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.
Til' Infinity
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got to warm up man!
Yea, Elite what up! Yea Warm Up
Yea, look niggas wanna know the formula for success, sheeitt, but I studied for this test
Ay nigga I'm better than the rest you just rest boy please
Me I'm trynna stretch my treasurer chest like some double D breast
So a nigga on a quest no question, so I tell em birds no nesting
Laying in my bed I hope to lay a niggas egg, No- you'll never hatch mines
I'm trynna shine like the bat sign when it's crime and the gats flyin up in Gotham
Watch em
Far from a thug but I'll drop one
Far from a scrub but I'll mop them
Watch em better leave em alone like Stockton when he retired
Shit your shit is fire boy stop
I don't buy, boy caught, stop laying
Ya shit is not hot man if niggas not buying
It's not rocket science
But the way I rock it help me build up my alliance
These niggas ain't playing in New York like the Giants-ha!
A little line to show love to the city that got no love
Don't want to see a nigga grow rather see a nigga hold-up
That's cold blooded, well never to fail
If you can make it here you can make if from heaven to hell
I'm just a little nigga strait out the Ville
Always been sick probably never get well
And no time soon, step to a nigga get 4 times 2
Bet the way I spit it leave your mind blue with more rhymes due
Nigga you tryning who?
Sheeit, nigga you tryning me bitch I'm better than all them niggas you trynna be
Shit, nigga you trying me? Bitch I'm better than all them niggas you trynna be
Look, it's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
There's not time to chill I'm trynna build
Bitch there's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
There's not time to chill I'm trynna build
It's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
There's not time to chill I'm trynna build
Bitch it's no time to chill nigga! Yep
In J. Cole's song "Til' Infinity," he starts with a warm-up verse where he showcases his lyrical ability to rap, and then he starts to reflect on the success formula as he believes it's not something that can be taught but something that's learned through hard work and dedication. He compares his journey to success to that of a treasure chest, and how he's constantly striving to stretch and expand it further. He also takes a shot at those who are trying to take a shortcut to success, telling them that success requires effort and there's no easy way out.
Cole mentions his love for hip-hop and how he wants to contribute to its evolution. Despite growing up in a tough environment, he's aware of his abilities and knows that his talent will push him to the top. He mentions how some people in the city don't want to see him succeed, and how they'd rather see him fail or fall behind, but he's not giving up on his dreams. J. Cole uses this track as an opportunity to showcase his talent and the dedication he's putting into his craft to achieve greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, yea let me warm up man, let me warm up man!
J. Cole is warming up for his performance.
Yea, Elite what up! Yea Warm Up
J. Cole acknowledges his producer Elite and their mixtape, The Warm Up.
Yea, look niggas wanna know the formula for success, sheeitt, but I studied for this test
Other people want to know how to be successful, but J. Cole has already figured it out.
Ay nigga I'm better than the rest you just rest boy please
J. Cole is better than other rappers.
Me I'm trynna stretch my treasurer chest like some double D breast
J. Cole wants to accumulate wealth.
So a nigga on a quest no question, so I tell em birds no nesting
J. Cole is on a quest for success and he won't let anything hold him back.
Laying in my bed I hope to lay a niggas egg, No- you'll never hatch mines
J. Cole wants to have an impact on other people, but he won't let anyone control him.
Baby, you don't match mines
J. Cole is better than his competition.
I'm trynna shine like the bat sign when it's crime and the gats flyin up in Gotham
J. Cole wants to be successful like Batman in Gotham.
Watch em
J. Cole is watchful of his competition.
Far from a thug but I'll drop one
J. Cole isn't a violent person, but he'll fight if necessary.
Far from a scrub but I'll mop them
J. Cole isn't a bad rapper, but he'll prove he's better than his competition.
Watch em better leave em alone like Stockton when he retired
J. Cole is warning his competition to leave him alone like they did with John Stockton after he retired.
Shit your shit is fire boy stop
J. Cole isn't impressed with his competition's music.
I don't buy, boy caught, stop laying
J. Cole doesn't support his competition and encourages others to do the same.
Ya shit is not hot man if niggas not buying
J. Cole believes that if people aren't buying an artist's music, then they're not good.
It's not rocket science
J. Cole thinks that being successful isn't difficult.
But the way I rock it help me build up my alliance
J. Cole's music has helped him gain connections and supporters.
These niggas ain't playing in New York like the Giants-ha!
J. Cole is comparing himself and his competition to the New York Giants football team.
A little line to show love to the city that got no love
J. Cole is showing love for his hometown of Fayetteville, NC.
Don't want to see a nigga grow rather see a nigga hold-up
Some people don't want to see others succeed.
That's cold blooded, well never to fail
People who don't want others to succeed are ruthless.
If you can make it here you can make if from heaven to hell
If you can achieve success in one place, you can do it anywhere.
I'm just a little nigga strait out the Ville
J. Cole is a rapper from Fayetteville, NC.
Always been sick probably never get well
J. Cole has always been good at rapping and probably always will be.
And no time soon, step to a nigga get 4 times 2
J. Cole is warning his competition not to mess with him.
Bet the way I spit it leave your mind blue with more rhymes due
J. Cole's rhymes will stick with you and he has even more to come.
Nigga you tryning who?
J. Cole is asking who his competition thinks they are.
Sheeit, nigga you tryning me bitch I'm better than all them niggas you trynna be
J. Cole is confident in his abilities as a rapper.
Shit, nigga you trying me? Bitch I'm better than all them niggas you trynna be
J. Cole is reiterating that he's better than his competition.
Look, it's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
J. Cole is busy and focused on making money.
There's not time to chill I'm trynna build
J. Cole is focused on building his career.
Bitch there's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
J. Cole is emphasizing that he's serious about making money.
There's not time to chill I'm trynna build
J. Cole is focused on building his career.
It's no time to chill I'm trynna get Mills
J. Cole is emphasizing that he's serious about making money.
Bitch it's no time to chill nigga! Yep
J. Cole is serious about his career and success.
Contributed by Savannah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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