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.
Shook Ones Freestyle
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Change the game, shook
Voice the pain, shook
Say their names, shook
Say their names, shook
bright Eyes blaze back at me
Break the Tides waves crash, attacking
they coming in, they comin in
They Grip the hilt tight squeeze
Blood chilled hard to breathe
bolstered by the bad apples in the league
They coming in, they coming in
Feed the flame, Shook
our Need remains, Shook
Say their names Shook
Say their names Shook
Stand to protect friends and family
Stand to constitute our community
Stand and renew courage in solidarity
They comin in,
Stand for the whole world to see
Stand to Test their frail van-ity
Stand BREAK they really gonna stoop to straight savagery...
They comin in, they comin in
Shookwe bleed the same
Shook We see your game,
Shook just Say their names,
Shook Say their names,
Seems like you forgot these words
your Power comes from the people you serve
This hour just listen and learn
Devour our pain, and stay silent
Our country's been crazed for a while then
Remember all those who you've hurt and piled in
You set the tone, or our trust is gone with the wind
Our respect you feel so hard earned lost if you stay unhinged
Let us grieve n pray, shook
We come together not to rage
But to Say their names, shook
Just to Say their names, shook
truth to power through these lanes shook
We've tried it other ways shook
They dont hear us most days shook
They dont hear us dont do a thing shook
You wont get in the way shook
Too many Voices for you here today shook
Progress will win, old ways fade
now just say their names
say their names
In J. Cole's song "Shook Ones Freestyle," the rapper speaks about his shaken state of mind in response to the ongoing turmoil and violence happening in the world. He admits that vulnerability is necessary for change to happen, and he calls on everyone to change the game, voice their pain, and say the names of those who have been unjustly killed. Cole uses powerful metaphors such as looking into the blue sea and breaking the tides to describe the overwhelming and unrelenting nature of the issues at hand. He also references bad apples in the league, referring to how corrupt individuals can affect whole organizations. The chorus of the song urges people to stand up for their communities and protect their loved ones, while also calling out those in positions of power to acknowledge and address the problem.
Overall, the lyrics are a call to action for people to come together to effect change and to not forget the lives that have been lost. J. Cole emphasizes the importance of speaking up and holding those in power accountable, while also highlighting the strength and unity that comes from standing together.
Line by Line Meaning
Shook, shook they just shook,
Feeling shaken, vulnerable. Change is good.
Voice the pain, shook
Express the pain, despite feeling shaken.
Say their names, shook
Honor and remember those who've been hurt.
gaze into the blue sea
Reflecting on the beauty of the world.
bright Eyes blaze back at me
Feeling the intensity of the moment.
Break the Tides waves crash, attacking
Chaos and turmoil surround me.
they coming in, they comin in
The challenges keep coming.
They Grip the hilt tight squeeze
Holding on tight in the face of resistance.
Blood chilled hard to breathe
Fear and uncertainty grip me.
bolstered by the bad apples in the league
Some people are working against us, but we're not alone.
Feed the flame, Shook
Fuel the passion despite feeling shaken.
our Need remains, Shook
Our need for change persists despite obstacles.
Stand to protect friends and family
Standing up against injustice for our loved ones.
Stand and renew courage in solidarity
Standing up together, united against injustice.
Stand for the whole world to see
Showing the world that we won't stand for injustice.
Stand to Test their frail van-ity
Challenging those who abuse their power.
Stand BREAK they really gonna stoop to straight savagery...
Breaking the cycle of violence and oppression.
Shookwe bleed the same
We are all human and affected by injustice.
Shook We see your game,
We recognize the tactics of those who abuse their power.
Seems like you forgot these words
Those in power have lost sight of their duties.
your Power comes from the people you serve
Those in power must serve the people they represent.
This hour just listen and learn
It's time to listen and understand the voices of the people.
Devour our pain, and stay silent
Ignoring the pain of the people only perpetuates injustice.
Let us grieve n pray, shook
Taking time to process and mourn the pain.
We come together not to rage
Coming together in peaceful protest.
but to Say their names, shook
Honoring and remembering those who've been hurt.
truth to power through these lanes shook
Speaking truth to those in power through music and other art forms.
They dont hear us most days shook
Our voices often go unheard in the face of power.
You wont get in the way shook
We will not be deterred by those who try to silence us.
Too many Voices for you here today shook
Our voices are loud and many.
Progress will win, old ways fade
Change is coming and the old ways of oppression will soon be outdated.
now just say their names
Remember those who've been hurt and honor their memory.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Meg Pickarski
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fumbles 2310
[Intro]
Yeah
Yeah, look how I came up
Yeah, ayy, look how I came up, nigga
Ayy, look
[Verse]
Momma I came up
Cold as hell in New York but I flame up
Straight up out that dirty type of shit you cannot clean up
A dollar and a dream the only things I had to bring up
Now any nigga out there gunning for me gotta aim up
Say what, niggas ask me what the Ville be like
Just tell em that it's real, hoping that they me feel me,
right
I'm so bright I close my eyes and I can still see light
I'm so live you motherfuckers gotta kill me twice
Man, I promise I'm murdering classics, paying my homage
The fifteenth of the month and I'm just now paying Mohammed
Said the rent's due on the first, but he don't know the shit
I been through and it hurts, can't wait to blow
Yeah, I think about heaven sometimes, can't wait to go
If it's real will I even get in, I ain't fo' sure
'Cause I've been sinning
Getting bent it's been a minute since I been
Up in a church
Only time is when my friend up in a hearse
Lord, I'm praying for me my Momma
I just went up in her purse
Not to steal
All I saw was some bills and not a dollar
In sight
It’s time she lived a more desirable life
I'm chasing money
And dreams only God got the means to take em from me
I scheme while I'm riding through Queens
I ain't no dummy
A Fayettenam repper 'til the day that I'm gone
Nigga get your weight up all the way up if you hating on me
Cause boy I might pray but ain't no preying on me
I'm hot like Satan just laying on me
So when you get to hell you can say you know me
I said I might pray but ain't no preying on me
So when you get to hell, you can say you know me
Shivam Shetty
Yeah
Yeah, look how I came up
Yeah, ayy, look how I came up, nigga
Ayy, look
[Verse]
Momma I came up
Cold as hell in New York but I flame up
Straight up out that dirty type of shit you cannot clean up
A dollar and a dream the only things I had to bring up
Now any nigga out there gunning for me gotta aim up
Say what, niggas ask me what the Ville be like
Just tell em that it's real, hoping that they me feel me, right
I'm so bright I close my eyes and I can still see light
I'm so live you motherfuckers gotta kill me twice
Man, I promise I'm murdering classics, paying my homage
The fifteenth of the month and I'm just now paying Mohammed
Said the rent's due on the first, but he don't know the shit
I been through and it hurts, can't wait to blow
Yeah, I think about heaven sometimes, can't wait to go
If it's real will I even get in, I ain't fo' sure
'Cause I've been sinning
Getting bent it's been a minute since I been
Up in a church
Only time is when my friend up in a hearse
Lord, I'm praying for me my Momma
I just went up in her purse
Not to steal
All I saw was some bills and not a dollar
In sight
It’s time she lived a more desirable life
I'm chasing money
And dreams only God got the means to take em from me
I scheme while I'm riding through Queens
I ain't no dummy
A Fayettenam repper 'til the day that I'm gone
Nigga get your weight up all the way up if you hating on me
Cause boy I might pray but ain't no preying on me
I'm hot like Satan just laying on me
So when you get to hell you can say you know me
I said I might pray but ain't no preying on me
So when you get to hell, you can say you know me
mike white
Momma I came up
Cold as hell in New York but I flame up
Straight up out that dirty type of shit you cannot clean up
A dollar and a dream the only things I had to bring up
Now any nigga out there gunning for me
Gotta aim up
Say what
Niggas ask me what the Ville be like
Just tell em that it's real
Hoping that they me feel me, right
I'm so bright
I close my eyes and I can still see light
I'm so live you motherfuckers gotta kill me twice
Man I promise I'm murdering classics, paying my homage
The fifteenth of the month and I'm just now paying Mohammed
Said the rent's due on the 1st
But he don't know the shit I been through and it hurts
Can't wait to blow
Yeah, I think about heaven sometimes
Can't wait to go
If it's real will I even get in
I ain't fo' sure
Cause I've been sinning
Getting bent it's been a minute since I been
Up in a church
Only time is when my friend up in a hearse
Lord, I'm praying for me my Momma
I just went up in her purse
Not to steal
All I saw was some bills and not a dollar
In sight
In time she'll live the more desirable life
I'm chasing money
And dreams only God got the means to take em from me
I scheme while I'm riding through Queens
I ain't no dummy
A Fayettenam repper 'til the day that I'm gone
Nigga get your weight up all the way up if you hating on me
Cause boy I might pray but ain't no preying on me
I'm hot like Satan just laying on me
So when you get to hell you can say you know me
I said I might pray but ain't no preying on me
So when you get to hell, you can say you know me
BeEazy
This is for real one of the greatest beats ever produced. Love hearing freestyles over it.
Odelia Lynn Thornhill
Me too
ironmonkeyfist74
You are right..it's dirty..it's deep..it's grimy and you feel it in your bones!
Razz Prince
This beat will never be beaten, this is the Noble Prize level instrumental
4331Inferno
Cole would fit right in the 90s
Rapid Gaming
+4331Inferno J. cole would fit in any decade, I think is music is timeless
Andre Bailey
+Rapid Gaming rap is trash now and no one respects lyrical rappers he'd be a better fit in the 90s than any decade
Quil
4331Inferno facts my nigga
Terry Whitney
4331Inferno Facts.
trap king le vlog and gaming and more
Nahhh