THE BLONDE PONCHO reviews Cole World: The Sideline Story

Over here at PinkMafia, the anticipation of J.Cole’s album release was almost unbearable. And from what I’ve been hearing, on the pink streets, the anticipation has been driving all of you wild too.

Well, today the anticipation has ended as Cole World: The Sideline Story officially dropped. My expectations were met and then surpassed.

To be honest, there was some fear as to how the album would hold up to Cole’s other releases “The Come Up”, “The Warm Up” and “Friday Night Lights”. Taking into consideration that this is J.Cole’s first full length studio release, it stacks up well.

I have been following Cole all summer and I desperately wanted his album to reflect his live performances. And thankfully more often than not, Cole World sees him shine as a lyricists.

Although some of the tracks lean towards a slightly pop/mainstream radio feel, Cole’s gritty lyrics and swagger over power it all. This is the music we all want to be hearing. Cole can go from the feel good track “Mr. Nice Watch” featuring Jay to a serious track like “Lost Ones” seamlessly. He’s not boxed in like some rappers on the scene right now.

It becomes apparent that this is his freshman album as the songs jump around between the exploration of different sounds. The album dabbles between electronica beats, to R&B jams like “Never Told”, to  radio smashers like “Who Dat”. Cole really hits his stride when he lets out the plain ol’ good rap. I prefer it when he keeps it simple, and keeps it dirty.

There is a reinvented old school sound on tracks like “Sideline Story” and “Nobody’s Perfect” featuring Missy Elliott.  The sound of “Nobody’s Perfect”, is just so tight. These songs make me want to roll back to ’98. But the tracks aren’t a direct translation from the past, it’s an homage with a new spin to it all.

By this point, we all know Cole is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, but Cole is not using that as a crutch. Sure Jay spits on a track but other than that, Cole World has a feel al his own.

“Some nigga ask me why Jay never shout me out. Like I’m suppose to give a fuck,” raps J.Cole on the title track .

With the power Cole has infused within this album it’s clear that he doesn’t except people to listen just because Shawn Carter says so.  Regardless of whose releasing the album, Cole is the reason everyone should  be listening to it.

There is some softness on this album and some insight into the artist who is J. Cole.  To be honest as a whole, the album sounds a lot more manlier that I had expected. His voice is good and strong and dark. It’s really working for him. Tracks like “In The Morning” will really get it done for the female audience.

verdict: get a copy now.