BORN SINNER: Track by Track Review

J. Cole is what i like to call the people’s Hero rapper. He is the rapper for the people and of the people. He left home with a dollar and a dream, went to NY city stood up in rain 3 times to meet Hov, never did. Dropped a classic mixtape n got signed by Hov?!?! Who the fuck doesn’t dream of that?! It’s what would happen in a perfect world of tryna make it as a rapper. That being said, nobody wants to see Superman wear a black cape and start saving another planet for a day.... so how does J. Cole evolve and still be Mr. Superhero? Born Sinner is testament to that, it exactly how one would do that. Allow me to take you through the world of a born sinner, through my eyes.

1. Villuminati

Cole sets out the tone for the album with the first words, “its way darker this time”.  On this track Cole gets a lil ignorant for a minute and just show cases a new flow, ridin his self produced beat like a muhfucka! I since a little Kanye inspiration with that things he says like “im bout to go and join illuminate, fuck everybody” This is the most energized ive heard Cole since God’s Gift. Great intro.

3. LAnd of the Snakes

Right off the bat i fuckin love the title. Cole is makin reference to  America with the use of the capital “A” in the word ( only if you didn’t ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD THIS SHIT would you know that).  Cole samples a CLASSICCCCCCCCCC Outkast track here and pays homage to the legends on the very first line... “this is the shit i used to roll down lewis st with” Cole spits some real life scenarios on the track and even gets personal on teh last verse in a ina funny way wit that chick(we’ve all been there before...AWKWARD) lol great track.

4. Power Trip

“would you believe me if i said im in loveeeeeee!!!!!” Need i fuckin say more?! Miguel slaughtered that hook, i cried to this song... no homo, i was going through some shit. But yea great single by Cole, classic video too.

5. Mo Money

THISSS is why niggaz compare Cole to the GOAT, Escobar, NaSty, Mr. Jones, Queensbridge’s finest... NAS. Frankly Cole is lightyears away from the god emcee, but ever so often when the stars align... i see him in that NaS light. Mo Money was a classic track, Cole uses the word money in all its meanings here, sick double entendres and that Boom Bap flow. CRAZY

6. Trouble

This is like my second favourite track on the album straight up. Cole takes the topic “trouble” and put some neat spins on it... really cool. I aint really fucked wit the corny lyric “gunshots inna the air... and i aint scared for my life”... cmon Cole... cmon... dah was a kina Drake move. (rmb da tough guy line in Lord Knows lmaooo) Good song tho, Cole shows strong song making skills on this record.

7. Runaway

When this started i was pissed, cuz it sounded like some shit from Take Care... but then Cole started spittin and it was aiteee. I dig the purpose of this song. It comes from a real man’s perspective... we ALL go through the duality of being in love an being a man. I love the vulnerability and emotion here. Great song.

8. She Knows

I love the hook on this song, Cole sounds good singing surprisingly. The verses were kina mediocre but a cool song nonetheless. We all love that classic line tho...”i got a bitch on my dick right now, and she just wanna sing on it!!!”

9. Rich Niggaaz

Again, dis is that NaS Cole. The subject matter is that classic social commentary vybze. What hiphop was built from. The flow was a little bit hit n miss for me, but i love the concept. This is why he is the people’s hero. Great song Cole

11. Forbidden Fruit

CLASSIC!!! TIMELESS!!! PHENOMENAL!!!  Best song on the album for sure. Cole flipped that Electric Relaxation sample like he was Pete Rock fused into Kanye West and No ID. Kendrick on the hook... “ohh lawd” This is such a great Song... it will make a perfect single and video, all the elements to be a hit and classic hiphop at the same time. Perfect from Cole.

12 Chaining Day

The concept and subject matter of this record have been done numerous times before, so as a hiphop head... it didn’t take me away like it did some people. Cole didn’t particularly do it too stellar also. It was just good enough unno... nuthin mind blowing. The hook was the weak point of this record. But an okay song.

13. Aint That Some Shit

I don’t even wanna tlk about this record. Worst song on the album. Very left field considering the tone of the album so far. Cole’s flow is nice... but that’s about it. The beat songs like a Young Money throwaway record... and Cole is forcing a style he has no business tryna copy. I was disappointed with this to be honest.

14. Crooked Smile

I’ll be honest here... i wasn’t feeling this record really. It doesn’t “sound” good in my opinion. It has that bouncy cheesey kina vybe to it, and i just can’t really get with it, especially on the heels of that semi dark period of the album. The idea of TLC on the hook was great tho. This song was made for them, looking at the topic n all. Great choice by Cole. The subject matter was good also, but idk i just couldn’t get with it, my 2^nd least favourite. I thought Cole could have executed the concept in a way that would make for a greater song.

15. Let NaS Down

:’( :’( :’( Cole... why you let the god down?! Im glad you did tho... one word to sum up this record EMOTION. Cole gets maddd personal and real on this song, detailing the emotions he felt when he heard that nas hated his debut single. I really dig the perfect story telling. Ironically i can see NaS doing something exactly like this, (he did... check the unauthorized bio of RAKIM, on the Street’s Disciple album) Perfect Song, probably Cole’s best to date to be honest.

16. Born Sinner

I kina don’t really understand this song too much, but i love the choir at the end with all my heart9you shud too). Cole raps aitee on this record. Decent ending to the album. It was supposed to be like a summing up of what he means by being a born sinner, but 1. It was too short and 2. He didn;t do too well of a job summing it up. This song didn’t move me, i know this because i don’t even know the lyrics and i listened to the album like 700 times. Fair effort by Cole.

In a nutshell Cole was able to do something very important career-wise. Craft his own path for himself, without losing his fans. In fact he gained more. The whole Yeezus Born Sinner thing i will tackle in a later review. Production wise amazing work by Cole, songcrafting-wise as well. My gripes come as it regards some of the lyrics but most importantly THE EMOTION. Cole’s album kina gets boring in the middle, and that is not good, at all. Especially in the era of hiphop we are in. This was a better album than sideline story but it had less emotion, which made sideline story a better listen than this. Cole however, was able to become the hero of a different worl with this project, and if u can relate to that world, then this album will resonate with you, like it did with me. All in all though 8-8.5/10.

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Peace Bruh!