The Best J. Cole Songs
J. Cole is a modern top-level contender in hip-hop that produces hits with a fierceness in the lexicon, delivery, and realism behind his words. The North Carolina-raised rapper is someone that also lives by the words of positivity he speaks and rhymes with, housing single mothers in his childhood North Carolina home as well as starting the Dreamville Foundation that stands to help empower and nurture urban youth.
Speaking things into power has been witnessed in J. Cole by continuously having number 1 albums, being part of pro-level basketball teams, and through his altruism. Hammering down the best J. Cole songs is no easy task but these are the ten that would yield me my best day.
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1. G.O.M.D.
“The best kept secret, Even Hov tried to keep it and I leaked the damn tape”
“G.O.M.D.” is a statement that lets you know “Hey, enough of whatever you’re doing”. The song features black choral singing and J. Cole shredding folks to bits. “G.O.M.D.” is track 8 off of 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
2. a m a r i
“I never fall out with the bro, hate when your family turn into foe.”
“a m a r i” is a song discussing how he went from nothing to the spot he is currently at. It also does mention how you can either hustle or be enlisted into a country’s armed forces to escape your current situation. “a m a r i” is track 2 off “The Off-Season”.
3. Wet Dreamz
“‘Cause when I seen ’em thighs on her and them hips on her and them lips on her, got me daydreaming, man what”
“Wet Dreamz” is a dive into the life when one is about to discover sexuality beyond just attraction. How some narratives push being more than you are and what happens to really get us there. “Wet Dreamz” is track 3 off of 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
4. Mr. Nice Watch
“You’ll never play me, nice try. Ballin’ in the night spot. No more Mr Nice guy, hello Mr Nice watch.”
“Mr. Nice Watch” is a celebration of life while you have it, and that is what makes it one of the best J. Cole songs. A nice watch can’t be enjoyed when time runs out. “Mr. Nice Watch” is track 7 on Cole World: The Sideline Story.
5. She Knows
“Damned if I do, Damned if I don’t. You know I got a girl back home, You got a man, what you want? What you want?”
“She Knows” features a very heavy piano track, almost reminiscent to court show intros, perhaps lending to the feeling of being on trial. The lyrical content would lead one to believe it is a song about infidelities and being found out. “She Knows” is track 8 off the album “Born Sinner”.
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6. Middle Child
“I hope that you scrape every dollar you can. I hope you know money won’t erase the pain.”
“Middle Child” is a song that explores the idea that you can’t really stop your pursuits if the people around you are not in a better position. The idea of one making it is that all make it. “Middle Child” is track 16 off the album Revenge of The Dreamers III.
7. No Role Modelz
“That leave a toothbrush at your crib love. And you ain’t gotta wonder whether that’s your kid love.”
“No Role Modelz” featuring a recurring line “Don’t save her, she don’t want to be saved” the song stirs the idea that sometimes you have to be the inspiration you never had. Sometimes, being that inspiration still makes you human. The sample of George W. Bush is also a bit priceless. “No Role Modelz” is track 9 off 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
8. False Prophets
“While the world’s eggin’ him on, I’m beggin’ him to stop, and playin’ his old shit, knowin’ he won’t top it, false prophets.”
“False Prophets” is a barbed entry from J. Cole that points out that the target(s) uses ghostwriters and beyond their music, they’re awful people. “False Prophets” is a standalone single.
9. Crooked Smile
“I keep my twisted grill, just to show them kids it’s real. We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still.”
“Crooked Smile” is an exploration that human flaws aren’t negatives, and should be embraced. “Crooked Smile” is track 14 off “Born Sinner”.
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10. p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l feat. lil’ baby
“Pride is the Devil, Think it got a hold on me. Pride is the Devil, It left so many R.I.P.”
“p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l feat. lil’ baby” J. Cole’s take on being humble and how hard it is to shake the sin of pride. The track covers deaths of people in his life living in pride and has a very soft, somber, yet eerie music track. “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l feat. lil’ baby” is track 7 off the album The Off-Season.
About J. Cole
As previously stated J. Cole is a talent that stretches the limitations of belief having had success in his music, features on others, basketball, and charity he is a true juggernaut. One facet we didn’t get to explore was how he does in freestyle, so I’m including a more recent one he did so that you can see how he does without a pen and paper.
If you are interested in vibing out, having an introspective session on how you feel, or if you need something that will get you hyped, J. Cole has a song or 5 that can cover you. As he continues I know there will be far more of the best J. Cole songs to grace our ears.
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Do You Think These Are The Best J. Cole Songs?
Thank you for reading our assembled list of the best J. Cole songs. Do you think other songs should be on this list? Let us know on social media!
