Track by Track Review of Born Sinner

J Cole’s new album “Born Sinner” is something I’ve been anticipating for so long now.  Finally I got some headphones around my ear to take a listen to the albums 16 tracks and I must say the album has exceeded my expectations.  After “Power Trip” released as a single I was worried that that particular song, like for many current rappers, would be the apex of the album.  It just sounded so hard to top.  16 tracks later I regret my doubts and realize that each song on the album carries a purpose and doesn’t fall into the realm of “filler.”  J Cole got got rap music right and I applaud his dedication.  I’m also grateful for the lyrical interludes and some fantastic skits.  Below is a track by track review of the album.  Order it on iTunes people!  Born Sinner June 18^th

Track 1:  “Villumnati”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2rd566LRWw

Cole starts out the album with a fury.  The beat is dark, heavy, and bumping loud.  Then at around 42 seconds in you here a familiar the voice in the sample. You process the thought like: “Holy shit it’s Biggie, he sampled Biggie! Not only that, he sampled ‘JUICY (bold move Jermaine)!’”  After getting over this fact you realize that j Cole is rapping harder than the Floyd Mayweather’s Chest reinforced by a Nokia phone jacket.  Oh yeah, and he also gives his honorary “F*ck Illuminati” lines somewhere in there as well.

Track 2: “Kerney Sermon” (Skit)

Track 3:  “LAnd of Snakes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiNIifSHpSU

OUTKAST FOREVER!  J Cole samples Outkast’s “Da Art of Storytelling Pt 1”  from there 3^rd studio album Aquemini in this lyrical ride through J Cole’s life.   Only three tracks in and he’s paying tribute to so many classics!  The beat is lighter and the lyrics are more relaxed and reminiscent but still possess that heavyweight lyricism J Cole is known for. The way the beat slows down at the end is a nice touch to for the transition into the next song “Power Trip.”

Track 4: “Power Trip” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdmnkXABqV0

J Cole's (left) first album single "Power Trip" ft. Miguel (right)

Would you believe me if I said I’m in love!  Cole is fire! Miguel’s feature is fire! The beat is addicting!  If you haven’t heard this song yet you live under a rock.

Track 5: “My Money” (Interlude) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxlvmphglY

Just flexing the lyrics and “Money” is the word. J Cole rips apart a minute using the word “money” 32 times without rhyming “money” with “money” (thank god). 

Track 6: “Trouble” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82xEj7GFnak

What comes after money?  PROBLEMS! And in Cole’s case we have plenty of them in track 6: “Trouble.”  Darkness approaches as J Cole raps about the troubles he experienced in his journey to the “promise land.”   The beat is accompanied by haunting choir chorus, which is personally my favorite part of the song.  At the end of the of the track only one question remains: “Mama did you F*ck J Cole?” 

Track 7: “Runaway Pride” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHA9n4Wr0Q8

J Cole gets real with his listeners about his relationships. Going out on tour and messing around with girls when he had good girl at home holding everything down.  Honesty and venting dominates the track.  The tone of the rapping is filled with the emotions of anger, regret, and wounded pride.   The best word I can put to the beat is woeful.  It’s definitely something for a rainy day.

Track 8: “She Knows” ft. Amber Coffman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBBpxI1UrMg

If sin had a sound it would be the whispering chorus of Amber Coffman on “She knows.”  Her voice and the dark drumming beat are constantly intermingling. On this track J Cole is well aware of what he has become at a certain point in his life.  His girl knows that he’s cheating and (follow me here) HE knows, SHE knows, and HE don’t give a flying f*ck.  The verse “on some DMX shit” kind of sums it all up for us.  The album is proving to be incredibly dark at this point. With 8 tracks in and only 8 to go I wonder; will Jermaine find the light? 

Track 9:  Rich Ni**az http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6jKKVwqRug

What is that I hear? It’s such a beautiful sound, so relaxing and soothing! How wonderful! There’s even trickling water in the backgrou-“I hate a rich Ni**gaz God Dammit…” It looks like we aren’t out of hell just yet.  That water comes from rain and that rain is making thunder on this nature filled beat.  J Cole expresses his anger over the fact that he never had money growing up,   and then transitions into lyrics about being afraid of change now that he has money.    He doesn’t want to become so immersed in his new lifestyle that he becomes numb to things he never would have dreamed of doing.  A haunting chorus by Cole asks over and over again: “how much for your soul.”

Track 10:  “Where’s Jermaine” (Skit)

Track 11: “Forbidden Fruit” Ft. Kendrick Lamar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-XsGSXUjhI

Okay I know J Cole wanted to do the album where he was the only one rapping but come on give your man Kendrick some bars!  Instead we see Kendrick doing a nice effortless hook.  Good to see the two great minds together (but come on, give Kendrick a verse). There’s some incredible lyricism on this one and the beat is surprisingly light. To top it all off that baseline is smooooooth! 

Track 12: “Chaining Day” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khw2nQ3ds_g

On this track J. Cole tells his accountant this is the last time he’ll spend money on chains and such.  He tells his mom that this is the last time he’ll degrade himself like this by being a slave to material things. Though he recognizes his mistakes Cole admits he will probably keep doing these things.   This song premiered back in 2012 without a beat, so it’s good to see Cole got a good beat for those lyrics.  The beat is lighthearted and jumpy but transforms into a slow jam about halfway through.  Just going to hop off for a second and say that although I still enjoyed it this was my least favorite track.

Track 13: “Ain’t that Some Shit” (Interlude) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y6GVJsoIsk

Beat is quick and light making the the attack of J Coles lyrics on this interlude feel like they embodied a swarm of bees and are coming at you ear pretty aggressively. At this point you can feel the tone of the album rising from all that trouble as well.

Track 14: “ Crooked Smile” ft. TLC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-DyD6znI0

J Cole's 2nd single "Crooked Smile Ft. TLC

 So it seems J Cole was all like “let’s take all this bad, turn it inside out and make it good!”  On “Crooked Smile” we are hit with a special type of honesty that is empowering and almost beautiful.  Along with a catchy and appropriate hook from TLC, J Cole talks about his messed up teeth and how he used think about getting them fixed, then transitions that thought into a bigger picture about or perceptions of ourselves.  Crooked Smile is the happiest track of the album in my oppinion, full of hope.

Track 15: “Let Nas Down” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLF39513uwM

A Smooth Sax accompanies my favorite track of the album (Nas sample wins).  “Let Nas Down” is a tribute to the idols of rap as well as a confession of a heavy regret.  Back when J Cole dropped “Work Out” he finally thought he had beat the radio game and got the single that the label wanted.  He did, except the song wasn't what the fans and particularly Nas had expected of him.  Nas told J Cole of his disappointment.  Fortunately for us, J Cole turned that regret around and made an incredible track 15 with it!

Track 16: “Born Sinner” ft. James Fauntleroy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAekzW-iKog

We are at the end! “I’m a Born Sinner, but I’ll die better that” sings James Fauntleroy (and later an inspirational choir, maybe the same from “Trouble”) as the album reaches its end. J Cole no doubt has come a long way from The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights.   This last track carrying the title of the album lifts Cole to the height of his achievements and sets him on a path forward, and when he starts touring again I guarantee more than just his dedicated fans now will be coming to show love and respect for this truly gifted artist.