Where did J Cole go wrong ?

[dark111]

It's not a secret that Born Sinner isn't getting the universal praise J Cole was sure it was going to get.

The album isn't bad at all, but Cole took a huge L because he made us believe that born sinner was the new mbdtf/gkmc/LR.

2 weeks ago I watched Wale campaign for fans to stop over looking the music being released today by he and his peers. He stated that we the fans are undervaluing the music being dropped today because we're still stuck on the Nas' Jay-zs' and Scarfaces' from Hip hops past.

A lot of artists proved that it was possible to get into that classic/legend debate as a new dude, ie:

Lupe Fiasco dropped Food & Liquor
Game dropped The Documentary
Kanye dropped college dropout
Jeezy dropped 101
Kendrick Lamar dropped Good Kid, Madd City
Big K.R.I.T. dropped his mixtapes
...

It's very subjective but all these guys came long after the 90's greats, a lot of them fell off a long time ago and only time will really tell the impact of these albums but all of them proved that it was possible to get into that classic debate as a new dude.
Even an artist like Drake is getting into that debate

So, where did Cole go wrong ?

"Let Nas go down".. "“I think me, Kendrick, and Drake need to stop acting like no one can do better than Jay, Ye, or Nas"
This album all in all sounded like Cole begging the Rap Gods for acceptance instead of just dropping a Classic album

Notice how its the Drakes, Coles and Big Sean types that are concerned with impressing their heroes and living out their "dreams". I aint mad, and Im glad that it means those kids didnt grow up poor on the street in crack-infested neighbourhoods. But its also extremely corny to me....just make your fucking music, seriously.

[Shameek]

I agree, it's kinda corny but it was always like that with a lot of artists:

...what they COULD be.

What they...MIGHT be.

What they...HAVE THE POTENTIAL to do...

Cole definitely tried to impress the old legends way too hard, it litterally had a reverse effect and handicapped him trying to live up to that legacy.

[King Lance]

The hate

I hate it had to be him, Cole is having a really bad day

I enjoyed the album tbh

[Mr.DGAF]

The hate

I hate it had to be him, Cole is having a really bad day

I enjoyed the album tbh

I'm through one listen but this ^. On first listen, this album is pretty impressive. Got a few songs here and there that aren't spectacular but the cohesiveness and quality of a lot of these songs are great.

[PAINKILLƎR]

I enjoyed the album as well, imma give it another listen then post a review in the Born Sinner thread.

[Rattle1]

The album isn't bad at all but it didn't live to the hype.

it's like an instrumentals album with meh lyrics, It could have been great, the beats are amazing and his voice is beautiful but honestly I feel like Cole got worse at rapping

[Trimss]

it's like an instrumentals album with meh lyrics

congratulations you just described a Kanye West album

[PAINKILLƎR]

it's like an instrumentals album with meh lyrics

congratulations you just described a Kanye West album

#ether #bodied #truuu

[Shameek]

I liked the album, I thought it was alright and it is exactly what I expected.

A lot of people think that it was just alright. people always claim J Cole as one of the new faces of hiphop with Kendrick, Drake and a few other cats, an alright album isn't what we expected tbh

it's like an instrumentals album with meh lyrics

congratulations you just described a Kanye West album

Unlike Cole with born sinner, Kanye will always have a few guest verses on his albums.

[Shameek]

Let me guess forums and internet people consider Cole next to Kendrick...I dont even think Cole has ever showed signs of that...I never claimed that and never would (I know u were not talking about me)....Kendrick is like 20 levels above Cole and like 100 levels above Drake.

to each his own I guess, Cole is very talented and the buzz was strong, people expected him to drop an amazing album.

[Mr.DGAF]

I'll drop a review here within the weekend hopefully. I really wanna let the album marinate before I go write how I feel about it. It's a bit discouraging to see people here disappointed, or even down-right hating. But, from early reviews on Vibe and Billboard, seems like the critics are enjoying it. Of course it's early, so I hope it's only up from here.

[Shameek]

Let me guess forums and internet people consider Cole next to Kendrick...I dont even think Cole has ever showed signs of that...I never claimed that and never would (I know u were not talking about me)....Kendrick is like 20 levels above Cole and like 100 levels above Drake.

to each his own I guess, Cole is very talented and the buzz was strong, people expected him to drop an amazing album.

Ya exactly ...I like Cole a lot though... Maybe this is what he is and all he can deliver.

this is not what you expect from someone who keeps saying :

I think me, Kendrick, and Drake need to stop acting like no one can do better than Jay, Ye, or Nas

[King Lance]

The hate is even stronger on KTT and The-Coli.

I hope it doesn't kill his sales

[Francesco]

He didn't have the right motivation or he tried to experiment & went way outta his comfort zone I guess...

[Robbie G]

Damn....It's like people are going into it looking for a reason to hate.

I thought the album was pretty solid on my first listen and it's been growing on me.

He didn't have the right motivation or he tried to experiment & went way outta his comfort zone I guess...

That doesn't even make sense....explain how you think he experimented.