On December 9th 2014 J. Cole dropped his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hill Drive. This album has spent 6x platinum album has spent over 550 weeks on the top 200 chart and is considered not only a classic but one of Cole’s best albums.
The second track on this album is “January 28th” This date is significant as it is J. Cole’s birthday, and allows him to begin the LP named after his childhood home, off at the beginning of his life. This song features an impressive rhyme scheme accompanied by a catchy and addicting beat. This strong track comes early on in the album and sets a great tone for the songs to come.
“03’ Adolescence” is the fourth song on 2014 FHD. In this track Cole showcases a slower and more methodical flow, complimenting the storytelling and message of the song. The story of “03’ Adolescence” is of a conversation between J. Cole and one of his childhood friends. Cole is jealous of the money his friend makes despite it being through illegal activities. After his friend points out how stupid that is and that he is jealous that Cole gets to go to college Cole is now more appreciative of what he has and where he is going.
The ninth track on 2014 FHD is the smash hit “No Role Modelz” This 14x platinum song features a catchy chorus, with impressive rhyme schemes from Cole and a beat that truly pops. This song famously sampled president George W. Bush, who publicly misquoted the phrase “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” by saying “fool me once shame on, shame on you. Fool me you can’t get fooled again.”
The second to last song on this album is “Love Yourz” As J. Cole said in an interview the words “love yours “ “sums up the entire album.” This song is all about appreciating what you have. Cole talks about there always being people with nicer cars, cooler clothes, bigger houses, and there always being prettier girls, but you can’t be comparing yourself to others because until you stop doing that, you won’t ever truly love yourself and your own life
2014 Forest Hill Drive was the album that truly launched J. Cole into stardom. Through this album however, he learned and taught us that it doesn’t matter the money or status you have. It doesn’t matter what other people have as you have to love your own.
