Rapper J.Cole is back with a new album. His fourth studio album 4 Your Eyez Only was released a week ago. It follows up his critically acclaimed third album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. That album is my favorite from him, though I did enjoy this new album. Cole has always been known as a storyteller, and I always enjoyed his music because most of it is relatable to 20-somethings like myself.

The subjects range from relationships, dreams and struggles with success and failure to college life and student loans just to name a few. With this album, listeners find Cole at his most vulnerable. Particularly on the songs “She’s Mine Pt.1” and “Foldin Clothes”, where he talks about how happy he is to be in a monogamous relationship with his wife, Melissa. It’s always refreshing to hear rappers talk about being in love and being in a happy relationship. Rap fans don’t always hear that because rappers usually want to maintain a tough guy image. Those are two of my favorite tracks on the album.

“Neighbors” is another track that I love. On this song, Cole discusses about how in the rich neighborhood where he lives the neighbors think that he sells drugs. The song is actually based on a true story according to the producer of the song. “Deja Vu” is another great song on the album.  This song is about Cole being attracted to this girl that he meets, but he later finds out that she has a boyfriend. I found the song to almost be a continuation of two of Cole’s songs from previous projects, “Dreams” and “Power Trip” respectively.

I love the soulful and jazzy sound that Cole went with on this album. Also, I enjoy the fact that Cole is singing more on this album. 4 Your Eyez Only is not in our catalog just yet but it is available to stream on Hoopla. In the meantime, Cole’s previous albums 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Born Sinner and Cole World: The Sideline Story are available in our catalog.

Happy listening!

~Kayla

Kayla works at Squirrel Hill as a Clerk, so when you come up to the customer services desk you might see her face! When she’s not at the library she enjoys reading, watching TV & listening to music. You might also find her at your local Starbucks, because she loves her Frappuccinos.