// J. Cole - Friday Night Lights //
4.75 out of 5
"What good is it being The One when you're the only one who knows it?"
Not a lot of people know who J. Cole is. (Actually, it's come to my attention recently that a lot of people still don't even know who
Kid Cudi is. Hmm.) The hip-hop scene is ever-expanding, encroaching on pop music territory more and more every day. It's busy, and it's not always easy to know who to dedicate your iPod space to. Consider this as your notice that J. Cole is a sure bet for those spare MB's.
Both rappers and producers alike are faced with the challenge of keeping up with trends while maintaining a distinctive sound. It's a tall order establishing a stable career in
one field. Becoming a serious double-threat as a rapper
and producer is a whole other story. Even amongst the most successful rappers or producers, only a select few can rightfully claim success at both. Did anyone ever laud Timbaland or Diddy as great rappers? How about Eminem's mediocrity behind the boards?
That brings us to the story of J. Cole. I really do think he just might be the next one to do it big. His body of work to-date suggests that it's only a matter of time before he becomes a household name. Just to show you how much respect he's getting these days: Kanye West delayed a G.O.O.D. Friday drop a whole day because Cole wasn't done recording his verse for the track. Devout fans were vocal when Kanye failed to deliver by midnight Friday, but willingly bided their time once they learned that Cole would be featured on the track. It's a special kind of power, especially so early in his career.
The November 12th release of his 3rd official mixtape,
Friday Night Lights, marks his first since signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation stable. Cole produced most of the tape, getting a helping hand on only a few tracks. The overall sound is polished without feeling too shiny or canned. Casual listeners will be encouraged that Cole's beats aren't too raw. On the whole,
Friday Night Lights is fair and shouldn't alienate hip-hop heads nor those who are just looking for a reasonably easy listen.
Lyrically, J. Cole is bold and confident. Every word is spoken with purpose, leaving little space for unnecessary filler. Perhaps what impresses me most is his seemingly limitless (content) range. His subject matter touchs on things that we all know and can expect from a rap song, but he manages to delivery it in a way that makes us want to hear it all again anyway. It's undeniable: he's got that fire in everything he spits. Even in his half-sung or mellow flows, there's a sense of real work being put in.
I can't name a favourite track, as each one is just too good to pass up on. I'll toss up "In The Morning" (f. Drake) and "See World" as just two (previously unheard) must-haves.
Summary: If this was a major-label release, it would
easily stand up to the best albums out on the market right now. Get your hands on this, and then pass the word to your friends. Do you want to be the guy who found out about Kanye only after
Late Registration dropped? This is your chance to get in before the next proverbial
College Dropout hits. It won't be long before people all know that J. Cole is The Truth, The One, or whatever else you want to call him.
// Download //
