4 Your Eyez Only

J. Cole also known as Jermaine Lamarr Cole raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Grew up with a single mother and brother. Cole grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet and his mother would turn to addiction during hard times. “All I want is you” and “Work Out” was the start to his career as a Hip Hop artist

4 Your Eyez Only is Cole’s latest album, released in November 2016. This album is a beautiful piece of work. He vocalizes what it’s like being a black man in poverty, seeing traumatic events as a child, losing a best friends to gun violence, as well as more uplifting messages like finding the love of his life.

J. Cole became an increasingly popular name around 2011 when he dropped his first album “Cole World: Sideline Story” this album put Cole on the map with hits such as “In the Morning” Featuring Drake “Nobody’s Perfect” with Missy Elliot and “Cant get Enough” featuring Trey Songz. As Cole released more albums and had more opportunities for creative freedom he raps more about societal issues like, poverty, education to prison pipeline, gun violence, mass incarceration, and others.

“Change” is the most influential track on this album to me. In “Changes” Cole raps about wanting change in his life. As he begins the song saying “my intuition is telling me there’ll be better days.” he continues talking about how he is no longer scared to die while other men are, more or less because they know living a life of crime. He then goes on to say “ I know you’re desperate for a change let the pen glide, but the only real change comes from inside…in cemeteries or in chains I see man cry, but the only real change comes from inside.” here he is showing that change comes from within rather than finding outside sources to generate happiness. He then ends the song with a funeral eulogy

“We’re gathered here today…

To mourn the life of James McMillan Jr

(I swear to God — nigga, I’mma kill them niggas man)

A tragedy, another tragedy in the black community

(I promise you bro…)

We got to do better, people

22 years old, this boy was too young

(I promise you bro, I’mma kill them niggas bro…)

Our condolences go to his family, our prayers

(I’mma kill them niggas myself…)

We know he’s in a better place

We know he’s in a better place

But this has got to end, ladies and gentleman

We’ve got to come together, this is, this is beyond words

Now I’d like to open this ceremony with a verse fro…”

This is the sad reality for many young black men in the city. Cole uses his platform to show people this is a very real issue. In hopes of opening eyes and allowing many fans to connect with him on a deeper level.

Over all I give 4 Your Eyez Only a 7.5/10. This album is filled with important messages lased with a creative rap style, makes this album one of Cole’s best work yet. It’s important for rap artist to go back to the roots of Hip Hop and fill fans with knowledge while also leaving them asking questions. Is this really going on in society? How can we change this? In attempt to open eyes of more people.

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