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.
Before I'm Gone
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For I'm gone
If I don't do s*** 'for I die
For I die
At least I gave this my all
My all
All I need is one more try, one time, tell 'em
If I don't s*** 'for I'm gone
If I don't do s*** 'for I die
For I die
At least I gave this my all
My all
All I need is one more try one time
Chasing dreams, it's all about mindset
B**** I'm grown
I ain't got time left
Pushing 30, so I worry about my daughter
If I bother chasing dreams, can I feed her tomorrow
I'm trying to spark a revolution, influence a generation
How do I say this without being basic
Trying to do me, but the world can't save us
IG h*** got my bros going crazy
Worry bout you, I'ma worry 'bout mine
Fresher than a lime so you know I'm gonna shine
If I step up to the mic then you know I murder time
Outlined in white chalk, I'm a visionary mind
Defined by my position, the mission is still essential
Gotta change the world with a pen and a pencil
If I can't do it now, then I guess I'm not meant to
Word from the wise, so I gotta keep it simple
If I don't s*** 'for I'm gone
For I'm gone
If I don't do s*** 'for I die
For I die
At least I gave this my all
My all
All I need is one more try, one time, tell 'em
If I don't s*** 'for I'm gone
For I'm gone
If I don't do s*** 'for I die
For I die
At least I gave this my all
My all
All I need is one more try one time
If I don't do s*** for I'm gone
I'ma do my m******* thing
Came from the bottom like the sole of my Jays
Now a youngin' dripping, made the club precipitate
Look, say if I don't do s*** for I'm gone
I'ma break loose from these chains
Pull it out let that m****** hang
And if I catch you running down, I still up & bang
Let it sing like
Look, God got me, so I'll never fail
From the 9, got the sauce and it ain't for sell
After shows, why your h*** at my hotel
Will I hit, flip a coin.. Cash heads or tails
I'm bout a check, you ain't got it, b**** it's au revoir
Ironically I'm going up, so they drop their top
I'm catching plays everywhere, I'm talking near and far
Like voudrais-tu coucher avec moi
If I don't do s*** for I'm gone
I'ma make use of my time
See my numbers going up like midnight
So you know I gotta keep that **** on my side
Look, I said If I don't do s*** for I'm gone
I'ma speak my m******* mind
See I'ma real n**** from the 9
I'ma keep that s*** the number that come after 99
Dré Benjie
In J. Cole's song "Before I'm Gone," the lyrics depict the rapper's determination to achieve his dreams and aspirations. The repetition in the chorus, "If I don't do s*** for I'm gone, for I'm gone, if I don't do s*** for I die, for I die," emphasizes the urgency and importance of taking action and making a mark before it is too late. This is further highlighted when he says, "All I need is one more try, one time."
Cole acknowledges that chasing dreams is a monumental task and often leaves one feeling helpless. Thus, he talks about the difficulties of balancing his aspirations with his responsibilities as a father, questioning whether he can provide for his daughter if he sticks to his dreams rather than settling for a regular job. Nevertheless, he remains steadfast in his desire to spark a revolution and influence an entire generation, emphasizing the importance of being oneself in a world with too many pretenders.
In the final verse, Cole talks about his determination to succeed in the face of adversity. He declares that he came from humble beginnings and has risen to the top through his hard work, dedication, and perseverance. His rise to fame has brought him many temptations, such as women and money, but he remains focused on achieving his goals. He emphasizes the importance of using one's time wisely, and he is determined to continue speaking his mind, keeping the realness, and staying true to himself.
Line by Line Meaning
If I don't s*** 'for I'm gone
If I don't accomplish anything before I leave this world
If I don't do s*** 'for I die
If I don't achieve anything before my death
At least I gave this my all
I put all my effort into chasing my dreams
All I need is one more try, one time, tell 'em
I just need one more chance to make it
Chasing dreams, it's all about mindset
Success is all about having the right mindset
B**** I'm grown
I'm an adult
I ain't got time left
Time is running out for me to achieve my dreams
Pushing 30, so I worry about my daughter
As I get older, I worry about providing for my child
If I bother chasing dreams, can I feed her tomorrow
I need to balance chasing my dreams with providing for my child
I'm trying to spark a revolution, influence a generation
I want to inspire change and make a positive impact on the world
Trying to do me, but the world can't save us
I'm trying to be my true self, but the world is a tough place
Gotta change the world with a pen and a pencil
I want to make a difference through my music and words
If I can't do it now, then I guess I'm not meant to
If I can't achieve my dreams now, maybe it wasn't meant to be
If I don't do s*** for I'm gone
If I don't accomplish anything before I die
I'ma do my m******* thing
I'm going to do my best to achieve my dreams
Came from the bottom like the sole of my Jays
I came from humble beginnings
God got me, so I'll never fail
I trust in a higher power and believe in myself
Why your h*** at my hotel
After my performances, women flock to my hotel room
If I don't do s*** for I'm gone
If I don't accomplish anything before I die
I'ma make use of my time
I'm going to use my time wisely to achieve my dreams
I'ma speak my m******* mind
I'm going to express my true thoughts and feelings
I'ma keep that s*** the number that come after 99
I'm going to keep it real and stay true to my roots
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Dré Benjie, Miguel Lara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SqW.oOOorm
Who’s here 2024. Cole is GOATED
@Grinding271
Here bro
@chef4g888
👌🏾
@danterivers695
💪🏿💪🏿💯
@kingnassir8207
If we being honest this whole tape was the reason y i started listening to cole in the first place
@stonedjones3656
King Nassir facts me too man
@KurdPrince520
Yuuup! Same here! This brings me back to highschool lol.
@J2thed455
Cause this is fire
@youngmars6915
This and the warm up are classics
@nickthomas9945
A0-w