The type of Hip Hop that blows up all over TikTok, pollutes the radio, and breaks charts on Spotify does nothing but degrade women, flex flashy jewelry, and promote the stereotypical lifestyle of black individuals – not only making it seem entertaining but desirable.
In a world where the youth desires a life of unfaithfulness and brutality, J. Cole breaks the mold, pealing back the eternal advantageous layer and instead showing the pain and lack of freedom that lies beneath the surface. Through vivid storytelling and ill bars, Cole reveals the reality of this new age of fake gangster rappers. Discrediting a “life of crime” as appealing by sharing the legitimate struggle and hopelessness that wanna-be-rappers attempt to gimmick and profit off of – making Cole possibly the most real in the game. J Cole has wit, comedy, cleverness, rhythm, wordplay, a unique voice, and an incredible amount of soul. He’s in a certain lane only he can maneuver.
J. Cole started rapping when he was about 12 years old and by the time he was 15, he discovered that he was into telling stories through his music. J. Cole’s music is more than just bars. He will sit you down and tell you a story, from start to finish.
To fully understand the genius of Cole, it’s crucial to look into some of his mixtapes. As a die-hard fan of his, I constantly have “Friday Night Lights” on repeat since accidentally stumbling upon it years ago. The first couple of times, I bumped the volume of the familiar and timeless tracks getting completely lost in the dark yet beautiful musicality. The entirety of it was flawless, the buildup and the overall energy of the mixtape is to this day unmatched. His flow and cadence throughout the project prove he’s one of one, he was simply levitating over every beat. I can’t begin to explain how much this project means to me.
The opening words of the mixtape are:
“Almost, almost/ So here we are, x3/ Funny how so close can seem so far.”
These lines speak to me as I am making my first attempts to spread my wings. J. Cole’s mixtape, which in my opinion ought to have served as his debut album, is still regarded as a true classic in the industry. Although it seems like yesterday, this album was really published about ten years ago, as the opening lines remind me, and also reference Jermaine’s underdog motif that permeates his pre-fame repertoire.
“Cole is the reason I continue to feel inferior despite having a silver-spoon education and why I maintain my modesty in the face of admiration and acclaim. The justification for my preference for other people’s stories than mine.” Cole’s songs meet different people exactly where they are at gapping bridges and bringing people together.
Friday Night Lights project introduction by Cole calls forth suffering, victory, and depth over blues piano chords as the rapper delivers profound, almost prophetic couplets with a reverb effect that amplifies the intensity of the songs.
One track I’ve been stuck on for as long as I can remember is “Before I’m Gone,” where he paints a picture that is likely too complex to understand through a single listen. But the song goes beyond just the lyrics, it opens a whole new understanding of J.Cole as he quite literally welcomes us, listeners, into his life. His bars sometimes become drowned out by his intricate, stunning flows and swift-sounding voice. Therefore, most of the time what he’s spitting isn’t being listened to or taken into account.
This song features Cole in full-blown storytelling mode, which is his forte. He discusses his on-and-off addiction to marijuana and how it has made him deeply suspicious of his own group of friends. Throughout his career, Cole has been criticized for his smoking habits, and I agree with him because marijuana use has a dual effect of reducing stress while concurrently raising it.
I strongly believe that music has such a powerful ability to change lives, and clearly, Cole sees this. But you can’t understand him when you’re blinded by the false motives that new age mumble rap has conspired.
When we take the time to truly listen we see that the track addresses the struggles and challenges that come with life in the city. The song is packed with vivid imagery and tales of survival in a tough environment. The first verse deals with the rapper’s struggles, particularly his battle with addiction, mistrust of friends, and the constant threat of the law. J. Cole expresses his frustration with the lack of opportunity and the pressure to succeed which can lead to drug use and a life of crime.
In one of the first verses, he explains how he’s running from the consequences of his past. And how quickly they are catching up to him.
This perfectly captures a young man’s pursuit of respect and success in the game. This is an anthem for any ambitious young person’s challenges, in my opinion – drive and poor choices seem to define the life of most individuals as we strive to figure out what will work for us and what won’t. It certainly defined the mind, at least. Cole’s internal problems are largely relatable to everyone, giving listeners a scene of warmth through his music.
To me, the opening verses explain his past association with violence may interfere with his dreams. “I got dreams bigger than your whole team.” However, he doesn’t let up and remains hopeful and determined.
In the second verse, J. Cole delves deeper into the societal issues affecting the city, such as gang violence, police brutality, and poverty. He laments the lack of empathy for those who are forced to act out to survive, and he critiques the justice system for failing individuals and families in need. Uncovering the truth of structural racism and how it is very much still prevalent in today’s world. Society has been left somewhat intentionally in shambles with no other option than to resort to a life of either drugs or violence. “One day you’re trying to make the rent the next you in jail/ Lord knows he meant well.” Cole further explores this topic in many other songs however here it stresses perseverance through hope.
“Cole the wrong one bringin’ the city shine/ All he ever doin’ is paintin’ pictures of crime/ Tellin’ stories of pain, paintin’ pictures of dope/ Bitch if you listen I’m paintin’ pictures of hope.”
Nonetheless, Cole’s rhyme scheme was insane. It’s impossible not to credit how dope the song is in itself. There are so many moments throughout that just changes every way you look at the song from different flows, different cadence, and just a different feel to it. Ultimately, the song is a call to action for listeners to join him in his struggle for hope and improvement in the city. J. Cole aims to use his music as a tool for change, to provide a voice for those who are silenced, and to paint a picture of a brighter future. At its core, “Before I’m Gone” is a song about resilience, perseverance, and the power of hope.
