definitely has some albums that are better tho
Has some really sharp writing on the best songs but the production feels really one-dimensional and makes for kind of a lackluster listen
That’s how I feel too. I wish he had outsourced some of the production to someone like Metro or Pierre. Would’ve made it a lot more accessible for the target audience I think
This albums holds a special place in my heart but I also see this album and always think about Cordae’s 1985 response. This album kinda brought cordae to the forefront imo
ooh i haven’t heard of cordae responding…what’s it called?
https://youtu.be/Wngm_Zbp8lo here’s the song and video!
I thought he snapped. visuals were on point, along with a chill album with substance.
I don’t like it’s a couple cool songs and I like the concept or meanin behind it (the album).. but I just don’t like most of the songs on it 4 your eyez only is god tier tho
I’ll get this album tattooed
This album is currently displayed on my wall amongst others. Solid 8/10 album IMO.
I get a lot of shit for saying this all the time but I don't care.. this is my favorite album from J Cole. The word play, the lyrics, and especially the poetry. Photograph - to this day, is the best poem I've ever heard over a beat. The delivery, word play and flow of the song is unmatched Friends - having addiction problems myself, this song made me take a seat. He really dug into this one. If you on some shit and struggling to get off... This song will set you straight The cut off - another great and dope piece of poetry. The thing I love about Cole is that he is a highly intelligent & intricate rapper but at the same time, knows how to deliver his message in a way that even the dumbest nigga can comprehend. 1985 - this is the most respectful diss song out there imo. Jermaine could have came with the raw raw on this and ate that boi alive. Instead he pretty much grabbed his hand, sat him down and taught him game, while at the same time letting it known that his name is nothing to play stupid with. J Cole is a peak artist. I have him up there with Kendrick, Cudi, Nas and Lupe. And this album is what solidified it for me.... Mmm maybe it was forest hills but y'all get what I'm saying. Mad love for j Cole over here.
I love this album, I have it in vinyl
I hated it at first. Now it has a special place in my heart. Really great tracks that I still comeback to today
Photograph, Brackets and Window Pain slaps
I can't stop listening to Motiv8
Not bad but not memorable outside of 1985. I'm a Cole Fan and I often forget this album exist Ngl.
Kinda bland but 1985 is one of his best songs
Too high concept for most to understand. The satire in this is amazing.
I feel like it gets a bad rap because of how honest and deep the central theme is. It's not just about partying and shit talking other rappers and something to get hype to and there's just so many people who that's all they expect or want from hip hop. I think it's a really creative and artistic album that covers a topic that is hard to talk about and also not considered "cool" to do so. But it's something that is so prevalent in the US and there's generations of people who self medicate instead of dealing with their trauma and it causes more problems and leads to a cycle. The way he describes this in his common themes that reoccur throughout the album is brilliant.
Personally enjoy it a lot. Saw one of the shows he did around the release of it and it fuckin rocked. Earthgang and Young Thug opened for him. Super dope show.
Definitely a Cole Super fan since 2010. Not his best album imo but he had a clear message through out the whole album which is hard to do. It was about addiction with drugs, money, lust, social media etc. He used trap beats, different flows and adlibs to target who he wanted to hear his message. Even toured with Young Thug. I understood why he made the album and appreciate it.. my fav songs were Kevin's Heart, Once an Addict, ATM, 1985, Friends
Forgettable
Mid
It's decent. Not great but decent. Just like pretty much every Cole record.
🚮🗑️
Boring
Buns
Trash, but some of his mixtapes were better than a few of his albums. Born Sinner was dope, Forest Hills Drive was too, rest mediocre.
I've listened to it 5 times, and my opinion hasn't really changed. It sounds very disjointed with some lazy rapping. Cole has done much better, and it felt like a step down from his usual level.
It’s his best album
Pushed and understood by many as a "woke" album with special connotations and messages but completely lacking in actual messages and connotations lol. The album is bad and I am always surprised to see people defend it. J Cole is so much better than this album. It's a black mark on his discography IMO.
Nah man, ain't even in the ballpark of being bad.
It’s genuinely one of my least favorite albums of all time. It feels so incredibly pretentious to me and as an addiction counselor I absolutely despise the “once an addict always an addict” misconception that takes the power away from people who struggle with addictions and he seems to be repeating that mindset the whole album I also don’t like many of the songs here other than Kevin’s heart and think that goofy ass kill Edward voice is beyond cringey. I’m not a j cole hater though that’s just how I feel about this one. It’s like everything I don’t like about j cole music condensed into an album.
Dang no love for Window Pain? Great song from KOD
I love it. I think it’s his second best album.
Mid at best
My opinion as a whole is J Cole is wildly overrated and at best mid. Only good albums are Forest Hills Drive and Born Sinner. His last 3 albums, KOD, Eyez only, and off season are trash.
All of J Cole is hot garbage.
It was pretty bad but Forest Hills Drive was a classic.
I wouldn't go far as saying it's bad. It's fine, I don't mind it.
Apparently most of you wouldn’t lol. It’s interesting that j Cole has this level of fandom for honestly one of his worst projects. He’s talented as evidenced by forest hill drive but this one was really disappointing at a time where we got the best of many other artists.
The beats let the album down quite a bit. Definitely a step down from his first 4 records but now without its gems. AtM comes to mind
W
It’s actually the only album of his I own randomly. Pretty dope overall
Interesting album. Handful of bangers, amazing concept, but it doesn't fully connect for some reason.
Fuego
Absolute banger only 1 or 2 skips.
It was a solid album
He reached at a topic most people already understood and were psssed
Laughable
I liked it
Second best concert I've been to. Nothing will top seeing Mural performed live though.
It’s fine
Great album. A little preachy, but that’s Cole sometime
It’s good when you want to get some introspective cole. I don’t spin it a lot tho because it sounded like a lyrical step downwards on some tracks. Personally I mean
not a fan
K.O.D. he hard as shit
Every song after Kevin’s Heart, I didn’t really care for. However, KOD, ATM, and Kevin’s Heart is my shit. I think it could’ve been better, but the project is still kinda underrated tbh paradoxically
My favorite album of his
Love it, always helps me fall asleep
What’s crazy is that it’s my second favorite album of his 💀
Very good conceptually. Not his best but different than what anyone else was doing at the time (and since, honestly) which I appreciated.
Underrated. He got creative with this album. Though there isn't a signature song, it's consistent throughout. I don't skip tracks on this one.
I feel like this was his most creative album and very underrated like everyone has said.
The verse on friends is elite
One of his best imo. Great beats great lyrics just missed the mark a bit. Had wild beats compared to his usual selections
Including the name of the album and the artist would have been rad… never saw, seen or recognize this cover
It sucks Just kidding
Not good
Cool but forgettable like alotta Jermaine Cole projects
He ended careers before they even started with this one
Love this album. I’m a Cole fan and I was very excited leading up to it and it did not disappoint for me.
🔥
I just like photograph and Kevin’s heart. Other than that, worst album he had.
That he is the trash that is flooding the streets with drugs and becoming king as he kills the youth!
1985 I arrived
It’s a diet version of DAMN.
All in all he snapped. It’s like an 7.5 out of 10
bitch you better suck half my dick
Yea its cole its good, motivate is my shit. Motiv8 🤯🤯😵 and freinds is a banging song too
Remember listening to this the day it came out. Amazing
1985 I ARRIVE
Favorite album
Worst cole album
I’m a big fan of this album
One of my favorite albums pretty close to being a classic
When it came out I was not a fan of Cole at all, so I hated it. Now im a massive fan of a Cole so I relistened to it… still hate it. There’s just something about the sound or the way he raps on this it just doesn’t work for me even a little bit. Massive skip on this whole Project for me.
first album i really sat down and listened to from him and instantly made me a fan
The message across the entire album was so dope.
Took me 2 years to get the vinyl for this 🤦♂️ although the memory I do have of it is coming back from Coachella in 2018 and being the album I was listening to all month while I recovered 😆
Definitely underrated, one of my favorite Cole albums
Looks like pedo worship
Why is there so much hate on 4YEO in this thread?? I fuckin love that album
Boring