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.
Grown
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes yelling to the lite beat and
It's be-dub and tiffany and
We are in the place to be and
We came in to move your feet and
Get things jumping like they supposed to
Teen magazines were jumping right out the posters
Can't believe what you seeing then look closer
She's just a teen,
So how could she
Really know what she wants
I can't believe
You'd think I'd run and tell you're mean to me
When it's really like
She mean ain't she
I know just what you think
You're so stuck in the past
Like stone-washed jeans
And I can endorse
Anything through me
I'm flyer then you'd ever thought I'd be
You wonder why I'm so cold
You coulda been more involved but no
I'm not the girl that you knew before
I can't believe you didn't know I'm grown
I'm grown now
Certified and all that
You say want you want
You can't take a thing from me
I'm grown now (oh) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
I'm grown now
Got my own money
You ain't gonna run me
I ain't no dummy
I'm grown now (yeah) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
I can't believe, they tryna block me
But your still playing them games I thought you'd be
Up in my lead but no you can't compete
Back up don't touch gotta give me 50 feet
Cause I'm on another level
I'm bringing things to life like I'm Japetto
This is the last time that I'm gonna tell you
I'm doing it big now, you wanna piece let it go
You wonder why I'm so cold
You coulda been more involved but no
I'm not the girl that you knew before
I can't believe you didn't know I'm grown
I'm grown now
Certified and all that
You say want you want
You can't take a thing from me
I'm grown now (oh) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
I'm grown now
Got my own money
You ain't gonna run me
I ain't no dummy
I'm grown now (yeah) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
Aye tiff yo big brotha got you, it's nothing
You push one hand to the cloud then back to the wind
Bow and tiff evans is back at it again
Yea ma you grown go on and let you rims spin yea
You got ya lil' premiers
These 50 lil' days go on and let you paint drip (drip drip drip)
Tell your parents don't trip
And with ya girls go on ya lil' trips
It's your world lil' mama it's your life to live
Believe that
I'm not those girls your used to dating
I gotta unique situation (I'll tell you the truth)
You can travel the world but you'll never find
Someone (that does what I do)
I'll have you open cause
I'm grown now
Certified and all that
You say want you want
You can't take a thing from me
I'm grown now (oh) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
I'm grown now
Got my own money
You ain't gonna run me
I ain't no dummy
I'm grown now (yeah) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
I, I, I, I'm grown now
In J. Cole's song "Grown," the lyrics are empowering to any young woman who has been told she is too young to make her own decisions. He states that despite her young age, the girl should be taken seriously because she is growing up fast, and her decisions should be respected. In the first verse, J. Cole and his collaborators announce their presence and purpose to get the crowd dancing. The lyrics also speak to how the teen magazines portray young women as wanting to be grown up and mature before their time. The lyrics indicate that many people judge others by their outward appearance, without looking at what is inside. They criticize the adults who underestimate the young girl, saying that they are stuck in the past and cannot see that she "grown now."
The second verse addresses the singer's personal growth and how she is tired of being underestimated. In each line, the girl argues that she has come of age and will not allow anyone to hold her back. She stresses her independence by expressing her financial freedom and her unwillingness to be controlled. She doesn't want anyone to tell her how she should live her life now that she is a grown woman. The song's chorus reinforces the message that the girl has come of age, is self-aware, and fully in control of her life. She is independent and confident, and people need to accept that and treat her accordingly.
Line by Line Meaning
Dark child
J. Cole is introducing himself as a dark child
Yes yelling to the lite beat and
J. Cole is recognizing the light beat and yelling with it
It's be-dub and tiffany and
J. Cole is naming the producer and vocalist of the song
We are in the place to be and
J. Cole is expressing his and others' presence in the perfect place
We came in to move your feet and
J. Cole and others came to make people dance with them
Get things jumping like they supposed to
J. Cole and others want people to dance and jump as they should
Teen magazines were jumping right out the posters
J. Cole is explaining how teen magazine models are depicted in posters
Can't believe what you seeing then look closer
J. Cole is urging people to look closer at what they see but don't believe
I know you can't believe she getting older
J. Cole knows people can't believe that the teenage model is getting older
She's just a teen,
J. Cole is describing a teenage girl
So how could she
J. Cole points out a teenage girl may not know what she wants
Really know what she wants
J. Cole suggests a teenage girl may not really know what she wants
I can't believe
J. Cole expresses disbelief
You'd think I'd run and tell you're mean to me
J. Cole is surprised people would think he would run and tell others that they are mean to him
When it's really like
J. Cole is pointing out reality
She mean ain't she
J. Cole is suggesting that the teenage girl is mean
I know just what you think
J. Cole believes he knows what others are thinking about him
You're so stuck in the past
J. Cole is saying that others are stuck in the past
Like stone-washed jeans
J. Cole is making a simile to the style of jeans that is out of date
And I can endorse
J. Cole expresses his ability to endorse something
Anything through me
J. Cole is suggesting that he can endorse anything readily
I'm flyer then you'd ever thought I'd be
J. Cole is comparing himself to others, saying that he's better
You wonder why I'm so cold
J. Cole is saying to others that they wonder why he's emotionally distant
You coulda been more involved but no
J. Cole is blaming others for being cold towards him
I'm not the girl that you knew before
J. Cole is expressing his transformation and that he's not who he was before
I can't believe you didn't know I'm grown
J. Cole is surprised that others didn't realize that he's grown now
I'm grown now
J. Cole is saying that he's grown up now
Certified and all that
J. Cole is proud of being certified in what he does
You say want you want
J. Cole suggests that others say what they want
You can't take a thing from me
J. Cole is challenging others who may want to take something from him
Got my own money
J. Cole announces that he has his own money
You ain't gonna run me
J. Cole doesn't want others to run him
I ain't no dummy
J. Cole is saying that he's smart
I'm grown now (yeah) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
J. Cole is repeating that he's grown up now
Aye tiff yo big brotha got you, it's nothing
J. Cole is reassuring Tiff that her big brother's got her back
You push one hand to the cloud then back to the wind
J. Cole is describing Tiff's movements like pushing her hand to the cloud and then back to the wind
Bow and tiff evans is back at it again
J. Cole is announcing that Tiff Evans and he are back at it again
Yea ma you grown go on and let you rims spin yea
J. Cole is giving permission to Tiff to spin her rims because she's grown up now
You got ya lil' premiers
J. Cole is pointing out Tiff's mini-premieres
These 50 lil' days go on and let you paint drip (drip drip drip)
J. Cole is suggesting to Tiff to make her paint drip for 50 days
Tell your parents don't trip
J. Cole is asking Tiff to tell her parents not to worry
And with ya girls go on ya lil' trips
J. Cole is encouraging Tiff to go on trips with her girlfriends
It's your world lil' mama it's your life to live
J. Cole is saying to Tiff that it's her life to live and her world to explore
Believe that
J. Cole is urging Tiff to believe in herself
I'm not those girls your used to dating
J. Cole is saying that he's different from the girls others have dated
I gotta unique situation (I'll tell you the truth)
J. Cole acknowledges that he's in a unique situation and will tell the truth
You can travel the world but you'll never find
J. Cole is saying that nobody can find what he does
Someone (that does what I do)
J. Cole claims that nobody else does what he does
I'll have you open cause
J. Cole is suggesting that he can make others open up emotionally
I'm grown now (yeah) I, I, I, I'm grown now (I'm grown)
J. Cole is repeating that he's grown up now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SHAD GREGORY MOSS, LASHAWN AMEEN DANIELS, RODNEY JERKINS, CRYSTAL JOHNSON, RAHMAN LANG, RICO LOVE, DERNST MILE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnnyboy2317
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, uh
[Verse 1]
Now, I was dreaming 'bout a deal at the age of thirteen
I was fiending for the mills, I ain't talking Burger King
Some of my niggas in the 'Ville, all they did was serve fiends
Fuck scales, I had skills, all day rehearsing
Them pretty boys had them gals, spent they time flirting
All they wanted was some waves like they fucking surfing
Hold up, now, don’t get it twisted, I ain't hating, do your thing
I was like a young Simba; couldn’t wait to be the king
Now, a nigga is the prince
Hopped over the fence where the grass way greener
Look at shawty ass, way meaner
Something like Serena mixed with Trina—have you seen her?
She fine enough to be Ms. Howard, word to Adina
My money like a senior, watch it graduate
Now, it's time to eat, I’m letting all my niggas grab a plate
Gravitate to real shit, stay away from phonies
These niggas heard about me, now they acting like they know me
[Chorus]
Keep on saying, “Where you going, nigga?”
Shit, it ain't no telling, huh, yeah
“Ayy, where you going, nigga?”
Hey, it ain't no telling, yeah
They keep on saying “Where you going, nigga?” Going, nigga
Ayy, it ain't no telling (Yeah)
Can’t tell you where I’m going, just know I won't stop
Goodbye to the bottom, hello to the top, ugh
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[Verse 2]
Pardon the interruption, a proper introduction is necessary
When your shit is legendary, man
Greedy niggas wouldn’t let me in the cafeteria'n
'Cause they ain't believe, suddenly they Presbyterian
The hoes is librarians; they looking me up
She got to Jones like Marion, she licking me up
Then we cut, look how she say my name
I got her moaning, "J. Cole", they used to say "Jermaine"
I never change, I'm like a corpse in a coffin; six feet, shit's deep
I was low, just a dollar and some hope fixed me
'Cause I was broke, plus the weed that I would smoke would make it worser
Lord, please let my problems disappear like Ron Mercer
I’m a star; Converses
Conversing with them girls with them curves like cursive
They open like curtains
'Cause my shit is unheard of like curses on the radio
Same bitches used to play me though
[Chorus]
Now, they yelling, “Where you going, nigga?”
Shit, it ain't no telling, huh, yeah
“Ay, where you going, nigga?”
Shit, it ain't no telling, yeah
They keep on saying “Where you going, nigga?” Going, nigga
It ain't no telling, yeah
I can’t tell you where I’m going, just know I won't stop
Goodbye to the bottom (Yeah), hello to the top, yeah
[Verse 3]
I left the city for a minute, but it's still on my back
Told my niggas "Ay, I'm finna put the Ville on the map
I'll be back, and I'm coming with a deal and a plaque."
'Cause I'm ill, bitch, they couldn’t make a pill for the rap
Pouring liquor for my niggas that was killed, send 'em back
Came home, shit is real, niggas still in the trap
Hold up, now, don’t get it twisted, if you slang, do your thing
Me, I'm like a young Simba; I can't wait to be the king
Witness the dream
Straight out that Carolina water, I was brought up
In the city where the skinny niggas tryna be the ballers
Ain't no fathers, but the skinny niggas tryna hit they daughters
Sneaking in her crib, but her momma never caught us
What they taught us?
Man, them bad bitches only want the ballers, the starters
We hooping, now the hoes wanna guard us
Ugh, okay, so play D—know what I mean?
And I, I, I'll put you on the team
Man, this life is but a dream, and I need a fast car
Bad broads, fast forward; passport, I'm a fucking rap star
[Outro]
“Ayy, where you going, nigga?”
Shit, it ain't no telling, yeah
They say this life is but a dream, well, I need a fast car
Bad broads, fast forward; passport, I'm a fucking rap star
“Ayy, where you going, nigga?"
Yeah, it ain't no telling
@UzomaBaileyAyogu
2021. Still hits just as hard over a decade later.
@michaeltoledo47
Still bumpin this
@wannabefaze9859
Man this song is something else. I was I. Fucking elementary school when I first heard this. I’m 22. About to get my first car to my name in 1 day. And 9 years later, this is the first I’ve always wanted to play in my first car, well I can tell u it’s never gonna change. Weather it works out or not. This is gonna be the first song I play in my first car to my name.
@Alan-ou2id
Great to hear bro looks like blessings do come true!
@tonystromboli3169
did you get the car and play the song??
@wannabefaze9859
@bigfatzak I did actually and it was the first song. But not the car I wanted 😪. It’s all good though aha.
@tonystromboli3169
@wannabeFaZe 98 good looks bro
@horuzz2009
i was fucking elementary school too bro
@9999sumil9999
This isn't just a warm up. Leaves you with afterburns! Always felt his old content was the best. Hope for better and more to come!
@ralhtonvanwyk4470
I've been saying the same damnn thing bro.But with his new album lurking we don't know what to expect. This new Cole is matured he be calm and kill a feature. Feel like he needs that Simba hunger again mahn💯🔥🚀🌍