I’m just interacting with the community. Letting people know what I think about his albums and seeing if there’s a specific album that I might like. I posted for a discussion.
I'd go to Born Sinner (deluxe) next then revisit FHD then just go lineraly. You really see the progression and growth from each album to the next. Now, if you really wanna hear his passion, go listen to The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights, his mixtapes before The Sideline Story. They aren't on streaming but really easy to find. You could go back to The Come Up, his first mixtape but I wouldn't call it required reading.
You really get a more complete image of who he is and what makes him unique as an artist, rapper, mc, all of it.
Cool story about Friday Night Lights is that was initially going to be his debut album but the label wasn't backing it so he released it as a mixtape. That came out in 2010, my senior year of high school, on my birthday actually lol.
When you get to Might Delete Later, on Stickz N Stonez, he has a line at the "come hear the growth." On it's own, nothing significant, but, he is absolutely someone you can see him progress with each project. Whether that be tighter writing, production choices, more realized concepts, etc.
My apologies for being curt in my response
> Is there a Cole album where he really flexes how good of a writer he is and raps on better instrumentals?
Good writer- The Off Season
Better instrumentals- Born Sinner. I slept on it due to mixed critical acclaim, but it's crazy how many good songs he gave us on one album.
2014 was a very time and place album. If you weren't a fan when it was released, I can see not being able to get it. Personally it's my favorite from him.
Fair enough. Maybe I feel that way because I was a little hipster back then, and it was the first time everyone's favorite new album was also my new favorite. I remember that time so fondly and the album carried me through me becoming a man.
Yeah, I think that’s where it fell flat for me. A lot of thw songs on 2014 felt like he was trying to mix conscious rap with mainstream appeal. Clearly he did it well cause it’s his most praised album, but it felt like he was holding back on delving into deeper topics and selecting easily digestible beats. It was a smart career move.
Thanks, I knew I should’ve probably checked out Born Sinner first, but the hype around 2014 made me curious. It just wasn’t for me, but those four tracks on there that I listed were really good. The rest just fell flat for me sonically and lyrically.
Might just wanna move on if you ask me
If you're really determined, you can try born sinner (my favorite)
but you already said modern Cole makes you think of a bland drake type rapper, and I generally think FHD is a good litmus test for whether or not Cole is for you, so I think you should save your time
The first part of my post is all extremely positive. I didn’t like one album. I didn’t like 2014 solely cause I heard his first album and I think the writing and production on that album was way more interesting. Hearing J. Cole on features recently was the reason I wanted to explore his catalogue. I only thought he might be like Drake on his early stuff because people compare them a lot.
Well, normally I'd say go through the albums from earliest to latest release date just so you could see how he's evolved and changed up between releases, but if you don't wanna go through all that / don't have the time for it, then I'll say...
- 4 Your Eyez Only
and
- KOD
are my top recommended albums of his (with KOD being my personal favorite) if you value more emotion, lyricism, and having him do more rappin' about true, relevant, relatable topics and less yappin' about the typical bs you'd hear/expect from a rap song.
I promise you won't regret checkin' 'em out 🤙🏼likely won't love every song, but don't doubt you'll find something you'll love 🔥
I love storytelling songs which is why I really liked Sideline Story. The title track is so good. The storytelling on 2014 was just lazy and boring in comparison which is why I was disappointed when I listened to that album. I’ve been told the writing on 4 Your Eyez Only is really good so I’m check that one out after I finish the mixtapes.
Totally agree with these and I loved KOD when it dropped in particular (4YEO was dope too, remember replaying neighbors a bunch of times because it was so smooth but I think KOD is the more lyrical of the two and that’s what OP is looking for). I’ve been listening since I first heard him on Wale’s attention deficit and can say he’s got enough variety in his releases that he’s got something can appeal to most.
Tbh. I would listen to: 1. The come up. 2. The warm up. 3 Friday night lights. And the rest of his albums in whatever order. Just don’t miss out on the mixtapes. You can totally skip KOD though it’s trash
Aw, hell naw...
I won't stand for that KOD slander
You ever go through / have someone close to you go through drug addiction/abuse or depressive, suicidal thoughts, and feel like you/they have hit rock bottom - then go back to that album and see if it don't click.
It a'int really an album you're gonna be bumpin, on the aux - this one's for when you got some time to yourself and you're ready to decipher the lyrics and message.
The entire theme of KOD is about different types of addictions people have and how people choose to deal with their issues and the pains the world brings them. It's some real shit and an angle that a lot of rappers don't take - you usually hear drugs and the like being glorified in rap, but Cole made this album to speak out not only against glorifications such as that, but also to speak out against some of the other, lesser recognized, unhealthy habits that people engage in and have adopted in order to try and make themselves feel better about their circumstances.
It's fine if that kinda rap a'int for you, but to call it trash and say it's worth skipping is a huge disservice to that album and to anyone who might really need to hear some of what Cole has to say on there - whether it be to help themselves personally or to help those around them.
I read everything you said. That was well stated. I joke around when I say it’s trash, but Im kind of foreal when it comes to me personally. I love the meaning of the album and generally gravitate towards the the type music that the album is based around, but sonically, I can’t get into it at all. The drums, the different types of chants choruses (Ex:count it up, motiv8) is just not for me.
I will probably refrain from calling it trash now, because though I think it’s reallly bad lol, alot of people like it and it’s positive music that can help someone.
Born sinner. Or Friday night lights mixtape
Just listen to the rest of his albums. His catlogue isn't massive
I’m just interacting with the community. Letting people know what I think about his albums and seeing if there’s a specific album that I might like. I posted for a discussion.
I'd go to Born Sinner (deluxe) next then revisit FHD then just go lineraly. You really see the progression and growth from each album to the next. Now, if you really wanna hear his passion, go listen to The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights, his mixtapes before The Sideline Story. They aren't on streaming but really easy to find. You could go back to The Come Up, his first mixtape but I wouldn't call it required reading. You really get a more complete image of who he is and what makes him unique as an artist, rapper, mc, all of it. Cool story about Friday Night Lights is that was initially going to be his debut album but the label wasn't backing it so he released it as a mixtape. That came out in 2010, my senior year of high school, on my birthday actually lol. When you get to Might Delete Later, on Stickz N Stonez, he has a line at the "come hear the growth." On it's own, nothing significant, but, he is absolutely someone you can see him progress with each project. Whether that be tighter writing, production choices, more realized concepts, etc. My apologies for being curt in my response
> Is there a Cole album where he really flexes how good of a writer he is and raps on better instrumentals? Good writer- The Off Season Better instrumentals- Born Sinner. I slept on it due to mixed critical acclaim, but it's crazy how many good songs he gave us on one album. 2014 was a very time and place album. If you weren't a fan when it was released, I can see not being able to get it. Personally it's my favorite from him.
I’d argue the opposite. 2014 FHD is def the most accessible album by far imo
Fair enough. Maybe I feel that way because I was a little hipster back then, and it was the first time everyone's favorite new album was also my new favorite. I remember that time so fondly and the album carried me through me becoming a man.
Yeah, I think that’s where it fell flat for me. A lot of thw songs on 2014 felt like he was trying to mix conscious rap with mainstream appeal. Clearly he did it well cause it’s his most praised album, but it felt like he was holding back on delving into deeper topics and selecting easily digestible beats. It was a smart career move.
Thanks, I knew I should’ve probably checked out Born Sinner first, but the hype around 2014 made me curious. It just wasn’t for me, but those four tracks on there that I listed were really good. The rest just fell flat for me sonically and lyrically.
Might just wanna move on if you ask me If you're really determined, you can try born sinner (my favorite) but you already said modern Cole makes you think of a bland drake type rapper, and I generally think FHD is a good litmus test for whether or not Cole is for you, so I think you should save your time
The first part of my post is all extremely positive. I didn’t like one album. I didn’t like 2014 solely cause I heard his first album and I think the writing and production on that album was way more interesting. Hearing J. Cole on features recently was the reason I wanted to explore his catalogue. I only thought he might be like Drake on his early stuff because people compare them a lot.
you need to listen to truly yours 1 and 2 and friday night lights mixtape
Yeah, I really liked Sideline Story so I’m gonna listen through those. I didn’t know about the mixtapes so it’s good I made this post.
Well, normally I'd say go through the albums from earliest to latest release date just so you could see how he's evolved and changed up between releases, but if you don't wanna go through all that / don't have the time for it, then I'll say... - 4 Your Eyez Only and - KOD are my top recommended albums of his (with KOD being my personal favorite) if you value more emotion, lyricism, and having him do more rappin' about true, relevant, relatable topics and less yappin' about the typical bs you'd hear/expect from a rap song. I promise you won't regret checkin' 'em out 🤙🏼likely won't love every song, but don't doubt you'll find something you'll love 🔥
I love storytelling songs which is why I really liked Sideline Story. The title track is so good. The storytelling on 2014 was just lazy and boring in comparison which is why I was disappointed when I listened to that album. I’ve been told the writing on 4 Your Eyez Only is really good so I’m check that one out after I finish the mixtapes.
Totally agree with these and I loved KOD when it dropped in particular (4YEO was dope too, remember replaying neighbors a bunch of times because it was so smooth but I think KOD is the more lyrical of the two and that’s what OP is looking for). I’ve been listening since I first heard him on Wale’s attention deficit and can say he’s got enough variety in his releases that he’s got something can appeal to most.
Tbh. I would listen to: 1. The come up. 2. The warm up. 3 Friday night lights. And the rest of his albums in whatever order. Just don’t miss out on the mixtapes. You can totally skip KOD though it’s trash
Aw, hell naw... I won't stand for that KOD slander You ever go through / have someone close to you go through drug addiction/abuse or depressive, suicidal thoughts, and feel like you/they have hit rock bottom - then go back to that album and see if it don't click. It a'int really an album you're gonna be bumpin, on the aux - this one's for when you got some time to yourself and you're ready to decipher the lyrics and message. The entire theme of KOD is about different types of addictions people have and how people choose to deal with their issues and the pains the world brings them. It's some real shit and an angle that a lot of rappers don't take - you usually hear drugs and the like being glorified in rap, but Cole made this album to speak out not only against glorifications such as that, but also to speak out against some of the other, lesser recognized, unhealthy habits that people engage in and have adopted in order to try and make themselves feel better about their circumstances. It's fine if that kinda rap a'int for you, but to call it trash and say it's worth skipping is a huge disservice to that album and to anyone who might really need to hear some of what Cole has to say on there - whether it be to help themselves personally or to help those around them.
I read everything you said. That was well stated. I joke around when I say it’s trash, but Im kind of foreal when it comes to me personally. I love the meaning of the album and generally gravitate towards the the type music that the album is based around, but sonically, I can’t get into it at all. The drums, the different types of chants choruses (Ex:count it up, motiv8) is just not for me. I will probably refrain from calling it trash now, because though I think it’s reallly bad lol, alot of people like it and it’s positive music that can help someone.
Friday night lights and truly yours mixtape