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.
Rise Above
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rise above, Rise above, You got to
Rise above, Rise above
Verse 1
She had a little daughter with her it was cold out,
She said I hate this motherfucker then she rolled out,
He aint answering his phone she as what the fuck,
She seem to be stressing lately, cause this nigga she done
Been with for the past two years, was now the current reason
For her last few tears, she text he don't text back,
When she see him she be trying s** he don't s** back,
It's heart being on jet black, she call he don't call back,
All he say is fall back, nigga just need a space, so she
Headed to his place, cause she just gotta call from her
Homegirl Randa, who say he be creeping he been fucking
With Yolanda, Yolanda? Yeah girl Yolanda! Told you he aint
Shit but you aint listen I was tryna, Click hmm!
Hang up the phone then hop'd right up in that honda,
Headed to his crib she said she fed up with this shit,
Thought this time this was the one, thought I got better
At this shit, pick it up mister right, stick it out through
The fights, and long nights, for what these niggas is all alike,
She gone set it off her daughter gone witness it all tonight, damn!
Chorus
Rise above, Rise above, You got to
Rise above, Rise above
Verse 2
She say she just finished school could barely pay tuition,
Now she teaches second grade tryna make a difference,
Ey But the kids frustrate her say that they don't listen,
A ass like that how the fuck they supposed to pay attention,
I'm fucking with you but for real she say they hopeless,
A class full of jokesters, creating all the obstacles,
Impossible to focus, little niggas barely read,
Tryna give'em what they need, and they don't even try,
One little boy he caught her eye, caused he looked just like
Her brother, she'll be having to call his mother,
But she act she don't care, where her father? He aint here,
Now she frustrated, thinking that she just made the mistake
Of her life, underpaid be having a waitress at night,
Six years in college down the drain, drinking
Tryna drown the pain, party with her girls, feeling sorry
For the world, cause aint no hope for the youth, well aint
That the truth? When all your role models either rapping or they hoop! Damn!
Chorus
Rise above, Rise above, You got to
Rise above, Rise above, We got to
The song "Rise Above" by J. Cole tells the stories of two women who are struggling to overcome their respective obstacles. In the first verse, J. Cole tells the story of a woman who is in a tumultuous relationship with a man who is not treating her well. She is frustrated because he is not responding to her messages, and she suspects that he might be cheating on her. Despite her doubts, she decides to head to his place with her daughter to confront him. J. Cole highlights the woman's frustrations and desperation, which lead her to make questionable decisions.
In the second verse, J. Cole tells the story of a young teacher who is struggling to connect with her students. She is trying her best to educate them, but they are not paying attention, and she is not getting paid enough to make ends meet. The situation frustrates her, and she begins to question whether she made the right decision by becoming a teacher. J. Cole also touches on the lack of opportunities for young people, especially those who live in impoverished conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Rise above, Rise above, You got to
We must strive to succeed and overcome our struggles
Rise above, Rise above
Repeating the earlier message of striving to overcome
She had a little daughter with her it was cold out,
A woman was with her daughter in the cold weather
She said I hate this motherfucker then she rolled out,
The woman expressed her hatred for someone and left the place
He aint answering his phone she as what the fuck,
The person she hates wasn't answering his phone, which frustrated her
Then told her daughter buckle up, ya that's for safety,
The mother made sure her daughter was safely secured in the car
She seem to be stressing lately, cause this nigga she done
Been with for the past two years, was now the current reason
For her last few tears,
The woman was stressed due to her relationship troubles with someone she had been with for two years
She text he don't text back,
When she see him she be trying s** he don't s** back,
He was not responding to her messages, nor was he intimate with her
It's heart being on jet black, she call he don't call back,
All he say is fall back, nigga just need a space, so she
Headed to his place,
She felt alone and helpless, but he only wanted space so she went to him
Cause she just gotta call from her
Homegirl Randa, who say he be creeping he been fucking
With Yolanda, Yolanda? Yeah girl Yolanda!
She found out that the person she was with was cheating on her with Yolanda, thanks to her friend Randa
Told you he aint
Shit but you aint listen I was tryna, Click hmm!
Her friend Randa had warned her about this guy, but she didn't listen
Hang up the phone then hop'd right up in that honda,
Headed to his crib she said she fed up with this shit,
The woman got into her car and drove to his house feeling annoyed and frustrated
Thought this time this was the one, thought I got better
At this shit, pick it up mister right, stick it out through
The fights, and long nights, for what these niggas is all alike,
She thought he was the perfect man, but it turns out he was just like all the others
She gone set it off her daughter gone witness it all tonight, damn!
She decided to confront him and her daughter would be there to witness the events
She say she just finished school could barely pay tuition,
Now she teaches second grade tryna make a difference,
A woman who recently graduated from college is now a teacher and trying to make a positive change
Ey But the kids frustrate her say that they don't listen,
A ass like that how the fuck they supposed to pay attention,
The children she teaches do not listen to her and she feels disrespected as a result
A class full of jokesters, creating all the obstacles,
Impossible to focus, little niggas barely read,
The students in her class were creating distractions and were difficult to teach
Tryna give'em what they need, and they don't even try,
One little boy he caught her eye, caused he looked just like
Her brother,
She tried her best to provide the students with education, but they weren't putting in any effort. One student reminded her of her brother.
She'll be having to call his mother,
But she act she don't care, where her father? He aint here,
She would need to contact the student's mother, but the mother didn't seem to care and the father was absent
Now she frustrated, thinking that she just made the mistake
Of her life, underpaid be having a waitress at night,
Six years in college down the drain, drinking
Tryna drown the pain, party with her girls, feeling sorry
For the world,
She's frustrated with how her life turned out and is working long hours as a waitress after years of college education. She tries to numb her pain with alcohol and socializing with her friends.
Cause aint
That the truth? When all your role models either rapping or they hoop! Damn!
It's a sad truth that the youth's role models are mostly rappers and athletes.
Rise above, Rise above, You got to
Repeating the earlier message of striving to overcome in life
Rise above, Rise above, We got to
All of us must rise above our problems and challenges
Contributed by Carter W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria Hernandez
[Hook]
Rise above, rise above…
And you’ve got to…
Rise above, rise above…
[Verse 1]
She had her little daughter with her, it was cold out
Said “ah, I hate this motherfucker,” then she rolled out
He ain’t answering his phone, she yells “what the fuck?!”
Then told her daughter “buckle up, yeah, that’s for safety”
See she been stressin’ lately
‘Cause this nigga she done been with for the past two years
Is now the current reason for her last few tears
She text, he don’t text back
When she see him she be tryna sex, he don’t sex back
His heart be on jet black
She call, he don’t call back, all he say is “fall back”
Nigga just need his space, so she headed to his place
She just got a call from her homegirl Rhonda
Who said he been creepin’, he been fuckin’ with Yolanda
“Yolanda?"
"Yeah girl, Yolanda. Told you he ain’t shit but you ain’t listen, I was tryna” –
[Click] – hmmm, hung up that phone and hopped right up in that Honda
Headed his crib, she said she fed up with this shit
“Thought this time this was the one, thought I got better at this shit”
“Pickin’ out Mr. Right, stick it out through the fights”
“And long nights, for what? These niggas is all alike”
She gon’ set it off, her daughter gon’ witness it all tonight, damn…
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
She said she just finished school, could barely pay tuition
Now she teaches 7th grade, tryna make a difference
Aye, but the kids frustrate her, say that they don’t listen
A ass like that, how the fuck they supposed to pay attention?
I’m fuckin’ with you, but for real, she say they hopeless
A class full of jokesters, creating all the obstacles, impossible to focus
Lil’ niggas barely read, tryna give them what they need
And they don’t even try, one little boy, he caught her eye
‘Cause he look just like her brother, she be havin’ to call his mother
But she act like she don’t care – what father? He ain’t here
Now she frustrated, thinkin’ that she just made the mistake of her life
Underpaid, be havin’ to waitress at night
Six years of college down the drain, drinkin’, tryna drown her pain
Party with her girls, feeling sorry for the world
‘Cause ain’t no hope for the youth, well ain’t that the truth
When all your role models either rappin’ or they hoop, damn…
[Hook]
CADOCADO BLACKSMOKE
2022 still listening to this master piece 🧩🧩🧩
NorthPhotography
Hope cole sees your channel one day 🤞🏿
Reel Go-Getters
🙏🏽 💎
Yanis Chxxtcode
THEE GREATEST OF ALL TIME🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Jaime Rojas
Cole did an amazing Kanye West impression on that beat machine. I thought this was a Kanye beat for YEARS!! Still my favorite Cole song tho. 😂😂
INFINITY1664
Song is deep. The media don't even air these kind of song cause our generation is all about party song. sas
Damien Waithe
u know how it is
Jamirra Bryant
INFINITY1664 facts these the type of songs that motivate me
Anita Bath
INFINITY1664 they dont want to see you make it.
INFINITY1664
Christian Moreira for real tho