Cole has come home.The concept and a deft one is the prodigal son returning.
![]() Making his way back to whats important, to whats at his core. Kendricks multi-verse on 03 Adolescence, Wet Dreamz, and G.O.M.D. As well as his own flame pit of bravado and melancholy on a Tale Of Two Citiez, Fire Squad, No Role Modelz, and Hello, and theres Drake sprinkled generously throughout the narrative as J. Cole elects to sing quite a few of his own hooks and quite a bit in general. The result is an album that wobbles violently between narratives, the different trade winds hes dealing in colliding with each other in sometimes-unforeseen ways. Its his next line, though, that requires a bit of investigation: Whats the price for a black mans life I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight I turn the TV on, not one hero in sight Unless he dribble or he fiddle with mics. Its this disconnect from his own stature thats jarring and important to the arc of the album. This lack of knowledge of self is part of the albums overall amble forward as the rest shows you the journey that leads to his return. Its an interesting choice, as Cole moves away from neat closure at least early on. Tropez, hitching a ride on samples of Chaka Khans Hollywood and Esther Phillips Thats All Right With Me. Queuing up a theme of black man lost, Cole transforms into Hollywood Cole. G.O.M.D reveals this second Cole to be strangling the original. The guy who postured to get his High School crush into bed is now diving through meaningless relationships left and right. The noise machine that is Coles voice works here, as it reveals the drowning, vulnerable Cole in juxtaposition to the assured, confident imposter. Hes also making fun of Rap as a whole here, and as usual, pointing out how the money, women, and clothes aesthetic steals from his perception of authenticity. Dealing with a lovely but shallow woman on No Role Modelz, as he awkwardly slings the fact that he wants a, Real love A Jada and Will love. Hello then sees him baring the fangs of real emotion as he pushes existential heartache, navigating the idea that what you want isnt necessarily what you need. His demons make an appearance, as well, talking himself out of love because hed have to be the stepfather to her two children. The extremely relatable Apparently follows, and is the beginning of the end for Hollywood Cole, as he comes back to himself and struggles on back to 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Then the kicker, Love Yourz, where he ties it all together with the hook, Theres no such thing as a life thats better than yours. Providing all together too neat of an ending, which he did not hint at earlier. It tries its hand at twists and comes up short (Wet Dreamz), and it sticks to Coles strategy instead of changing it drastically. It is less artistic than it means to be, but it is truer than anything hes ever made. Its narrative, the tropes, and the strategies are completely overcome by the albums terrifying integrity. It is immensely relatable because it is not afraid to be corny and cliche.
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December 2020
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