The song revolves around Cole returning to his home and each verse represents Cole speaking to someone from his past. The first verse is directed towards a girl he used to date, the second verse addresses his step-father, and the third verse is aimed at an old friend.
Cole prominently samples Lauryn Hill’s “To Zion”.
Can I Holla At Ya
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lauryn Hill:
One day you're gonna understand
[J. Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Let me holla at you!
Special
Never forget the day I met you
We was destined for each other like a,
Son to his mother or a sister and brother, man this bond is deep
We go a couple years and don't even speak, but know it's love though
Never let em' dirty your name I got the utmost respect for you,
Came back home and had to check for you,
Word round town is you locked down
Some older niggas snatched you up gave you a rock now
Damn, hey could it be, she like "if you was me you wouldn't wait for me
Living fast you wouldn't mash the brakes for me"
Big city slicker nigga on a higher track
Bigger now but when she send a letter always write her back
And time revealed, she feels that she settled too soon
While she see me go for mines and she admire that
We speak about time as if we could just buy it back
If only it was that simple, damn I miss you
[Hook:]
Can I holla at you,
Can I holla at you,
Let me holla at you,
Yeah I know it's been a while, but ain't no better time then now
Can I holla at you,
Can I holla at you,
Ay, let me holla at you
Yeah I know it's been a while, but
[Verse 2: J. Cole]
You betrayed me,
The day you played my momma you played me
Can't believe I let you in my heart nigga
I should've, followed my instincts a stranger in my house
Only five years old but sense danger in my house
I was too young too scrap you but damn if I ain't want to
I'm blowing up fast and I hope these words haunt you
Uh, thirteen years knew you more then my real pops
Put me on to 'Pac, and all the rappers that killed cops
Who would've thought you'd leave my momma high and dry
Last words to a bitch nigga "why you lie?"
Feeling bitter so these words might seem jumbled
When you left I watched that lady crumble
I know probably by now you a old man,
But I still I feel I won't be satisfied until we throw hands
For all the ass whoppings
Heard you tryna' talk to that punk don't call me
You ain't shit and I'm scared it rubbed off on me
[Hook:]
[Verse 3: J. Cole]
I heard you on that shit I hope it ain't true
Was hard to holla at you last time I came through
Could barely recognize you, naw nigga this ain't you
Cause you ain't lookin' like that nigga that I once knew
And plus you act like you don't know me
We was homies, now you call me by my rap name
See me do my thing, you expecting me to act strange
Hey holla but you on my mind nigga
I don't forget the good times nigga
White tee's in the club, jeans baggy as fuck
Sometimes I look back on my life, that was the happiest stuff
You had potential to be monumental, ville mentality
You know that old kill or be killed mentality
I look at where you at now it's a, real fatality
Cause where you supposed to be is on top, close to me
Chasin' hoes like the old days,
But now we overseas, dawg
Congratulations on your seat
Yo my nigga can I holla at you
[Hook:]
The lyrics to J. Cole's song "Can I Holla At Ya" involve complex themes of friendship, betrayal, and nostalgia. The song begins with a sample from Lauryn Hill, who sings "One day you're gonna understand." This sets the tone for the verses to come, which reflect on the past and examine the present. J. Cole reminisces about the deep bond he shared with someone and how they would go years without communicating, yet their love for each other never faded. Additionally, J. Cole discusses the pain of being betrayed by someone close to him and how that impacted his life. The final verse acknowledges how the relationship has changed over time and, even though they may have grown apart, J. Cole still wants to reconnect with his old friend.
Overall, the song is a powerful examination of the many different facets of friendship and what can happen when those bonds are tested or severed. It's a poignant work, filled with emotion and depth, that touches on themes that many listeners can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
One day you're gonna understand
A message from Lauryn Hill, indicating that something will eventually be understood by J. Cole.
Can I holla at you?
J. Cole is asking to speak with someone.
Let me holla at you!
J. Cole is insisting on speaking with someone.
Special
J. Cole is reminiscing about meeting someone special.
Never forget the day I met you
J. Cole has a vivid memory of the day he met someone special.
We was destined for each other like a,
J. Cole believes that he and this special person were meant to be together.
Son to his mother or a sister and brother, man this bond is deep
J. Cole is emphasizing the depth of the bond he shares with this special person.
We go a couple years and don't even speak, but know it's love though
J. Cole and this special person have gone years without talking, but he still feels love for them.
Never let em' dirty your name I got the utmost respect for you,
J. Cole has the greatest respect for this special person and will not allow anyone to slander their name.
Came back home and had to check for you,
J. Cole returned home and needed to check on this special person.
Word round town is you locked down
J. Cole has heard that this special person is now in a relationship.
Some older niggas snatched you up gave you a rock now
J. Cole believes that this special person is now engaged or married to someone older.
Damn, hey could it be, she like "if you was me you wouldn't wait for me Living fast you wouldn't mash the brakes for me"
J. Cole wonders if this special person believes he wouldn't wait for her or slow down for her while chasing his dreams.
Big city slicker nigga on a higher track
J. Cole is successful and living life in the big city.
Bigger now but when she send a letter always write her back
Despite J. Cole's success, he still writes back to this special person whenever he receives a letter from her.
And time revealed, she feels that she settled too soon
J. Cole has learned that this special person now feels like she settled too soon in her current relationship.
While she see me go for mines and she admire that
J. Cole believes that this special person admires how he goes after his dreams.
We speak about time as if we could just buy it back
J. Cole and this special person wish they could turn back time and make different choices.
If only it was that simple, damn I miss you
J. Cole wishes things were easier and expresses how much he misses this special person.
You betrayed me,
J. Cole feels like someone betrayed him.
The day you played my momma you played me
J. Cole is referring to someone who hurt his mother, and in turn, hurt him.
Can't believe I let you in my heart nigga
J. Cole regrets letting someone into his heart who hurt his mother.
I should've, followed my instincts a stranger in my house
J. Cole regrets not trusting his instincts about this person being a stranger in his home.
Only five years old but sense danger in my house
J. Cole had a sense of danger in his home at a young age due to this person's presence.
I'm blowing up fast and I hope these words haunt you
J. Cole hopes that this person hears his success and regrets their past actions against him and his family.
Uh, thirteen years knew you more then my real pops
J. Cole knew this person longer than his own father.
Put me on to 'Pac, and all the rappers that killed cops
J. Cole credits this person for introducing him to Tupac and other rappers who spoke out against police brutality.
Who would've thought you'd leave my momma high and dry
J. Cole is expressing shock that this person would leave his mother in a difficult situation.
Last words to a bitch nigga "why you lie?"
J. Cole remembers his last interaction with this person, confronting him about his lies.
Feeling bitter so these words might seem jumbled
J. Cole is feeling bitter and admits his thoughts may not be organized or clear.
When you left I watched that lady crumble
J. Cole observed how hurt his mother was when this person left.
I know probably by now you a old man,
J. Cole assumes that this person is now older.
But I still I feel I won't be satisfied until we throw hands
J. Cole wants to physically fight this person to express his anger and hurt.
For all the ass whoppings
J. Cole has memories of being physically hurt by this person in the past.
Heard you tryna' talk to that punk don't call me
J. Cole is angry that this person is trying to reach out to him through someone else.
You ain't shit and I'm scared it rubbed off on me
J. Cole is worried that this person's negative qualities have affected him as well.
I heard you on that shit I hope it ain't true
J. Cole heard something negative about this person and hopes it's not true.
Was hard to holla at you last time I came through
J. Cole had difficulty speaking with this person the last time they saw each other.
Could barely recognize you, naw nigga this ain't you
J. Cole noticed a change in this person and doesn't believe it's who they really are.
Cause you ain't lookin' like that nigga that I once knew
J. Cole doesn't recognize this person anymore and misses who they used to be.
And plus you act like you don't know me
J. Cole feels like this person is acting like they don't know him anymore.
We was homies, now you call me by my rap name
J. Cole and this person were friends, but now the person refers to him by his stage name instead of his real name.
See me do my thing, you expecting me to act strange
J. Cole feels like this person is expecting him to act differently now that he's successful.
Hey holla but you on my mind nigga
J. Cole wants to talk to this person but is still thinking about the past.
I don't forget the good times nigga
J. Cole remembers the positive moments he shared with this person.
White tee's in the club, jeans baggy as fuck
J. Cole recalls the fashion trends from their past together.
Sometimes I look back on my life, that was the happiest stuff
J. Cole reminisces on the happy times he had with this person.
You had potential to be monumental, ville mentality
J. Cole believes that this person had the potential to be successful and inspire others in their hometown ('ville').
You know that old kill or be killed mentality
J. Cole recalls a dangerous mentality that he and this person used to have in their hometown.
I look at where you at now it's a, real fatality
J. Cole recognizes that this person did not reach their full potential and considers it a tragedy.
Cause where you supposed to be is on top, close to me
J. Cole believes that this person should be successful and close to him now.
Chasin' hoes like the old days,
J. Cole believes that this person is still pursuing casual relationships like they used to.
But now we overseas, dawg
Congratulations on your seat
J. Cole acknowledges that they are in different places now, but still congratulates this person on their success.
Yo my nigga can I holla at you
J. Cole wants to talk to this person one more time.
Contributed by Layla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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