J. Cole has a dilemma of sorts on his hands. He’s quickly developed a loyal following with deeply earnest rhymes and a knack for both first-person and second hand narratives. But more marketable and sometimes forced-sounding offerings such as the platinum single “Work Out” pay the bills and have brought in enough new fans to push Cole World: The Sideline Story past the 500,000 units sold threshold. We’re essentially left to choose between “Album Cole” and “Mixtape Cole.” And while he’s been bristling at the thought of his free EP, Truly Yours being called a mixtape, the five-song, project finds Cole back in the mixtape mode that made The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights so popular.
In his defense, the warm up (no pun intended) to his sophomore set, Born Sinner, is album quality material completely devoid of filler. With no sample clearances to worry about, Cole’s fondness for wearing his influences on his sleeve (or at least mining their discographies) resurfaces. The opener, “Can I Holla At Ya” presents the odd juxtaposition of Lauryn Hill—her “To Zion” is sampled—and Tupac. J. Cole paraphrases the latter’s “Against All Odds” in a verbal dress down of what we presume is an estranged stepfather.
“Who would’ve thought you’d leave my momma high and dry / Last words to a bitch nigga / Why you lie…” The shot is particularly effective for the obvious contrast between Hill and Shakur references, because the man in question helped shape Cole’s influences by introducing him to Tupac’s music and because this is a different side of Cole. The threats to “throw hands” point towards Young Simba sharpening his claws and fangs when the occasion calls for such action.
Truly Yours succeeds for many of the same reasons J. Cole’s previous efforts did. He can weave his own autobiography in with familiar tracks (“Stay”) and, despite his recent success, still relate to listeners in lower tax brackets with wholly new material as on “Crunch Time.” He’s trimmed the fat since Friday Night Lights, and backs up his claim from “Tears For ODB” that he’s “here for more than just to kick some witty metaphors.” Born Sinner will be the ultimate test of Cole’s desire to grow and experiment as he pointed out in the letter that accompanied Truly Yours. This short set indicates he’s taking steps in the right direction, and his next full-length effort will hopefully appease his old and newer fans.
DX Consensus: “Free Album” (the highest possible praise for a mixtape)
cole always capture the emotions. dope ep
some real mature story telling #dope
Who gave Cole the permission to sample lauryn hill or nas??
i cant even listen to this shit lol
he been sampled ms. hill thats one reason why your talking about him now (lost ones)
and in coles defence, the beat for stay was originally given to him but he ended up not using it so ID gave it to Nas
Cole world…
Sick ep!
this is one of the dopest EPs to come out in quite some time. Cole’s storytelling is sublime.
Amazing without the GKMC hype. Hype takes away from shit.
I have to say that I haven’t liked any song by Cole, not even this mixtape. His voice and mic presence are somewhat boring in my opinion. Good lyrics and some beats are decent, but it isn’t enough for me. :/
Gave it 2 stars (2.5 would’ve been the perfect rating), because of his lyrics and beats.
fuck ur tough
You’re not even listening to what he’s saying, go back to mindnumbing shit you pussy.
finally someone who doesn’t like this guys material
I love that he is getting back to his old self ima buy born sinner twice i wish nothing but success for such a strong sorry teller please never lose your way Cole
Fuck the haters! This is the best shit to come out so far this year, and it’s only 5 tracks, havnt stopped playin it since it dropped!! 2nd verse on “crunch time” best shit I heard this year
Straight from the heart.
Straight from the trash can. 🙂
^ lol
Real music!!
actually only average
Your anonymous your not even average bro
Someone got really mad over disagreements.
Classic Coming
Don’t know, don’t care. CZARFACE is all I’m fucking with lately.
Then why did you take the time to click on the article scroll down and comment?
It’s only 4 tracks DX……..lmao why yall rating it like this?
Pretty dope – especially “Can I Holla At Ya”
Song reminds me of “I ain’t mad at ya” by Pac
Reminds me of “Repo” by Meek Mill. It’s as “good” as that song.
Jay-Z is the prick who forced Cole to re-record his album with more radio friendly tracks……
If Cole had complete freedom like Kendrick he’d be getting praise like this all the time
jay-z smart he’s going to let j. Cole play his type of music but also he needs to increase his fan base. it’s like puffy with biggie. puffy let him do him, with his flow but, he needed to make some friendly tracks like juicy to get radio plays and increase his fans.
Every song in this mix tape is 5/5 imo
lmfaaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :D:D:D::D:D:D:DD
not even distantly a 5/5 album
I think most people don’t understand where to place jcole in the spectrum of rapper temperaments. He’s no drake, and he is no lil wayne, but he seems to be closer to little wayne. Imagine what a former church boy and straight-laced college student would sound like if he grew up in the hood: jcole.
he won’t be the last of his kind…
Why does he have to be like either of them. You say it like Wayne and Drake are the end all be all of the rap game. Cole made his own lane. Thank god he isn’t like YM, they’re ruining rap. We need more dudes like Cole.
One of the best mixtapes in the past 3 years.
JCole is the greatest rapper alive no questions ask this is a classic in the making and born sinner will be epic cole world best your pea coat!!!!
JCole is the greatest rapper alive no questions asked Cole world get your pea coat this will be a classic born winner will be epic
You happened to forgot them:
1. Eminem
2. Kendrick Lamar
3. 5 000 000 other rappers
4. Nobody
..
999999999. J. Cole
Favorite 2pac quote J Cole sampled
“[Outro: 2Pac] Don’t support the Phoneys,Support the real You know what I mean? How can these people be talkin about how they so real And they don’t care about our communities? How can they be talkin about how they’re all this you know The hood and blah blah they don’t care about the communities? You know what I mean, listen to the words they have in their lyrics And tell me is that some real shit And if that’s real shit to you You know what I mean,Listen to what they’re saying to you Don’t just bob your head to the beat peep the game And listen to what I’m saying & hold us accountable for it”
what do you expect its J Cole #COLE WORLD
My minge is sweaty j.cole is shit
Quote: A biilion love songs made and we still learned nothing from it!!!…
J.Cole is rapping from the soul!!!!…
He talks about life!!!…love,..pain..remorse…responsebility!!
You youngstas bether start to take notes and listen to him closely..
Hes a brave intelligent young man with a big hart and realy can RAP!!!!
Love to see him grow every album he drops!!..nomatherwhat label he signed at!!
Why hate????…
Touching harts of men wemen and children!!!
Not every rap artist can say that trust me!!…peace God!!!
Disappointed me with cheap production
“No hope for youth well ain’t that the truth, when all your role models either rappping or they hoop”. This man just speaks the truth, the best in the game today. #ColeWorld
I was already anticipating Born Sinner before, but this EP got me extra hype for it now. Can’t wait.
this is really just promotion for the album, just throwaway shit (no disrespect, the songs are dope), so I don’t really see the point of reviewing this. I mean it’s like 20 minutes long and free so you could just check it out easily.
J Cole. What a shame. This dude has mediocre talent and the mixtape isn’t impressive.
I guess because content (topics) are mediocre…I love beats just as much as the next person but I can’t just listen to tight beats and no content as is the usual these days…And frankly, content will grab my ears faster than most beats…
I think Wale is deeper than J Cole. He wale can ride a beat more than Cole.
Every song on here is on point. Great lyrics, beats and most importantly SUBSTANCE. This project has me really excited for Born Sinner.
5/5
Can I Holla At Ya Shits On all Songs That Dropped Earlier This year! 5/5 without a doubt
sum nice beats
Love it and he needs keeps to doing his thing.
Great work
Weak
Wow! Really weak!! You young people these day don’t really know what good Hip Hop sounds like anymore..
You’re called Youngvito79. Please don’t pretend to be older than 15.
WHOA. Burnt. Havent listened to this yet but am sure its dope.
Super relaxing mixtape, but very short.
Cole World
Lord thank you for bringing his music into my life.
Thank Jermaine Cole.
fuck a mixtape
Remeber its an EP
trash, j cole aka unibrow should get a job
so does your mom, she been bumming on my dick for a min.
I love Cole 5 star
mixtapes are better than albums
the ones before cole world
Cole World!!
its meh
its cole niggar mixtape monster
J. Cole gonna be one of the best rappers alive someday
sounds gay but he use to remind me on pac somehow at this holla at ya joint
This is fukin sick, J. Cole is so deep
Can I Holla At Ya…
GIVE ME A CHANCE
Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that.! so please just spare a few sec. to check me out, & if you like what you heard please SUBSCRIBE so ill know you actually listen & support
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzBh55tD_eg
I love Cole! And it doesn’t help that I just want him to win. But everytime I hear something new from him I’m happy because I can hear his growth
traaaash
I Adore All The Songs On J.Cole’s ‘Truly Yours’ Can’t Wait Til He Gets The Credit That He Deserves!
The Realest rapper in the game
no wyatt earp