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.
St. Tropez
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to go to St. Tropez
Maybe I'll go maybe I'll stay
Maybe I'll stay
She asked me if I'm scared to fly
To tell the truth I'm terrified
I never been that high before
Very bad reason not to go
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
Show him the way, he's about to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
Ay from the dark I showed you my scars and I told you girl, I won't lie
If we at war, then this is a war that I can't afford (No I, I, I)
I wanted more but that was before
Lord knows I'm torn, so I I cry
From the corner of my eye, baby
It's been hard for me to smile
Lately
It's been hard for me to smile
If you won't take me in your home
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
Show him the way, he's about to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's on his way to Hollywood
In "St. Tropez," J. Cole expresses his desire to escape his problems and stresses by rolling up and smoking his sins away while contemplating traveling to St. Tropez. However, he's hesitant to make the trip and admits his fear of flying, which he describes as a terrible reason not to go. Furthermore, he opens up about his emotional struggles, telling a woman about his past scars and how it's been tough for him to smile lately.
The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "He's on his way, he's bout to get paid/ He's on his way to Hollywood," which is likely a reference to J. Cole's career trajectory and his aspirations to be successful in the entertainment industry. He seeks guidance and direction, hoping that someone will show him the way to achieving his dreams. Overall, the song reflects on themes of escapism, fear, emotional turmoil, and ambition.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll up and smoke my sins away
Trying to forget his sins and mistakes by smoking weed
I'd like to go to St. Tropez
He desires to go to a place of luxury and relaxation
Maybe I'll go maybe I'll stay
Unsure whether to indulge in his desires or not
Maybe I'll stay
Perhaps he's comfortable with his current situation and doesn't want to risk it
She asked me if I'm scared to fly
Someone's questioning his courage to take risks and fly out to new places
To tell the truth I'm terrified
Admitting that he has a fear of flying
I never been that high before
Referring to the high altitude of a plane
Very bad reason not to go
Acknowledging that his fear is not a good enough excuse to hold him back
Terrible reason not to go
Further emphasizing that it's a terrible excuse not to go
He's on his way, he's bout to get paid
He's headed towards success and getting paid for his endeavors
He's on his way to Hollywood
His success is leading him towards the spotlight and the entertainment industry
Ay from the dark I showed you my scars and I told you girl, I won't lie
He's opened up to someone about his past trauma and mistakes with honesty
If we at war, then this is a war that I can't afford (No I, I, I)
If there's conflict, he can't afford to lose or go through it again
I wanted more but that was before
He used to want more but has come to accept his current situation
Lord knows I'm torn, so I I cry
He's emotionally conflicted and expresses his pain through tears
From the corner of my eye, baby
Someone is watching him struggle and suffer
It's been hard for me to smile
His emotional pain has affected his ability to be happy and positive
If you won't take me in your home
If someone won't accept him into their life and give him refuge
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Spirit Music Group, Missing Link Music
Written by: DAVID JAMES WOLINSKI, DEON S. WILLIAMS, DEWAYNE WILLIAMS, JASMIN PENELOPE CHARLES, JERMAINE L. COLE, JOSH SKILS, LOUIS ANDRE FISCHER, MAYFIELD WORTH JR. SMALL, WARREN III, WELDON JOHNATHAN JR. IRVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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