J. Cole's "Born Sinner"

Track-by-Track Review (not including skits):

It’s way darker this time.  J. Cole has put a lot of work in, perfecting his flow and beat-making, and it surely shows here on his sophomore album.  Cole purposefully dropped his album on the same day as Kanye’s Yeezus in a move that signified a more confident and competitive Cole.  He is in a different place, as fans get all they want and more on Born Sinner.

Villuminati- “Villuminati” sets the tone for the album and you can tell that J. Cole has found his comfort behind the bars that he spits.  The song samples a very recognizable sample of The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”, and contains elements of both good and evil, which foreshadows the rest of the album.

Land of the Snakes- You will find yourself bopping your head as Cole tells a story, reminiscing on his immoral ways of the past.  He has strayed from his old self, and must watch out for people trying to bring him down now that he is on top of the game.

Power Trip- This radio-friendly hit features supremely-talented R&B singer Miguel and is one that essentially ruled the radio in the summer of 2013.  Watch Cole’s thought process and see how he made the beat on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxdny59Coc

Mo Money (Interlude)- This interlude denotes money, but it’s deeper than that.  J. Cole is at a point in his career where he has amassed a certain level of money that many people have never even dared to dream of.  Although this is true, Cole knows that there are people with way more money than him, which is both humbling and motivating.   He is aware of other blacks getting into trouble monetarily because of urges to satisfy material needs and does not want to go down the same path.

Trouble- The last track segues perfectly into “Trouble” because J. Cole continues to discuss the pitfalls of fortune.  Money brings problems and this is heavily stressed on this sixth track of Born Sinner.

Runaway- This song has a simple beat at a moderate tempo.  The hook reels you in as Cole shows off his raw, yet soulful vocal range, while the rap is on par with some of his best storytelling.

She Knows- “She Knows” samples “Bad Things” by Cults and it works out wonderfully.  Once again, J. Cole offers up his voice on the chorus.  This effort serves as a song with relatively significant commercial potential.

Rich N*ggaz- Here is one of my personal favorites on the album.  The instrumentation is relaxing and the lyrics are sort of dark.  Once again, Cole provides solid storytelling, but this time his flow seems to be effortless.

Forbidden Fruit- A feature from Kendrick Lamar without a verse!? Sounds crazy, but it worked!  Kendrick is on top of the rap game right now and is a lyrical genius, so it would be understandable if J. Cole did not want K-Dot to get the best of Cole on his own song.  Cole, however, delivers some impressive verses as religious themes continue to cast their shadow upon Born Sinner.

Chaining Day- Slow.  Down.  This is exactly what this calming song does to the mood of the album.  It is far from my favorite, but still a jam.

Ain’t That Some S*it (Interlude)- This is just another interlude to transition to the next part of the album, and specifically into the song “Crooked Smile”.

Crooked Smile- Here is a radio-friendly, feel-good jam.  The mixture of an array of piano chords and a harmonious choir establish this as a fun, soulful piece for the album.

Let Nas Down- This song is about J. Cole’s single “Workout Plan” and how Nas perceived it.  Nas realized Cole’s talent, but did not feel as though Cole properly took advantage of his gift.  Here, J. Cole addresses his mentor and this creates for a must-listen.  Make sure you check out Nas’ response “Made Nas Proud”.

Born Sinner- We now arrive at the album’s title track, which does not disappoint.  This is the last song featured on the regular album and it certainly feels like an appropriate conclusion.  The chorus belongs to James Fauntleroy, who is best known for his recent success on the hook of Drake’s song “Girls Love Beyonce”.  This song leaves you singing and feeling at ease.

Miss America- This first bonus track could have been left off of this project in my opinion.  The beat is weak and the verses lack creativity.  With all of the quality songs, I suppose having a couple flops is okay.

New York Times- Other than a special feature from 50 Cent, there is not too much to say about this track.  Like the previous track, this is one of the weaker efforts of Cole’s on Born Sinner.

Is She Gon Pop- “Is She Gon Pop” has one of the lighter, softer beats on the album, but this is not a terrible thing.  The incredibly catchy beat in addition to Cole’s simplistic, laidback flow fit perfectly together in this short song.

N*ggaz Know- J. Cole gets his Notorious B.I.G. on, as he steals his flow here and there.  Dope beat, dope lyrics.

Sparks Will Fly- Up-and-coming artist Jhene Aiko is featured on the chorus of “Sparks Will Fly” and any project Ms. Aiko is involved in is hot lately.  Overall, this is yet another relaxing song that will have you channeling your inner singer/rapper.

I am blown away at the effort J. Cole put into this project.  He has made improvements not only in his rapping ability, but in his production.  Although he has certainly gone up my list of favorite hip-hop artists, in my opinion he will never have the appeal that a Drake or Kendrick has, simply because they are all rapping in the same era.  Drake is the LeBron James of mainstream hip-hop and J. Cole will have to settle for a Durant-type player, which isn’t too bad.  Overall, though, Born Sinner is a straight banger.