Cole who defeat the stereotypes are stuck wondering who they really are, discouraged by the promise of a better society for their people in light of the first black presidency. In a society imposing a racial profile on all black Americans, those such as J. Cole provides an anecdotal explanation for Du Bois’ concept of double-consciousness. The stereotypes repressing successful, ‘clean’ black rappers such as J. “No evidence of the harm we done // just a couple of neighbors that assume we slang // only time they see us we be on the news in chains, damn.” He ironically is guilty of crimes, ending his second verse by cleverly assessing his ‘crime’: His lines, “even when your crib sit on a lake // even when the President jam your tape” implies Cole’s awareness of the inability of his money or success to transcend fundamental racial prejudices.
J COLE NEIGHBORS STREAM SKIN
Here, Cole acknowledges his social deficiency - his skin color. “Some things you can’t escape // death, taxes, and a ra- // -cist society that make // every nigga feel like a candidate // for a trayvon kinda fate // even when your crib sit on a lake // even when your plaques hang on a wall // even when the President jam your tape” The police found nothing, but the incident inspired this meta-aware track, assessing the damages of 21st century social repression. However, on March 18th, 2016 a SWAT team raided the ‘sheltuh’ after Cole’s neighbors suspected he was dealing dope. “That’s why I moved away, I needed privacy // surrounded by the trees and Ivy League // Students that’s recruited highly // Thinkin’ ‘You do you, and I do me”‘Ĭole’s last project, 2014 Forrest Hills Drive, is affectionately named after the home. “I been buildin’ me a house // back home in the South, ma // won’t believe what it’s costin’ // and it’s fit for a king, right? // or a nigga that could sing” Cole’s repurchased childhood home in Forrest Hills, North Carolina, nicknamed the ‘sheltuh.’ Cole boasts of his refurbished sanctuary, dropping five bars: The chorus of the song, echoing “I guess the neighbors think I’m selling dope,” refers to an incident that occurred at J. Cole, the modern black artist, questioning the so-called “integration” of Black America, instead grimly endorsing a return of his people’s culture.īuilt on an transcending, addictive electric playground, opposing looming bass beats, the track showcases Dreamville at it’s best production value.
Cole’s nostalgic album “4 Your Eyez Only,” Neighbors is an unmistakable realization - one that leaves J. Du Bois’ concept of double-consciousness. Neighbors, an unforgettable testament to the prizes and perils of a black man’s success, struggles explicitly in its’ subconscious effort to capture the dichotomy of W.E. Also is it just me or did the track with 21 savage just sound like an A Lot remix(not lyrics wise just the beat sounds exactly the same to me)? I could just be high but to me it feels like they only focused on the aesthetic not the actual substance.For Rhetoric and Civic Life II, I plan to write rap song reviews for my passion blog. I usually play new cole on repeat bit this one wasn't doing it for me(not counting his first couple albums that were basically under his labels control). The only thing that felt correct was "off season" cause this shit felt off. To me Cole is iconic for having you listen to a song and be like "oh I get why it's called this." Like role models neighbors folding laundry etc.
Like the way all the tracks and album title are typed out and idk what he was going for but I feel like none of the songs contents sync up with their name. Theres no consistency to the point that it made everything fall flat and sound emotionless. It just felt like he wanted the album to seem like it was about something(I mean like inquisitive,introspective, and unique) without actually putting in the effort to do so.