J.Cole Born Sinner

J. Cole-Born Sinner-Roc Nation Records-(2013)

Artist: J. Cole  

Album: Born Sinner

Label: Roc Nation/Columbia

Producers: J. Cole, NO I.D.

J. Cole has been the talk for a hot minute. Ever since his guest appearance on Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 album and also blessed on Wale’s first two albums, he has a lot of recognition. With an impressive debut album “Cole World”, J. Cole has made power moves. As a rapper/producer, he has done tracks and jumped on collaborations with many artists. Now J. Cole is ready to drop another album “Born Sinner” hoping this doesn’t initiate the sophomore jinx.  

J. Cole tries to make original music through evolution. Although, he has an old school delivery flow to it, his production fits contemporary musical standpoints which can be a hit or miss depending on the song. “Villuminati” is an example to start the album strong as he brags like Hov and real like Pac ferociously. You can’t deny his slick wordplay with a little cheap shot: and who could blame ya boy meets world/I’m trying to find a new Topanga, and bang her out, no hanging out/ my pops was club hopping back when clubbing Rick James was out and all I get is Trinidad James.

One thing about J. Cole is he can take it beyond the scale with his production skills. An experimental Timberland influenced production track “She Knows” featuring Amber Coffman shows that he can speed up the tempo and still make it credible song as he expresses monogamy problems and one of the standout tracks is “Land of the Snakes” initiates a nicely clever sample of Outkast’s “The Art of Storytelling Part 1” expressing the life rolling down Lewis street: finally got my own bedroom in this bitch/no more sleeping in my brother’s room/like man I might as well be sleeping in my mother’s room/cause how I’m supposed to sneak hoes with my bro here/plus she gon find out I been rocking all this old gear….now if you only had one wish is it devious?/cause you already know who your genie is. Usually, I’m not into remakes but this is one of the classic joints of 2013 with great music compatibility and innovative song material.

You know there got to be some album fillers; it’s almost impossible to make a perfect album. The single “Power Trip” featuring Miguel works for the radio stations but just the album filler with an annoying soulful melody, “Trouble” has a deep dark bass line with just average lyrics and the Kendrick Lamar insisted track “Forbidden Fruit” fell flat with an unimaginative sample that Tribe Called Quest used despite the lyrics was on point. “Runaway” and “Crooked Smile” bring out the personal side to J. Cole as he went in knee deep into his emotions. The other standout track “Chaining Day” is when he stepped his production skills with the sampled bell and guitar sound with simple kicks to it shows that you don’t have to go extra original to make a song. This track reminds me of Nas’s “Memory Lane” with a twist of Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” wrapped into one. The No I.D. assisted produced “Let Nas Down” showed honesty in regards to the legendary rapper’s criticism over the “Work Out” track over a sax infused production beat: I used to print out Nas raps and tape em up on my wall/my niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw. A great analysis of describing his idol with respect!  

            Born Sinner survived the sophomore jinx in which Jermaine Cole switched lanes from piano infused samples to a more variety of samples and original beat content. More consistent and cohesive than “Cole World” but it takes a lot more to place J. Cole as one of the best emcees out now. Although, J. Cole has stepped it up with his production skills, he still has to build that fire in order to become one of the most innovative emcee/producers in the game like Kanye West, Q-Tip of Tribe Called Quest, Havoc and the slept on Agallah to name a few. At times his delivery can be off and it’s a bad comparison with lyrical juggernauts like Nas. Being mentored by Jay-Z and with the influences of Kanye and Timberland, J. Cole is still the emcee to listen to. Although some hit or miss pitchy problems, we will hear more from the North Carolina emcee. Don’t take anything away from him, he can still write a song and that separates him from many artists. Being a born sinner works for now in order to enter Cole’s world!

            Strong Tracks: “Runaway”, “Crooked Smile”, “She Knows”, “Land of the Snakes”, “Chaining Day”, “Let Nas Down”, “Villuminati”

            Average Tracks: “Power Trip”, “Trouble”

            Weak Tracks:  “Forbidden Fruit”

            Rating:out of