The Rundown: J. Cole, Born Sinner
A track-by-track review of the rapper's sophomore effort.
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The Rundown: J. Cole, Born Sinner - J. Cole's first words on Born Sinner: "It's way more darker this time." And that it is. Now that he's in the game, Cole is more honest with his pain than he was on his debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story. He's also more resolute in his stance as a mixtape artist. In fact, on Born Sinner, his sophomore effort, he uses so many references to hip hop's golden era that it's difficult to think of anything but a time when mixtapes were actually cassette tapes. And with the deluxe version (five new songs are tacked on at the end) to be known as the Truly Yours 3 EP, it sounds even less like a cohesive, polished studio project. His real fans like that about him. For everyone else, yes, he has crossover appeal, even without a Jay-Z verse. Click on to get a track-by-track review. — Sia Barnes(Photo: Roc Nation)
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"Villuminati" - Born Sinner opens with a medley of strings and simulated scratches, which Jermaine uses to confess (sometimes I brag like Hov") and reveal which rap song inspired the album's title (sampling Biggie's baritone "born sinner, the opposite of a winner" from Ready to Die's "Juicy"). It's simultaneously egotistic and humble, and it sets the pace for the rest of the album. This one's going to be slightly on the offensive and deeply introspective.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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"Power Trip" featuring Miguel - On "Power Trip," J. Cole proves he can leave the comforts of mixtape mode to make a mainstream stand-out. Miguel complements perfectly with his own blend of pop and R&B gruff. "Well this has gotta be the longest crush ever / If I ever get to f--k, it'd be the longest bust ever," Cole rhymes, a metaphoric gushing about his own blossoming career.(Photos: Roc Nation)
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"Trouble" - Hitting his stride, J. Cole delivers his most poignant message for all sinners with "Trouble." He punctuates it with the refrain, "real n---as trying to f--k, f--k n---as wanna fight." And, fittingly, adds gospel vocals to complete the song's rotundity.(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)
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"Runaway" - With "Runaway," J. Cole insists that he's more of a distance runner than a sprinter. He slows the tempo and pounds away at the topic of race — one that he doesn't shy away from — with steps that are far from delicate. "Old perverted white man who told me, 'Jermaine / It's all pink on the inside, f--k what color their face is' / Wise words from an indecent man / Made me reflect on the times when we was three-fifths of them."(Photo: Roc Nation)
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"She Knows" featuring Amber Coffman - By the time we get to "She Knows," it's as radio as J. Cole may be willing to get and it still sounds more like the prime of Ruff Ryders than Cash Money ("What these b----es want from a n---a?"). Former NC resident Amber Coffman adds a layer of ethereal folksiness.(Photos: Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
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"Rich N----z" - Harp strings get pulled on "Rich N----z" with Cole explaining just why he's content shielded from the epilletic flashing lights of the mainstream. "I hate rich n----s, godd---it/ 'Cause I ain't never had a lot, damn it."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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"Forbidden Fruit" featuring Kendrick Lamar - That Biggie reference in "Villuminati" becomes much more important here, where J. Cole, like B.I.G. on Ready to Die, learned to build an equal parts interesting and humorous interlude into a song on this, the K. Dot-assisted "Forbidden Fruit." It's the first real hint that he may one day put together that cohesive, polished project. Meanwhile, before the skit, there are much less emotional and personal verses than any on the rest of the album. Still, it manages to be summertime-cool because it's done over a flip Ronnie Foster's "Mystic Brew," the same sample used in ATCQ's "Electric Relaxation." (Photo: IconicPix/WENN.com; Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
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"Chaining Day" - J. Cole's marathon pace starts to drag on "Chaining Day." Were it not for the jewels (and the way the beat literally drags), this could have been where he lost the race. "Now b----es wanna f--k you and n---as wanna be you / And police wanna stop you, frisk you, wonder 'what he do.' / If a hater snatch yo' chain, I bet it still won't free you."(Photo: Roc Nation)
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"Crooked Smile" featuring TLC - On "Crooked Smile," J. Cole takes on another trek uphill. He pairs himself again with powerful voices from the '90s. This time, TLC's Chilli and T-Boz lend support á la "Unpretty" and "Waterfalls." It's the only really "feel good" cut of the album.(Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)
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"Let Nas Down" - On "Let Nas Down," J. Cole takes a turn for the jazzy, like the music Olu Dara makes. "Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals," he immediately spits. Nas then becomes the protagonist to Cole's villanous missteps in attempting to achieve crossover "success."(Photos: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images; Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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"Born Sinner" featuring James Fauntleroy - Cole returns to the gospel sound for the title track, adding James Fauntleroy to bring out the depth of the soul. It's worth its wait to get here, where J. finally stops begging for mercy from his rap icons to a purely honest place, where he's: "Spinning in circles, live my life without rehearsal / If I die today my n---a was it business? Was it personal?" (Photos: John Ricard/BET; Roc Nation)
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"Miss America" - On the deluxe edition, "Miss America" becomes the first off the Truly Yours 3 EP (also including the next four songs), and after "Born Sinner," it does sound a lot like Cole's been reborn, this time with emotions more raw.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)
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"New York Times" featuring 50 Cent and Bas - J. Cole gets in his diaprhagm to pull out his "checkmate" voice for "New York Times." It's backed by a 50 Cent hook at its best — layered with just the right amount of instrumentation — and a Bas flow that reminds us of Queens' place at the hip hop table.(Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Alberto Reyes/WENN.com; Roc Nation)
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"Is She Gon Pop" - It's a hasty transition for Cole from the block to the bedroom, but he's snug in the sheets by the time he spits, "Nah n---a, the game is to get a bunch of paper / Just to change your f---ing neighbors and s--- / I swear if n---as put half of what they put in chasing a-- / into a craft, now you'd be famous and rich."(Photo: PA PHOTOS/LANDOV)
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"N----z Know" - J. Cole sounds younger and hungrier borrowing Biggie's "Notorious Thugs" flow for "N---az Know." The placement on Born Sinner /Truly Yours 3 is so awkward. It could have been left out, but his true fans will appreciate it as one more dip in the mixtape fires before sparks fly with Jhené Aiko.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)