This album starts out with “Intro”, and I have to say I’m actually really into the very classy instrumental here. The voiceover is a little cheesy and all, and like many of J. Cole tunes, I’m never really sure how this ties into the big picture. But, I do get the whole “Dealing with pain” aspect, especially after some of the later themes on this album. Overall this is certainly an alright intro. But everything that was sort of classy and different about that intro is thrown out the window seconds into “KOD”. We have a nice, dime-a-dozen beat that sounds like it could have been made by anyone. And after all of these years, J. Cole ends up still coming off as such a baby. He’s got all the technique in the world, but if he’s going to waster it on childish rhymes and calling out his “Haters”, then I’m just going to keep laughing. But even his technique is sort of just alright here. There are way too many lines here that blow right past, and absolutely nothing about this tells me to come back for a second listen. And the finale is just so cheesy to no extent. Is this album over yet? Now, personally, I really dig hearing Cole on the more dreary and somber beats of this album, like on “Photograph”. If he’s going to be going for this overly conscious style, I actually think these sort of beats just do him more justice. But why the hell are these verses so boring? They always just come off so dated on arrival. While I really love the very haunting hook, and the theme of love in the internet age which goes great with Cole’s style, the actual content here gets old in the first few bars. I think this is a solid tune for Cole with some great themes, but I’m still iffy on his bars. So let’s address this “Kill Edward” fellow who just so happened to lend some vocals to this track. Yes, in case you haven’t heard, that’s J. Cole, and yes it’s incredibly cheesy. Not only that, but the thought that J. Cole is the only person he deems worthy of being on his own music is absolutely hilarious. SO yea, “Kill Edward”’s verse does nothing but waste time, then we have Cole’s verse which has the intensity of a kitten jumping on a pillow. There’s zero confidence here, which is something I’ve had issues with Cole for seemingly forever. This track is just so obnoxious and annoying, and I just don’t get it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rft6uHy5r7g
Then we have “ATM” which at this point literally sounds like a damn Kendrick ripoff. But at this point, I’ll gladly welcome a Kendrick ripoff if it means getting a little energy out of Cole. It’s times like this that I want to love J Cole, as far as his technique and presentation goes he’s on point as ever. But once again these bars are just so dated. This isn’t a tasteful throwback or anything close, this is just out of style. While tracks like this are OK, this album is such a mixed bag. After all of these years, Cole still has the same problems. Meaning, he brings up truly thought-provoking and interesting themes and does jack shit to back it up. And newsflash, this album isn’t getting much better. At least with “ATM”, there was endless technique. But on “Motiv8”, J Cole trades that in for some uninspired bard and lyrics that are so one-dimensional that I’m left pining for Cole’s incredibly flawed “Conscious Hip Hop”. Now, with “Kevin’s Heart”, at the very least we get an interesting story. I still think this beat is dime-a-dozen, and Cole’s delivery isn’t even close to where I want to hear it. But Cole at least tackles temptation in a big way. It’s times like this that J Cole brings in these very relatable stories that he’s at his most compelling. Then we have “Brackets”, which is easily one of the best tunes here. Between the classy beat and throwback feel, I can actually really get behind this. But while this track started off a little conceited, I think it leads to some of Cole’s most confident bars here. Not to mention, a great majority of this track shows Cole singing more than rapping. Now, I’m not saying he should give up one for another. But it certainly does bring his material to a new level of emotion. By the end of “Brackets” Cole does drop the ball completely with some of his goofiest bars yet. But still, I think this is one of the better tunes here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGYQLxTMtf8
Honestly, I really do wish Cole did reinforce more of the themes of this album. Because when he does, like on the “Once an Addict” Interlude, he really hits home on his themes of addiction and pain. The dreary tone adds a lot, mostly because it comes off almost as psychedelic. But even Cole sounds dangerously focused and aggressive. You see, here every bar he spits you can tell that this is a topic that’s very close to Cole. It’s emotional, dreary, and painfully real. Most of all though, it’s focused. If we heard this sort of J. Cole more often, this album would be a classic. But then we get moments like “Friends” where J. Cole just pisses all his credibility away. The Kill Edward persona is an absolute joke, even though it’s not supposed to be taken as much more than a “feature” it just gets on my nerves. J. Cole was so focused for a few minutes, but now he’s right back to sounding so wishy-washy. The beat is OK, his technique is stunning as ever, and these topics of addiction are so incredibly relevant and should be discussed. But man, it just sounds like Cole is taking on way too much than he can handle. Now, you have to give J. Cole credit because he is trying so hard. With “Window Pain (Outro)”, I do really like just how tragic and emotional this track comes off and just how dreary this atmosphere is. But oh my God, as soon as the verse starts its nothing but one corny bar after another. I want to take J. Cole seriously, but with some of these lines, I couldn’t if my life depended on it. But man, he is trying and making some solid points. But why are we 5 albums in and J. Cole still seems like he can’t handle all of these massive topics he takes on? But on every album, J. Cole there’s that one track that’s so great and skillful that I really have to stop and think. “1985 (Intro to the Fall Off” is that track. Cole here comes off incredibly charismatic, the beat is grimy and interesting. And not to mention, as childish as I sound, I’ll be damned if this diss track has me more interested. I want to hear more of THIS J. Cole, if I did, I wouldn’t be laughing at half of his tracks.
Rating: 6.4/10
Give A Listen To: “Kevin’s Heart”, “Brackets”, "Once an Addict (Interlude)", " 1985 (Intro to the Fall Off)"
Genre: Hip Hop
Overall Thoughts: Once again, J. Cole is all technique with no substance in sight. Don't get me wrong, Cole on this album brings up some really great points, as well as brings up some topics that need to be talked about in modern Hip-Hop. The problem is that J. Cole backs these topics up with corny lyrics, goofy flows, and borderline asinine gimmicks (I never want to hear Kill Edward ever again). I think some of the dreary production and beats are really great and all, and tie in with a lot of the themes here. But everything else about this album is just so incredibly average. Also, 5 albums in and I still feel like J Cole can't back up anything he says to save his life.
No comments:
Post a Comment