Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007 in which he also founded his record label Dreamville with label president Ibrahim Hamad. Intent on further pursuing a solo career as a rapper, he went on to release two additional mixtapes The Warm Up in 2009 and Friday Night Lights in 2010, after signing to Jay Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009.
Cole released his debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, on September 27, 2011, which included the lead single "Work out". It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was soon certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In June 18, 2013, Cole released his second studio album Born Sinner. Born Sinner sold 297,000 copies in its first week of release, and peaked at number one in it's third week of release. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics. On September 15, 2020, Born Sinner was certified double platinum. The album was supported by the lead single Power Trip with R&B artist Miguel, which was released on February 14.
On December 9, 2014, Cole, released his third studio album "2014 Forest Hills Drive". It was also the first album in 25 years at that time that went 3 times platinum with absolutely no features. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 353,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum on March 31, 2015. The latter earned him his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album. The album was later accompanied by two documentaries "J. Cole: Road to Homecoming" in the period of December 16, 2015 – January 9, 2016 & "Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming" on January 9, 2016.
On 9 December, 2016, Cole released his fourth studio album "4 Your Eyez Only". The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with 492,000 album-equivalent units, of which 363,000 were pure album sales, becoming Cole's fourth number one album. On January 12, 2017, the album was certified gold and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 7, 2017.
On April 20, 2018 Cole released his 5th studio album "KOD", after he revealed the album name two days after and held a couple listening sessions. The album featured his new alter ego kiLL edward under which he released the single "Tidal Wave (just a little reference)" on April 18th, 2018, 2 days before releasing KOD. The album was recieved with positive reviews from critics and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, selling 397,000 album-equivalent units in its first week (174,000 coming from pure sales), earning Cole his fifth consecutive number-one album in the country. The album broke several streaming records at the time of the release. On December 5, 2018 the album was certified platinum.
Cole released a 2 song EP called "Lewis Street" on July 22, 2020, which included the single "The Climb Back", which would later be featured on his 6th studio album. On May 7, 2021, Cole released the lead single "Interlude" one week before releasing his 6th studio album. Cole's 6th studio album "The Off-Season" was released on May 14, 2021. The album sold 282,000 album-equivalent units in its first week and would earn Cole his sixth consecutive number-one album in the country. 4 of the 12 songs debuted on the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, with the song "My Life" featuring 21 Savage & Morray peaking at number 2.
Self-taught on piano, Cole also acts as a producer alongside his hip hop career, producing singles for artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson, as well as handling the majority of the production in his own projects. He has also developed other ventures, including Dreamville Records, as well as non-profit organization the Dreamville Foundation. In January 2015, Cole decided to house single mothers rent-free in his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Amari
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fuori qualcuno urlava scendi sotto ti offro un tiro
E suona il cellulare
È l'ennesimo attacchino
Da sempre qualche infame dà il mio numero in giro
Fa parte del gioco ci sono I pro e I contro
Al mondo
Niente è gratis dico pronto, pago il conto
Con gli anni che ho ammetto adesso
Potrei dare un prezzo a quello che ho
Pensavo bastasse il rock'n' roll
Bastasse l'instabilità
E invece anch'io ho scadenze tasse e responsabilità
Così la vita assomiglia a quella di mio papà
Ora capisco ho una famiglia
Se sto disco non va non mangerà
Non sono quello che magari ti aspettavi tu
Che mi hai giudicato dai tre minuti che hai visto in tv
A volte mi sento la cavia dei vostri tabù
Ma non pensiate che sia quello che voglio io
Voglio di più di gossip e mode
Di quello che vedi sesso e banconote
Voglio di più di un tormentone
Di questi anni amari di groupies e droghe
Sai che non striscerò (sai che non striscerò)
Per farmi valere (per farmi valere)
Vivrò così (vivrò così) cercando un senso anche per te
Ieri mi sono alzato alle quattro del mattino
Dopo i concerti dormo male chiudo gli occhi e li rivivo
E suona il cellulare la mia band è ancora in giro
Il concerto è stato uguale a me
Tutto esaurito
Sembra impossibile il mondo gira sul mio dito
Ed è incredibile se penso a quanti mi prendono in giro
O se penso a quanti mi credono un mito
Ma io ho capito senza lei io sarei solo col mio oro un fallito
E anch'io ho scadenze e responsabilità
Ma questa vita è facile confronto a quella di papà
E meno male perché quel coraggio non l'avrei
Dopo due anni andrei al lavoro col cannone e sparerei
Non sono quello che magari ti aspettavi tu
Uguale a cento altri cantanti che vedi in tv
Non voglio il posto da sciamano della trend tribù
O quello da santone o dell'esempio di virtù io
Voglio di più di gossip e mode
Di quello che vedi sesso e banconote
Voglio di più di un tormentone
Di questi anni amari di groupies e droghe
Sai che non striscerò (sai che non striscerò)
Per farmi valere (per farmi valere)
Vivrò così (vivrò così) cercando un senso anche per te
Voglio di più di gossip e mode
Di quello che vedi sesso e banconote
Voglio di più di un tormentone
Di questi anni amari di groupies e droghe
Sai che non striscerò (sai che non striscerò)
Per farmi valere (per farmi valere)
Vivrò così (vivrò così) cercando un senso anche per te
E cerco un senso perché quello che mi date è vecchio
Non ci credo questo mito di cui parlate
Sto allo specchio e non lo vedo
Sto sistema più mi ribello
Più mi mette al centro
Quindi mi taglio col coltello perché a voi piace
Guardarmi dentro
The lyrics to J. Cole's song Amari reflect the rapper's thoughts on his life and career. The opening lines describe an early morning disturbance, where someone is yelling outside his house, offering him drugs. He then receives yet another harassing call, with strangers calling him up at odd hours. He accepts that this is a part of the music industry, and that it comes with its pros and cons. The artist reflects on the way his life has turned out, with his rock and roll attitudes and instability, and how he now also has to pay bills, taxes, and has a family to take care of. He is aware of the criticisms that people have towards him and how the public perceives him. However, he does not want to be defined by these perceptions and stereotypes.
J. Cole wants more out of life than simply fame, fortune, groupies, and drugs. He wants to create music that has meaning and depth, that speaks to people's souls. He does not want to be part of the superficial trends of the music industry, but rather to carve out his own path, one that retains its authenticity and meaning, even if it is not always popular. The rapper is aware that success has its downsides, but he accepts the responsibilities that came with it. Most importantly, he wants to make a difference in the lives of his listeners, to create a profound impact that goes beyond mere entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
Ieri mi hanno suonato alle quattro del mattino
Yesterday someone called me at four in the morning
Fuori qualcuno urlava scendi sotto ti offro un tiro
Someone outside was shouting to come down and offer me a shot
E suona il cellulare
And the phone rings
È l'ennesimo attacchino
It's the umpteenth attack
Da sempre qualche infame dà il mio numero in giro
Some infamous person has been giving out my number
Fa parte del gioco ci sono I pro e I contro
It's part of the game, there are pros and cons
Al mondo
In the world
Niente è gratis dico pronto, pago il conto
Nothing is free, I say ready to pay the bill
Guardo lo specchio senza ribrezzo
I look at the mirror without disgust
Con gli anni che ho ammetto adesso
With the years that I have, I admit now
Potrei dare un prezzo a quello che ho
I could put a price on what I have
Pensavo bastasse il rock'n' roll
I thought rock and roll was enough
Bastasse l'instabilità
That instability was enough
E invece anch'io ho scadenze tasse e responsabilità
Instead, I also have deadlines, taxes, and responsibilities
Così la vita assomiglia a quella di mio papà
So, life is similar to that of my father
Ora capisco ho una famiglia
Now I understand I have a family
Se sto disco non va non mangerà
If this album doesn't work, my family won't eat
Non sono quello che magari ti aspettavi tu
I'm not the one that you might have expected
Che mi hai giudicato dai tre minuti che hai visto in tv
That you judged me from the three minutes you saw on TV
A volte mi sento la cavia dei vostri tabù
At times, I feel like I'm the guinea pig of your taboos
Ma non pensiate che sia quello che voglio io
But don’t think that's what I want
Voglio di più di gossip e mode
I want more than gossip and trends
Di quello che vedi sesso e banconote
More than what you see of sex and money
Voglio di più di un tormentone
I want more than just a hit song
Di questi anni amari di groupies e droghe
More than these bitter years of groupies and drugs
Sai che non striscerò per farmi valere
You know I won't crawl to make myself valuable
Vivrò così cercando un senso anche per te
I'll live like this, seeking meaning for you too
E cerco un senso
And I'm looking for a meaning
Perché quello che mi date è vecchio
Because what you're giving me is old
Non ci credo
I don't believe it
Questo mito di cui parlate
This myth that you talk about
Sto allo specchio e non lo vedo
I'm at the mirror and I don't see it
Sto sistema più mi ribello
The more I rebel against this system
Più mi mette al centro
The more it puts me in the center
Quindi mi taglio col coltello perché a voi piace
So I cut myself with a knife because you like it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alessandro Aleotti, Guido Carboniello, Giuseppe Daniele, Pino Daniele
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@liluziisthegoat977
Albums coming this year which can beat The Off Season :
1. K Dot's Album(If he drops)
2. Kanye West's Upcoming Album
3. Freddie Gibbs Album
4. Lil Uzi's Upcoming Album
5. Drake's upcoming album
6. Pop Smoke's Upcoming Posthumous Album
7. Juice Wrld's Upcoming Posthumous Album
8. DMX Upcoming Posthumous Album
9. Pusha T's upcoming album
10. Polo G's Upcoming Album
@claytonsharrard1900
“Just Like A Multiple choice Getting Chose
My Niggas Like Eenie Meenie Minee Moe
Scoop Up A Dimepiece Like We Homeless
Then We Gone Send Em Back Pigeon-toed
Out Of The Concrete Was A Rose
And Windows Was Cold”
I had to look this shit up and sit on it bra. I mean Cole hasn’t ever put out something and left me disappointed. It’s so powerful to see him rise his people up in a good way it’s just not all lyrical for him too he sees the impact he has on his youth man and to sit as a fan and see that it’s like genius level shit.
This young white cat tryd cutting into me today and asked how he couldn’t get into because he felt like it was a attack on our race. So I left him some knowledge about sometimes you have to let people express how they feel and not take that shit personal because at the end of the day just sitting all ears for people shows true compassion for change. My time in the Marine Corps the only color we see was green. To sit and listen to some people’s story changed my life and how I present my self.
Detroit love man hope to see Cole here soon.
✌️✊🏿🙏🏾🤍💛🤎🖤
@TheRetroWorld
Yo when he said “CO-OHH-OHH- OLDDD” 🔥 🔥 🔥
@dominicjosiah2901
I felt that one man!
@Svmeli
That part really got the hair on my arms rise
@raeessomohardjo2291
CHILLS, TOO FIRE! 🥵🥶
@dannyblickenstaff4496
This guy makes beautiful music
@Quest3XL
YOOOOO WHEN HE SAID: “ “ BAAAAARS J COLE ON ANOTHER LEVEL NIGGA 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@iamriop
My guy was hella clean in that suit!
@InvestmentIdea
https://youtu.be/GFaupz6mpz8
@desmondparkmande394
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h006-5wn_gI
@JasonSmith-cz8yj
Gay