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.
Heartache
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you did me wrong
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
Told me you love me
But you did me wrong
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
Damn playing with my feelings you was buggin'
I can't trust another female cause they only get to bluffin'
Fuck around again then you might just end up inside of a coffin
I'll be coming up again if I have to leave with nothin' uh
All these people fake
Battling my demons fuck around can't catch a break
I get to the bag and they go to feel a way
And I'm moving too fast ya'll can't keep up with my pace
I'll be done within a day
You stabbed me in back and now I can't forgive you
you not standing where I'm at
And I just wanna let you know that what you did was wack
I coulda had you dressing up for a couple racks
And that's really facts
Told me you love me
But you did me wrong
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
Told me you love me
But you did me wrong
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
Told me you love me but you did me wrong
You did me dirty
You stabbed me in my back and left me bleeding
I was telling the truth but you was lying
Girl you was lying
See I had your back
You left me wide open
I got to make it out
Its too late to see my coffin
Gotta make it out the streets
My fam they have to eat
I was going through pain
By that time I couldn't speak
Pain in my body I'm awake cause I can't sleep
I got, pain in my body I got a heartache
I got a heartache
I got a heartache
I got a heartache
Told me you love me
But you did me wrong
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
Told me you love me
But you did me wrong
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
You stabbed me in my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
I got a heartache
In J. Cole's Heartache, the artist explores the pain and betrayal that comes with a lover's deceit. The lyrics paint a picture of a lover who professed love but was actually focused on the artist's enemies, eventually stabbing him in the back and in the heart, causing him immense pain. The artist is left feeling heartbroken and unable to trust another woman. He is aware of his demons and the fakeness of those around him but is determined to make it out for the sake of his family. The artist ultimately realizes that his lover's love was not genuine, leaving him with a heartache that he cannot ignore.
Line by Line Meaning
Told me you love me
You said you loved me
But you did me wrong
But you betrayed me
What kind of love is that, was focused on my enemies
What kind of love is one that's more concerned with my enemies than with me?
You stabbed me in my back
You betrayed me behind my back
You staked me in my heart, now my heart is cracked
You hurt me deeply and now my heart is broken
I got a heartache
I'm experiencing emotional pain
Damn playing with my feelings you was buggin'
You were messing with my emotions in a negative way
I can't trust another female cause they only get to bluffin'
I can't trust another woman because they always end up being deceitful
Fuck around again then you might just end up inside of a coffin
If you play around with me again, you might end up dead
I'll be coming up again if I have to leave with nothin' uh
I'll find success again even if I have to start from nothing
All these people fake
Most people are not genuine
Battling my demons fuck around can't catch a break
I'm struggling with my inner demons and can't seem to catch a break
I get to the bag and they go to feel a way
When I become successful, others feel jealous and resentful
And I'm moving too fast ya'll can't keep up with my pace
I'm advancing too quickly for others to keep up with me
I'll be done within a day
I'm confident in my ability to succeed quickly
You stabbed me in back and now I can't forgive you
You betrayed me and now I can't forgive you
you not standing where I'm at
You don't understand how much you hurt me
And I just wanna let you know that what you did was wack
I want you to know that your actions were unacceptable
I coulda had you dressing up for a couple racks
I could have helped you change your life for the better
And that's really facts
That's the truth
You did me dirty
You treated me unfairly
You left me wide open
You left me vulnerable to attack
Its too late to see my coffin
I could end up dead at any moment
Gotta make it out the streets
I have to escape this dangerous lifestyle
My fam they have to eat
My family needs me to provide for them
I was going through pain
I was experiencing emotional or physical pain
By that time I couldn't speak
I was unable to express my feelings
Pain in my body I'm awake cause I can't sleep
I'm experiencing physical or emotional pain which is causing me to lose sleep
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Mervyn Cesar, Wilmer Jara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
causekyle
lyrically on my limbs
Bigga then a nigga hittin' the gym
Regular benchpressin' the bar,
Ten steps up from ya'll, you could follow my lead,
If you shoot for the stars, I guess you aimin' at me
But please hold your applause
Ya'll holdin' up the wall goddammit I'm on the flo'
Good Lord, can't you see me gettin' down on a ho
And she drop it so low she sittin down on the flo'
I never pound with the flo, at times I wonder
Aye when they listen to my shit man can they hear my hunger?
Or will these hatin' ass rappers try to steal my thunder
Aye this is big shit poppin', you gon' need a plunger
To take me under, niggas in trouble
You lookin' at Lebron James of the game
I could do anything that you name
I could blaze any rapper in the game that you bring
Pour gasoline on the brain, got the flame for that
So you hatin' niggas refrain from that
A little bitter cause yo game is whack
I'll let Elite breathe, yeah
I'll let Elite breathe, yeah
[Chorus]
Aye you ain't gotta cry, don't worry 'bout me
I know it won't be long 'fore you know about me
My head's to the sky and I'm on my grind
I'm reachin' for the clouds, tryna take what's mine
Take what's mine
Hey, hey
[Verse 2]
A dolla and a dream, that's all a nigga got
So, if it's 'bout that C.R.E.A.M, then I'm all up in the spot
I'm just warmin' up, I'm hot but naw I ain't flashin'
I never gave a fuck about no high-end fashion
And maybe I was too broke, maybe I'm just too dope
To rap about that regular shit, or bag a regular bitch
These niggas talkin' like they on the next level and shit
But Cole's flow so cold, Bet the devil get sick
How do you want it? So sick I make you mentally vomit
These rappers askin' for beats and they ain't even fit to be on it
I see 'em writin' about rappers, I should be sick to my stomach
Because they talk 'bout the future but didn't mention me on it
So now I'm back in the kitchen, cookin' I'm meant to be one of the greatest
No niggas seein' me, this century us and you hate it
Look how I played it, other niggas was jaded
Under-appreciated, now Carolina is rated
I let Elite breathe, yeah
Hey, uh uh uh
I let Elite breathe, yeah
[Chorus]
Aye you ain't gotta cry, don't worry 'bout me
I know it won't be long 'fore you know about me
My head's to the sky and I'm on my grind
I'm reachin' for the clouds, tryna take what's mine
Take what's mine
Hey, hey
Josianne Clarke
This beat is crazy and Cole's voice complements it so well!
Chicho Martinez
cole's flow so cold that the devil get sick!Â
Cee Taylor
Some dude rapped this whole verse at a party and told me he was free styling .. I fired his ass up
Duck Banks
lol wow lmao
I don't care.
LMFAO. Good.
TripleX2600
Damn! 😂😂😂. That's sad. I rarely freestyle but once in a while I'll borrow a line or two from a song but a whole song is lame.
Juliet O
LOL
bsmoove386
Honestly how can anyone dislike this..16 dislikes is too much you have to just be hating...Wale, Jcole, Cyh da prince, Big Sean, and Big krit make me excited about hip hop I really thought we was goin to have to listen to ppl like Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka, and Gucci mane. THIS IS REAL HIP HOP!!!
Jay Zeus
I'm a senior, I remember I heard this song all day when I was a freshman. I still do! Saw him at a dub show in 2009 and insantly became a fan. I'm so glad he blew up. 9/27 Sideline Story! COP!
sarah aqil
11 years ago damn