Release Date: September 27, 2011
There were no high expectations for Nas before Illmatic was released. Biggie didn’t have numerous mixtapes circulating on the Internet before he told the world he was Ready to Die. Reasonable Doubt wasn’t appreciated until Jay-Z’s second album came out. Artists today are laid out on the examination table of the hip-hop world well before simply dropping a debut album. There may be no more glaring an example of this than Jermaine Cole. Ever since “Lights Please” was introduced to his ears, Cole has been anointed as the next great. The next Jay-Z, the next Biggie and, more appropriately, the next Pac. But after mixtapes dropped one after the other, the audience began to grow weary.
Cole traveled the globe playing sold-out shows, opening for Jay-Z and building his fan base. During that time, he also saw his Roc Nation debut pushed back multiple times. Thinking he was close, “Who Dat?” was released to radio stations around the nation. Despite its infectious chorus and rhyme-slinging, the label still didn’t see it as a lead single, so it pushed back the release. After the Internet almost exploded with the release of Cole’s Friday Night Lights, the world thought it was close, but it got pushed back again. Finally, after around three years, the world has been blessed with Cole World: The Sideline Story. With all the delays, the question was: Could Cole back up the expectations that had built up in his fan base and the world of hip-hop and deliver a classic, or would he go the way of Harold Minor, the “next Jordan,” and be relegated to an afterthought?
The result was somewhere, not in the middle, but slightly underneath the “classic” label. If this had been put out with no buildup or expectations, Cole World might have been viewed as such. Maybe Cole is a victim of his own talent in that regard, but this is a phenomenal album, the best display of complex lyricism and overall artistic expression the game has seen in quite some time. It’s just not Illmatic.
The standout track is still “Lights Please.” The song that got him a deal is the same one that will find new listeners as its tale of fornication and conviction shed light on Cole’s ability to make people think while nodding their heads to the beats he crafts. Maybe he hit his high note early, or maybe this is just one of the best hip-hop songs ever.
The Drake-aided cut “In the Morning” is another familiar track that found its way onto the album. This holdover from Friday is a jam that the ladies love where Cole and Aubrey trade off verses, asking for a little snooze-button loving. “Dollar and a Dream III” is somewhat of a continuation from the mixtapes (Cole loves to keep things connected, like the sports themes of his album titles.) where he pops off four minutes worth of rhymes with no need for a hook.
Along with Drake, Missy Elliot, Trey Songz and the boss, Jay-Z, all make appearances. The latter shines on the brilliant “Mr. Nice Watch” where Cole uses his newfound ability to buy extravagant jewelry as a metaphor for how valuable time is. He’s crazy good with the pen.
The beauty of Cole is his aforementioned ability to not only paint a picture with words, but also tackle complex subject matter.
This is where the Pac comparison is most prevalent. Cole is the new Pac, but with more talent. Cole’s flow and knack for production put him a couple notches above his idol, (Cole consistently names Pac as his favorite of all time.) but he also rivals him as a writer. Songs such as “God’s Gift,” “Lost Ones,” “Cole World,” and “Never Told” bring back images of Brenda struggling with a pregnancy she wasn’t ready to handle.
Cole World: The Sideline Story is today’s hip-hop at its best. Where the differentiation between album and mixtape is almost indistinguishable, it’s hard to ask for more than what Cole gives us: lyricism, story telling, pin-point production and a few club bangers. It’s not a classic album, but it’s not far from it.
J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story tracklist:
- “Intro”
- “Dolla and a Dream III”
- “Can’t Get Enough”
- “Lights Please”
- “Interlude”
- “Sideline Story”
- “Mr. Nice Watch” (featuring Jay-Z)
- “Cole World”
- “In the Morning” (featuring Drake)
- “Lost Ones”
- “Nobody’s Perfect” (featuring Missy Elliott)
- “Never Told” (produced by No I.D.)
- “Rise and Shine”
- “God’s Gift”
- “Breakdown”
- “Cheer Up”
