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.
Lost One
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got you pregnant now inside there is a life in you
I know you wonderin' if this gon' make me think 'bout wifing you
Like if you had my first child would I spend my whole life with you
Now I ain't tryna pick a fight with you, I'm tryna talk
Now I ain't tryna spend the night with you
I'm kinda lost see
I've been giving it some thought lately and frankly
Let me finish
Think about it baby me and you we still kids ourself
How we gon' raise a kid by ourself?
Handle biz by ourself
A nigga barely over twenty, where the hell we gon' live?
Where am I gon' get that money
I refuse to bring my boy or my girl in this world
When I ain't got shit to give 'em
And I'm not with them niggas who be knocking girls up and skate out
So girl, you gotta think 'bout how the options weigh out
What's the way out?
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
And girl I know it hurt but if this world was perfect
Then we could make it work but I doubt it
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
And girl I know it hurt but if this world was perfect
Then we could make it work but I doubt it
She said, "Nigga, you got some nerve to come up to me talking about abortion
This my body nigga, so don't think you finna force shit
See I knew that this is how you act, so typical
Said you love me, oh, but now you flipping like reciprocals
It figures though, I shoulda known that you was just another nigga
No different from them other niggas
Who be claiming that they love you just to get up in them drawers
Knowing all the right things to say, I let you hit it raw, mothafucka!
Now I'm pregnant, you don't wanna get involved, mothafucka?
Tryna take away a life, is you God, mothafucka?
I don't think so! This a new life up in my stomach
Regardless if I'm your wife, this new life here I'mma love it
I ain't budging I just do this by my mothafuckin' self
See my mama raised me without no mothafuckin' help from a man
But I still don't understand how you could say that
Did you forget all those conversations that we had way back
'Bout your father? And you told me that you hate that nigga
Talking about he a coward and you so glad that you ain't that nigga
'Cause he left your mama when she had you and he ain't shit
And here you go doing the same shit, you ain't shit nigga"
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometimes, I cry sometimes about it
And boy this shit hurts, and ain't nobody perfect
Still we can make it work but you doubt it
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometimes, I cry sometimes about it
And boy this shit hurts, and ain't nobody perfect
Still we can make it work but you doubt it
They say everything happens for a reason
And people change like the seasons
They grow apart, she wanted him to show his heart and say he loved her
He spoke the magic words and on the same day he fucked her
Now she wide open
She put a ring up on his finger if she could
But he loved her 'cause the pussy good
But she ain't no wife though
Uh oh, she tellin' him she missed her period like typo's
He panicking, froze up like a mannequin
A life grows inside her now he asking "is it even mine"
What if this bitch ain't even pregnant dawg
Could she be lying?
She be crying crying 'cause he acting distant
Like ever since I told you this nigga you acting different
And all his niggas saying man these hoes be trapping niggas
Playing with niggas emotions like they some action figures
Swear they get pregnant for collateral
It's like extortion, man if that bitch really pregnant
Tell her get an abortion
Uh, but what about your seed nigga?
What about your seed nigga?
What about your seed nigga?
What about your seed?
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
The song "Lost Ones" by J. Cole tells the story of two young lovers struggling with an unexpected pregnancy. The first verse is the male perspective, where J. Cole admits that he is unsure about whether he is ready to become a father and provide for his child. He also doesn't want to be seen as just another guy who knocks up girls and abandons them. In the second verse, we hear the female perspective, where she accuses J. Cole of being hypocritical since he had talked about the cowardliness of his own father who did not stick around when he was born. She has decided to keep the baby and raise it on her own, despite her lover's reservations. The third verse brings in a third character who advises the male to get an abortion, but he questions whether he can bear the thought of destroying his own child.
The song is a poignant commentary on the difficult decisions and consequences of unplanned pregnancy, especially for young individuals with limited resources and support. It raises questions about paternity, responsibility, and gender roles. The chorus, where J. Cole admits to crying about the situation, adds to the emotional weight of the issue.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby girl, I can't imagine what it's like for you
J. Cole empathizes with a girl he got pregnant.
I got you pregnant now inside there is a life in you
He acknowledges that there is a life inside the girl he got pregnant.
I know you wonderin' if this gon' make me think 'bout wifing you
He acknowledges the girl's worry about whether he will marry her.
Like if you had my first child would I spend my whole life with you
He acknowledges the girl's thoughts on whether he will be committed in their relationship.
Now I ain't tryna pick a fight with you, I'm tryna talk
He clarifies that he is not picking a fight, but rather trying to have a conversation.
Now I ain't tryna spend the night with you
He clarifies that he wants to talk but not engage in physical intimacy.
I'm kinda lost see
He admits to being confused.
I've been giving it some thought lately and frankly
He has been thinking about the situation and wants to be honest.
I'm feelin' like we ain't ready and it's hold up now
He feels that they are not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of having a child.
Let me finish
He asks for a chance to explain.
Think about it baby me and you we still kids ourself
He views himself and the girl he got pregnant as inexperienced and not yet fully mature.
How we gon' raise a kid by ourself?
He questions their ability to raise a child together.
Handle biz by ourself
He acknowledges that they will have to handle the situation on their own.
A nigga barely over twenty, where the hell we gon' live?
He admits that he is not yet financially stable and does not know where they will live.
Where am I gon' get that money
He questions how he will provide for the child.
I refuse to bring my boy or my girl in this world
When I ain't got shit to give 'em
He does not want to bring a child into the world if he cannot provide for them.
And I'm not with them niggas who be knocking girls up and skate out
He does not want to be like other men who get girls pregnant and leave them.
So girl, you gotta think 'bout how the options weigh out
What's the way out?
He asks the girl to consider their options and figure out what to do.
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
And girl I know it hurt but if this world was perfect
Then we could make it work but I doubt it
He admits to feeling emotional about the situation and does not believe that everything can be fixed.
She said, "Nigga, you got some nerve to come up to me talking about abortion
This my body nigga, so don't think you finna force shit
The girl responds angrily to J. Cole's suggestion of abortion and asserts her autonomy over her own body.
See I knew that this is how you act, so typical
Said you love me, oh, but now you flipping like reciprocals
She accuses J. Cole of acting in a predictable way and being hypocritical.
It figures though, I shoulda known that you was just another nigga
No different from them other niggas
She generalizes J. Cole as being like other men who do not take responsibility for their actions.
Who be claiming that they love you just to get up in them drawers
Knowing all the right things to say, I let you hit it raw, mothafucka!
She accuses J. Cole of seducing her and not truly loving her.
Now I'm pregnant, you don't wanna get involved, mothafucka?
Tryna take away a life, is you God, mothafucka?
She accuses J. Cole of not wanting to be involved in the situation and challenging his right to make decisions about her body.
I don't think so! This a new life up in my stomach
Regardless if I'm your wife, this new life here I'mma love it
She chooses to love and care for the life growing inside her regardless of J. Cole's involvement.
I ain't budging I just do this by my mothafuckin' self
See my mama raised me without no mothafuckin' help from a man
She asserts her independence and willingness to handle the situation by herself.
But I still don't understand how you could say that
Did you forget all those conversations that we had way back
'Bout your father? And you told me that you hate that nigga
Talking about he a coward and you so glad that you ain't that nigga
She reminds J. Cole of past conversations about his own father's abandonment and asks how he can now act similarly.
'Cause he left your mama when she had you and he ain't shit
And here you go doing the same shit, you ain't shit nigga"
She accuses J. Cole of repeating the same cycle of abandonment that his own father committed.
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometimes, I cry sometimes about it
And boy this shit hurts, and ain't nobody perfect
Still we can make it work but you doubt it
J. Cole admits to feeling emotional and still wants to make the situation work, but does not know if it is possible.
They say everything happens for a reason
And people change like the seasons
J. Cole reflects on the impermanence of life and the idea that everything has a purpose.
They grow apart, she wanted him to show his heart and say he loved her
He spoke the magic words and on the same day he fucked her
J. Cole tells a story of a couple growing apart, and when the man finally expresses his love, he has sex with her on the same day.
Now she wide open
She put a ring up on his finger if she could
But he loved her 'cause the pussy good
The girl is now vulnerable and would marry the man if she could, but the man only loves her for her sexual abilities.
But she ain't no wife though
Uh oh, she tellin' him she missed her period like typo's
The girl is not actually the man's wife, and now tells him that she has missed her period, hinting that she may be pregnant.
He panicking, froze up like a mannequin
A life grows inside her now he asking "is it even mine"
The man panics at the news of the possible pregnancy and wonders if the child is even his.
What if this bitch ain't even pregnant dawg
Could she be lying?
He questions whether the girl is even telling the truth about the pregnancy.
She be crying crying 'cause he acting distant
Like ever since I told you this nigga you acting different
The girl is upset because the man is now acting differently since hearing about the possible pregnancy.
And all his niggas saying man these hoes be trapping niggas
Playing with niggas emotions like they some action figures
Swear they get pregnant for collateral
It's like extortion, man if that bitch really pregnant
Tell her get an abortion
The man's friends encourage him to believe that the girl is trapping him and using the pregnancy for her own gain, advising him to tell her to get an abortion.
Uh, but what about your seed nigga?
What about your seed nigga?
What about your seed nigga?
Despite his friends' advice, J. Cole reminds the man of the responsibility he has to his potential child.
And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
I cry sometimes about it
J. Cole expresses his sadness about the entire situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERMAINE A. COLE, JERMAINE L. COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tapiwa_Mesa
I recommended this song to a friend who had impregnated his Gf, dude was so confused about the whole thing. He even thought of running away. I sent him the song, a week passed he came back to me. He said dude we moving in together, to date he references this song as the one that made a mark in his life and made him turnaround. This song preaches real life. Cole World to the World, Dreamville is packed
@pumporientatedathletes-sa2513
The reason this nigga should get. A Grammy.. His music heals and changes the world for better
@EPIC1255
Thank you for showing him this song instead of him making his child a statistic & J. Cole deserves so much more praise I'll be honest I didn't like the new J. Cole until I took another listen but J. Cole is a blessing the new hip hop needed
@travistarr9433
Manchester is blue
@dmoon7818
@@travistarr9433 Manchester is oil pipelines
@aruwajoyeolamide8284
My homeboy Bagwell sent me this track I think 10 years ago. This is the song I listen to whenever my ex girl says she misses her period lol. That part where Cole said "but what about your seed nigga?" is gonna make you cry man.
@Hjooligan
This was the song that did it for me and then I became part of Cole World.
@nicholebronson2627
Me too!! Much love
@FlorenceW101
ME TOOO
@gpetrakhs
Same here, proud of me