What makes J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive the Most Important Album in 2014?
We decided that we can't have a North Carolina Edition of Dope Souf Magazine without mentioning J.Cole. J. Cole was already viewed as one of the best hip-hop lyricists of our generation. With the release of his third album, 2014 Forest Hill Drive, he had to impress his audience with something new. We all know every artist fall victim to top what they have done before, or at least be consistent. So the prior to the release of this album, the question was can he deliver?
The first thing one must realize is that the 2014 Forest Hills Drive is a concept album. He usies his own life as the subject of album. The art of self-awarness is what made it so insightful. Where does he start this story. Well, the name came from the address of the home that he onced lived in, so he started at home. This home was eventuall taken frm his mother. However, he presently owns this home. By listening to this album you are going to hear a storyline. Not give the story away, but you'll hear what someone struggle for stability, realizing their purpose/their dream, feelings of disappointment, and feelings of being glory/or being triumphant. This all came together to be one of the best hip hop albums of 2014.
The album starts off by narrating his early years with songs like Adolense and Wet Dreams. Then you fast forward and the charcter of this story is growing, and is reaching for success. You hear that story in A Tale of 2 Citys. Fast forward again and you hear the character explaining that he wears the crown, in Fire Squad. The great thing is you get to hear all the story's in between those songs, for example you hears gons about one's struggle with women and some of the pitfalls in life. However, with songs like Apparently and Love Yourz, the character eventually learns that the only thing that matters in life is love.
Instead of the usual subjects, of sex, women, and drugs, J. cole stepped outside of the box, and he used topics that most rappers talk about. He even dares to sing on a few tracks, which some critics complain about. However, it didn't hurt Drake, Nelly, or LL Cool J. So why not J. Cole.
Another thing that makes this album stand out is the fact that there are very few artists that choose to get involved in current events. At this current time being socio-political in your rhymes is not the "in" thing to do. This paticular dropped after the tragic deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. It makes you question if the rapper is trying to be a modern-day Public Enemy, or Poor Rightious Teachers type of rapper. If you haven't listened to it yet you will find that this album is very edu-taining. In other words, J. Cole was able to teach while rhyming.
So what makes "2014 Forest Hills Drive" the best album of the year? The answer to that is simple. The beats go hard. The topic matter is for the most part is based on his reality, which many can relate. It was something refreshing, compared to the same old same old that we hear on the radio. It leaves you to wonder what we will hear on his next album.