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 ā 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.
Close
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I miss your body on the other side
The clock says twelve to two
I'm not used to sleeping without you
And what's keeping me awake
That I tried so hard to reach you
Cause I have so much to say
And I just realise
Is the only thing I really need tonight
You gave me a little time
To take this trip so I could finally find
There's a man I need to be
He's been restless deep inside of me
And I slowly start to see
That the closest things around me
Are the only ones I need
And I just realise
That lying close beside you
Is the only thing I really need tonight
But it was hard to see
When everyone around us knew exactly what to be
And now I understand
The key to open up the door
Has always been
Right here in my hands
The clock says half past three
The house is dark, the kids are sound asleep
and as I slip into the bed
All these thoughts keep rushing through my head
But then you slowly turn around
I look into your eyes and see
Everything is perfectly alright
And I just realise
That lying here beside you
Is as close as I will get to paradise
In "Close," J. Cole laments the absence of his partner as he struggles to rest without her at night. He drones about attempting to contact her, indicating that he has undeniable but unexpressed feelings for her. He recognizes that lying beside her is the only thing that can bring him genuine pleasure tonight. Cole's vulnerability surfaces in this emotional ballad, and his lyrical skills shine as he expounds on the importance of relationships and prioritizing one's loved ones. Moreover, the story mentioned in the song shares the artist's introspection on how trying to be something else and ignoring your genuine identity makes life difficult. Cole uses the story to encourage people to stay true to themselves and appreciate the people around them because they are the only ones they require.
Line by Line Meaning
The sheets feel cold tonight
The absence of you beside me is felt deeply, even in the physical sensations.
I miss your body on the other side
I miss the comfort and intimacy that comes from being physically close to you.
The clock says twelve to two
It's late and I'm acutely aware of the time passing.
I'm not used to sleeping without you
Sleeping alone feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
And what's keeping me awake
The thing that's preventing me from sleeping is my desire to communicate with you.
That I tried so hard to reach you
I've been attempting to connect with you, but something is hindering me.
Cause I have so much to say
There's so much on my mind that I want to share with you.
And I just realise
In this moment, I'm coming to a new understanding.
That lying close beside you
Being physically close to you is all I need.
Is the only thing I really need tonight
I don't require anything else, just your presence.
You gave me a little time
You provided me with space and time for self-reflection.
To take this trip so I could finally find
Through this reflection, I've come to understand something important about myself.
There's a man I need to be
I've identified a version of myself that I want to pursue.
He's been restless deep inside of me
This version of myself has been a long time coming and is causing me inner turmoil.
And I slowly start to see
I'm becoming more aware of this aspect of myself.
That the closest things around me
The people and experiences closest to me are the most important.
Are the only ones I need
I don't need anything else in my life to be content.
But it was hard to see
I was previously incapable of seeing this truth.
When everyone around us knew exactly what to be
My environment was telling me to prioritize other things, but I see now that they were misguided.
And now I understand
I've come to a new understanding of what's truly important in life.
The key to open up the door
The solution to my internal struggle has finally presented itself.
Has always been
The answer has been present all along.
Right here in my hands
I've had the tools I need to become the person I want to be the entire time.
The clock says half past three
It's even later, and I'm still awake, but now with a newfound peace.
The house is dark, the kids are sound asleep
The world around me is quiet and peaceful.
And as I slip into the bed
I'm finally allowing myself to rest and let go of the burden I've been carrying.
All these thoughts keep rushing through my head
Even though I've come to peace with my thoughts, they still persist.
But then you slowly turn around
Your presence and movement is a comfort and a grounding force.
I look into your eyes and see
Through your eyes, I can see all that matters.
Everything is perfectly alright
Everything that really matters in this moment is at peace.
And I just realise
In this moment of peacefulness, I've come to understand something more.
That lying here beside you
Being physically and emotionally present with you is the closest I'll come to true happiness.
Is as close as I will get to paradise
True happiness is found in the simplest moments, with the ones we love.
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Justin Kniest
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ys2ux6on3z
Lyrics:
[Intro]
Yeah
Close
Ville-matic, one, one
One, one, one-two, one
One-two, one, one-two, one
One-two, one, one, listen
[Verse]
Close, I stare at my dreams as they approach
Gotta be patient and trust in God, He the coach
Temptations are taking a shortcut, but I don't
'Cause I ain't tryna be a almost, when I get it, I'ma float
Gone are the days we was close
Now when I see you, I look at you just like a ghost
A shell of your former self, so caught up with that dope
Two niggas singin' two diffŠµrent notes and you know I gotta coast
Nothin' but a dollar and some hopŠµ
Up in NY, but damn, what hurts me the most
You was a good nigga, we knew each other's folks
Now you gotta ride around with the toast and you keep that shit close
'Cause niggas plottin' on you since you chose
To roll around with the candy paint on spokes
You know 'Ville niggas don't like it when you boast
You know twelve be takin' notes and they watchin' you close
But maybe you don't see 'em 'cause the smoke
Cloudin' your vision from every cigar that you toke
Plus the lean you sippin' which started as a joke
Got you now fiendin' for your next dose, meanwhile I'm so close
Don't even give a fuck that I'm broke
'Cause in my mind I'm rich with shit I done wrote
Therefore I'm convinced that this is supposed to happen
And in time I'ma blow, they gon' label me the GOAT
How long has it been since we spoke?
Last night I jumped up from my sleep, I was soaked
Call it a nightmare, the scene that awoke me
Involved you and niggas I ain't know, they was creepin' up close
I saw the heat tucked in they coats
You didn't notice 'cause you was busy countin' dough
I tried to yell, but nothin' came out of my throat
Niggas cocked back the hammers and you froze, in your eyes I saw hope
Hope of a better way to cope with the pain
And the scars, than the lean and the coke
And I swear in that moment I wish we were still close
Maybe I could've saved you, but no, trigger squeeze, gun smoke
I open up my eyes with a jolt
Heart pumpin' like Usain Bolt
Reached for my phone, missed calls and a text message note
From my mama sayin' you just got smoked, damn, this life is no joke
[Outro]
Close
Fuck
@NLECHOPPA
This tooo hard
@huertaruizrobertocarlos373
š¤
@juandan6383
Yeahhh
@huertaruizrobertocarlos373
When shotta flow 1736?
@dr.woozie7500
My fav song of the album so far.
@youngjj8517
Nle
@itumelengthibile5827
How many words can you rhyme with "close"?
Cole: Yes
@lolsword7
I'm shook. I was just about to write this comment, and then I saw yours.
Exactly word for word :O
@montymont2600
Not too many in the way that bruh do it
@Markymcddj
This made me laugh š