“Carolina’s finest, you knew that already/ And turned to the greatest, I proved that already.”
Happy Birthday, Cole! Giving back on his birthday, Cole has given 4 lucky fans a special 13-track album made up of songs from Forest Hills Drive plus an exclusive medley featuring the previous hits “Lights Please,” “In The Morning” and “Nobody’s Perfect.”
I was 1 IN 4 PEOPLE THAT GOT THIS FROM @JColeNC this is amazing. Him as well as the whole @Dreamville team chose me! http://pic.twitter.com/tuvuir7lFr
— Alexandra Melissa (@AlexandraMeli__) January 27, 2016
It’d been a great set of years for the North Carolina rapper. His most recent accomplishments includes his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album which was certified platinum, making it the first hip-hop album with no features to achieve that since 1989.
From going to fans’ house to personally play his unreleased album to opening his childhood home to single mothers, Cole has shown that he is a man of giving. In 2011, Cole kicked off his non-profit organization known as The Dreamville Foundation. It’s aimed toward the urban youth encouraging them to have a dream, believe in it and achieve it. The foundation gives back to the community, targeted at the Fayetteville neighborhoods, which are the streets that Cole grew up in.
In honor of the North Carolina rapper’s 31st birthday today, we bring you some of his most personal, touching and life-reflecting songs. After all, his intellectuality, work ethic and humbleness is what has kept fans rocking with Cole since his 2009 breakthrough mixtape “The Warm Up“.
- The Warm Up (2009) “Loosing My Balance” – Though no music video was ever shot for this track, a fan known as stephleetv on YouTube took it in her own hands to portray the message of the song. With over 750k views, the video breaks down the life of a lost women in a world of artificial physical standards, domestic abuse and a man’s challenge between balancing the streets while having a good women by his side.
“So you so out of touch that the world mistreat you/ Rich n*ggas fu*k you and broke n*ggas beat you/ Hoping this will reach you when you understand/ That your value ain’t determined by another man.”
2. The Warm Up (2009) “Can I Live” – Cole comes with passion in this track, speaking about empty love, the violence on the streets and it distracting him from following the dream. He also calls out to the Lord in hopes for protection while on his journey for success.
3. Friday Night Lights (2010) “The Autograph” – Cole shares his thoughts since gaining recognition as an artist and how much his view on life has changed. He reinforces his passion for the game and shout outs all the bootleggers who share his music, the haters and the loyal fans.
“These rappers talk a lot of money, cars and hoes shit/ I give you that and a whole lot more shit/ Than got richer and still rapping like I’m poor shit.”
4. Friday Night Lights (2010) “See World” – In November of 2009, 5 year-old Shaniya Davis was murdered after being a victim of rape and sex trafficking in North Carolina. Reports say her own parents introduced her to prostitution. Cole dedicates this song in her memory while including audio from the news report and talks about the corrupt behavior in this world.
“That girl was 5 years old that they just murdered/ And did some wicked shit to her that was unheard of/ You fuckin’ coward/ Ain’t gotta tell em’ go to Hell.”
5. The Sideline Story (2011) “Lost Ones” – A touching and emotional track on the topic of teen pregnancy and abortion. Cole portrays the life of a young man who’s gotten his girlfriend pregnant and isn’t ready to settle down as a father. The soon-to-be mom comes back with a hardcore response explaining the beginning of a single mother’s journey.
6. The Sideline Story (2011) “Breakdown” – Cole gets personal as he shares his emotions regarding the absence of his father. He questions his decisions and imagines what life could have been.
7. Born Sinner (2013) “Runaway” – Cole has always been open about the topic of love. In this track, he shares the thoughts of a man who isn’t ready to settle down with a good woman. He talks to his ride-or-die chick knowing that she’s giving up on their relationship and how the industry can be tempting to cheat.
“And maybe you can thug it out, learn what is love about/ When you can’t live with her and you can’t live without/ Oh sh*t, goddamn, I think the devil got his hands on me/ Stripper saying: “Baby, won’t you throw them bands on me?“
8. Forest Hills Drive (2014) “Love Yourz” – In his latest album, Cole includes this song that reminds himself, as well as others, that life is to be fully appreciated. He mentions the importance of family and love as well as appreciating the struggle.
“For what’s money without happiness?/ Or hard times without the people you love/ Though I’m not sure what’s ’bout to happen next/ I asked for strength from the Lord up above.”
The post In honor of J. Cole’s Birthday, here are 8 Cole songs that make you think about life appeared first on RnBass.
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