Understanding is a series of articles I'll post trying to understand either the hype or lack their of on many artist today. I will try to post these every week
Back in 2009 when what I like to call "the dawn of Drake" happened there were a cloud of rappers who I've heard of prior to have started to garner more mainstream buzz, but the same buzz wasn't garnered for J.Cole. Yes people knew his name but it didn't mean shit because he didn't drop a mixtape that sounded like an album, he wasn't cosigned by one of the biggest rapper of the generation nor was he considered the first rap heart throb since LL Cool J. In fact none of those seem to sum up the humble college boy from Fayetteville, he wasn't cosigned by one of the biggest rappers until later that year, his mixtapes weren't comercially acclaimed, and yes he isn't the fly-est guy around these parts, but he still can make girls look twice.
To become a fan of J. Cole, you must posses two qualities about yourself, a college student looking for the soundtrack to your life and/or an Artist who can spot real music beyond top 40 brainwashing. But within the next year you would probably hate him, because you either grown out of your college phase or he's become a top 40 sensation. But his lyrical presence and chill vocals will make you revisit him on a road trip, plane ride or hell just a ride around town, he's quite the relaxing rapper never cocky in his stance nor is he to dry to where you question why you're listening to him. Everything opposite of the major rappers out now Drake, Lil Wayne, T.I. And of course Cole's boss Jay-Z all emphasize on how they are better than the next which makes their music lack variety and interest, however it gives hopes to the naive youth in our world today that you too can become an arrogant asshole. Truth is kids YOU WON'T.
Further in my understanding of why J. Cole isn't topping charts is the fact in all honesty I don't think he wants that life, earlier I noted that he's a humble rapper from the Carolina's just doing what he does best rap. For him he just happened to be Roc Nation's first official signee and embark on his first headlining college tour. He has a loyal fanbase and his music doesn't dull the brains of our children in fact he talks about the importance of responsiblity, like in his song "Lights Please"," I'm finding, the more I grow the more ya'll seem to stay the same, don't even know the rules but yet ya'll tryna play the game and ain't a shame, for how niggas blame ho's for giving birth to a baby that took two to make coward nigga you a fake how u goin look in your sons face and turn back then go start another family dog wat type a shit is that".
I rest my case.
