Born Winner: J. Cole Born Sinner Album Review

"I'm a born sinner, but I'll die better than that, swear..." It's way darker this time..."

                                                                                        ~"Villumanti" | J. Cole

These few lines alone describe J. Cole's sophomore release of Born Sinner. The Fayetteville, North Carolina bred artist takes you home on this release. Home to the roots and origin of what Hip-Hop is and what it was designed to be. Life lessons explained the way he learned them, awkward situations, and the trials of tribulations of what a lot of us have went through with a single parent trying to make a way. 

Born Sinner hit home for me with the open honesty from the talks of his crooked smile, meeting old one night stands giving him the ultimate lip service, and the humbled times of having your mom working two jobs and you just praying that she's OK on the way home, because "you know how niggas do". This album isn't for the people who were only witnesses of "the struggle" but were apart of it. The way to figure this out is simple; if your not bobbing your head repeatedly and saying "damn", "hell naw", or "ooohhh" then clearly you can not relate.

Witty, lyrical, hard, direct, heartfelt release from a artist I expect to be around for a long time to come. Simply a modern day classic release that doesn't even come close to letting Nas down. 

UnBLeeVable ★ ★ ★ ★ ★.

Favorite Tracks

Rich Niggaz

LOVE this song simply because "I hate rich niggaz, got dammit" One of the most heart to heart tracks on the album. J. Cole goes even goes into the fears of him becoming his father and step-father. His struggle to take the mainstream lane and to remain true in the rap game without selling your soul.

Born Sinner

As of now has become my official theme song of 2013. Trials, tribulations, and triumphs of being a man who learns from his mistakes and experiences. This tracks sums of the whole album and "if you not F'n with that, I don't care"

Let Nas Down

Masterpiece. Ultimate homage. This track symbolizes the passing of the torch from Nas to J. Cole and him taking the task on whole heatedly. Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals.

Trouble

The wordplay and the reference to my city Chicago, was enough to make me fall in love with this whip banger.

Land of the Snakes/Power Trip/Forbidden Fruit

Dude. Like really I could not choose just one, so today's 3 for 1 special includes a sample for the ages of classic Outkast, the early summer anthem that had me up all night, and thee most hilarious skit this year at the end of the song, oh and the track cool too.