J. Cole - 4 Your Eyez Only

J. Cole
4 Your Eyez Only
2016
Spotify

There have been two artists who release albums this year where the world collectively said aloud "about fucking time!" and those two are Frank Ocean and J. Cole. 2014 Forrest Hill Drive was an absolute triumph and had the world clamoring for more. His honesty, his voice everything about J. Cole screams authentic. He is not about following trends or cashing in on a particular scene, J. Cole wants to put out the music He hears in his head. "Deja Vu" feels like one of the early Tupac tracks which were more overtly sexual than gangster. It is one of those tracks that is going to make massive crowds looks like waves as the hands go up in the air. As you listen to this record you realize that Cole is really bucking the system throughout. There are no beats that feel club ready, there is really no crossover appeal at all, this is hip hop for hip hop fans, plain and simple. It is very similar in approach to Kendrick's untitled unmastered in that it feels so natural and raw. "Changes" is a song that feels incredibly comfortable yet has this incredibly poignant message. There are also zero features on the album something that we haven't seen in rap in maybe ever. This is Cole's voice start to finish, just the way he wants it.

"Neighbors" is another laid back track chalked full of amazing lines like "I dont want no picture with the president/I just wanna talk to the man/speak for the boyz in the bando/and my nigga never walkin' again". It is a sentiment that we don't hear enough, who cares what is going on with the elites when there are so many more things to be concerned about. Much of the record is quite smooth with jazzy underlays especially on the title track which sort of drifts quietly into infinity rather than close with a bang. The music slowly fades and Cole's voice stays. The eight minute track is more of an autobiography than a song as J. Cole takes you through his entire journey, a love letter and history made for his daughter. Yet he still cannot keep the hood out of him even on this beautiful track saying "Not because He was so cold/first to get some pussy/12 years old". Cole seems to be the only one making this kind of hip hop, this kind of music anymore and for that He should be thanked. 4 Your Eyez Only is just a continuation of an already incredible career and I cannot wait to hear what is next.

9.0 out of 10