Chapter 2 - J. Cole: 2014 Forest Hills
J. Cole: 2014 Forest Hills Drive:
In the midst of a soulless generation that idolizes the likes of talentless celebrities, ego driven pop-stars, and corrupt politicians, the phrase coined “The American Dream” has lost it’s true definition over the years. It’s quite ironic to state that society has “evolved” over time, when as much improvement that we’re making from a technological standpoint, we’re losing in terms of humanity and true happiness. “The American Dream” has produced a society full of ego driven, insecure individuals that value popularity and reputation over true character and spirit. Living in a world where bad means good has troubled this “Dream” over the years. Because of the lack of true role models in our generation, adolescents are becoming trapped in a control system, valuing money, pride, and lust over true happiness, which stems from love, ambition, and following your dreams. The constant hunger for synthetic energy stems society away from following your soul’s unique potential. which is appreciating your life, your loved ones, and your very own mission. That is the true American dream. Fortunately for our society, true Hip-Hop has become the one outlet in our lives where morals, positivity, and the message of the true American Dream still exist in our society. In J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive” he depicts the story of his life, and the true American Dream, which might not be what you necessarily expect from a millionaire rap artist phenomenon.
The album cover is an image of him sitting on the roof of his house from his adolescence. The house was from when he lived in the poverty-stricken Fayetteville, North Carolina. This cover symbolizes much of the album in one picture. This is to symbolize that the true American Dream is happiness and love, which throughout the album, he learns throughout his journey into Hollywood.
Play: Intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfExD4hdC5o
The first song on the album is called “Intro.” Now, throughout this song he is repeatedly asking, “Do you want to be free. Do you want to be happy? This stems from freeing yourself from society’s pressures and stresses that we go through throughout our lives. Our own selfishness or self-loathing we portray. The lack of appreciation we have for who we are and fighting societal peer pressures. Cole speaks about this in an interview with Complex magazine stating “Wanting to be a movie star, wanting to be a rap star, wanting to have jewelry, wanting to have girls, and wanting to have money, all that shit is just trying to plug those holes. It’s dangerous because it’s not real.” We have this delusional way of thinking that fame equates to happiness. As Cole depicts throughout the album, that is far from the truth. Cole, here sets the tone for the entire album story-line.
In today’s society, the mob vs. the individual is more apparent than ever. Despite being a country that prides itself on it’s “freedom” we’ve become more mentally chained than ever. When J. Cole is stating “Do you want to be free?” He’s metaphorically stating the imaginary chains in our minds that society places upon us. The mob is the power of influence. In our generation, if you turn on the television, skil less celebrities of reality television run our channels. If you turn on the radio, songs about “turning up, or giving females the name of bitch, instead of women, are predominant. If you turn on your phones, teenagers have been over-influenced by a generation filled with social media and selfies, where “likes” have been a ranking system for your own self worth or confidence. Although, according to our rights, we’re the “Land of the free,” mentally, we’re more chained than ever. True freedom lies upon the mindset we give life, rather than a few laws saying otherwise. Not succumbing to society’s peer pressures, and continue to live with an open mind, especially where living in a world where bad means good is extremely hard for the individual. Cole, however, tells the story of being in both situations, as apart of the mob to the individual. We see the theme of freedom in the second song on the track, January 28th.
Play: January 28th https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijy2GFWqeAs
January 28th is also the day that J. Cole was born. This is the beginning of the story of Jermaine Cole, the person. Throughout the song, you hear J. Cole saying to “believe in God” and not to “let them taint your soul.” This is essentially saying to be pure. The mob wants you to have an ego. The mob wants you to cling to the power, because of this, you will never be happy, as you’re relying on this fictional power for happiness. J. Cole states “The bigger we get, the more likely our egos collide, it’s just physics.” This is saying the more arrogant we become, the less peaceful we are with one another. This is alluding to the law of collision, where an ego driven world leads to constant competition and animosity.
The hook states “Don’t give em too much you. Don’t let em taint your soul. If you believe in God. One thing’s for sure. If you ain’t aim too high. Then you aim too low.” Cole is speaking on how your dreams will always be your outlet to your harsh reality. Throughout the track he is speaking on trusting in God and sticking to your dreams through unheralded ambition. He is insisting that if your faith and ambition are unified, you will achieve your very own vision of the American Dream. For his instance, it was reaching stardom in the Hip-Hop genre.
Play: Wet Dreamz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOF1sDZsFzI
The next track however, stems into a different version of happiness, in finding love. Most of the track titled “Wet Dreamz” details the innocence of puppy love, and how simple and pure love is when you’re in your youth. Outside factors such as money, reputation, and cars are meaningless at this stage in love. It mostly speaks on the nerves before a man and women lose their virginity. This song is mostly used as a transition track as well, as a double entendre to his entrance into hip-hop as a celebrity. The nerves and self conscious being displayed before your first time having intercourse is a metaphor for his nerves on if he’s ready to become a celebrity and rap star.
Play: ‘03 Adolescence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tweHIQa1kIA
As the album is essentially an autobiography of his life, the next song, called “‘03 Adolescence.” Continuing the theme of love portrayed throughout the album, throughout the first verse he speaks about a girl he has an infatuation for. As the song takes place in 2003, Cole is 18 at the time, far from a millionaire and rap celebrity at this time. Throughout the song he’s speaking about his inner self doubts and personal insecurities. One insecurity that he alludes to was his lack of having a father figure in his household growing up, living with a struggling single mother. Cole states “I ain’t grow up with a father, I ain’t thinking bout that now. Fast forward 4 years or so from now I’ll probably cry. When I realize what I missed, but for now my eyes are dry.” This is speaking about his lack of having a father figure to look up to in harsh times, and lacking a shoulder to lean on for wisdom when in difficult situations. Four years later, in 2007, Cole released his first mixtape called “The Come Up.” In hindsight, Cole wishes he had someone to guide him during his ride to stardom. His lack of having a father in his adolescence never truly bothered him growing up, because he never actually knew what it was like to have a father there. Wiser in years however, he now thinks about how different things would have been with proper guidance, an issue that corrupts much of the youth today.
As the hook of this extremely emotional track speaks on how “Things change, rearrange, and so do I, I might bend a little but I don’t fold.” This speaks on behalf of how life is an experience more than anything. In our darkest days we gain the most wisdom and knowledge about life, and how the obstacles in our life will alter our paths in life. The second verse gets extremely deep, as Cole raps from a friends perspective, stating “You about to get a degree, I’ma be stuck with two choices. Either graduate to weight or selling number 2. For what? A hundred bucks or two a week? Do you think you would know what to do if you were me? I got, four brothers, one mother that don’t love us, if they ain’t want us, why the fuck they never wore rubbers?.” This verse told from a friends perspective ultimately changed the direction and attitude of Jermaine Cole for the rest of this album, and as an autobiography, the rest of his life. The new found inspiration from understanding how truly blessed he is for his life and ambitions, made him even hungrier to reach the pinnacle of his own success. The same Cole that lacked the fortitude to remain confident under darker times in his life rebirths himself with his mind set on the future. The ego in him, sick of the failure, ultimately fueled his soul to never have to deal with not necessarily being good enough again. Instead of obsessing over what was wrong in his life, he re-trained his focus onto his dreams to become successful. A truly remarkable part of the album concludes with the ending hook stating “I never felt better.” Here, Cole’s determination becomes apparent as ever as he begins to dream, and these dreams are lucid.
Play: A Tale of Two Citiez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2B5clYLtOc
As Cole is re-inspired and gains a whole new appreciation for his life after hearing the woes of his struggling friend, Cole spends much of the first verse touching on these goals he desires in much of the previous track. As this track is called “A Tale of Two Citiez” it plays as an ode to Charles Dickins’ novel, “A Tale of Two Cities” which was set in the rebellion age of Paris and France. This track, similarly has the same major themes being portrayed that the novel does: rebellion, and conflict between the rich and the poor, and political consciousness. This song also speaks much about the conflict between the mob vs. the individual. With both sides working against each other throughout the track. In fact, the title is called “A Tale of Two Citiez’ as the two verses being displayed in the track are two different mindsets with two separate dreams, mob and individual. The first verse seems to be the mindset of a young J. Cole, hungry as a plastic hippopotamus to reach his goals of being wealthy and comfortable, and being able to show off his riches. Cole, at this point of his life, sees the house, money, girls, and cars as the true meaning of happiness. The hook on this track works as a bridge, as he speaks about being consumed by his environment. Cole speaks about “Last night I had a bad dream. That I was trapped in the city. Then I asked is that really such a bad thing?” As the hook commences, you hear a gun go off as Cole speaks on a watch being robbed. This carries onto the second verse, as this is essentially a dream of the mind-state Cole would have if he didn’t have the proper mindset. In this dream, throughout the entirety of the second verse, Cole falls into the mob, consumed by Fayetteville, North Carolina, and his dreams skew into being morally bad, consumed by the negative surroundings. Throughout this verse, Cole’s aspirations shift towards becoming the drug lord of North Carolina. Cole ends this dramatic verse with some heartfelt quotes saying “Wanna know the funny thing about this shit?” Even if you let ‘em kill your dreams, it’ll haunt you nigga.” This clever double entendre touches on how once you begin to give up on your dreams, regret will soon follow you. In this case, pursuing a life of crime will ultimately leave you dead or in jail. This song speaks on two sides of the American Dream. From the perspective of the poverty-stricken Cole out of the slums of North Carolina, who becomes a slave to the streets, ultimately consumed by his environment, or the Cole that sticks to his beliefs of the American Dream. The quintessential ‘individual.’ Morally good, righteous, and an independent thinker, Cole has aspirations of going to college, leaving this chaotic environment, and becoming successful following his passion. The outro of this track will leave you with goosebumps, as the double sounded outro speaks on behalf of everyone ultimately reaching their very own version of “The American Dream” The double sounded outro symbolizes both sides of the two stories being played throughout this track. “Father forgive me for my childish ways. I look outside and all the clouds are grey. I need your hands to take me miles away. Your wish is my command. But before you go I’ve got to warn you now. Whatever goes up surely must come down. And you’ll get your piece, but know peace won’t be found. So why just take me man, take me man, take me man. Your wish is my command, my command, my command.” This outro is essentially a prayer to God, with God essentially answering that you’ll get your karma in life. The two mindsets however will reach different fates. The ‘individual’ Cole will reach his peak of money, success, and riches that Cole pleads for, but this doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness. The ‘mob’ Cole will become the drug flipping star of Fayetteville North Carolina, but a life full of misery will follow. The ‘Tale of 2 Citiez” concludes with the two different mindsets ultimately facing entirely different outcomes. The spiritually rich versus the spiritually poor. This song plays as the transitional song of the album. The spiritually rich individual becomes the innovator. Cole’s legacy will eventually go down as the most influential person out of Fayetteville North Carolina. Cole, becomes the innovator that decides that escaping his surroundings of North Carolina and going to college in New York will ultimately help his conquest for his dreams of becoming a rapper. The nostalgia being displayed is the dreaming Cole, with the mindset of the mob. Here, he is nostalgic as ever, with his aspirations on becoming the king of the ghetto, by running the streets as a drug flipper. To most kids growing up in poor neighborhoods, the man who controls most of the drug use in their town is thought of as a role model type figure, or someone everyone aspires to become. Cole, a free thinker, however, sees the greater purpose in life. The innovator in Cole was destined to escape his environment.
Play: Fire Squad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MGB_G_ZjMo
As Cole’s dreams have unlocked, in the next track “Fire Squad” Cole aims to speak about various topics in the Hip-Hop industry. For starters the racial issues still going on in present day, and the thoughts of white supremacy, as well as the topic of debate of the illusional ‘crown’ in Hip-Hop, where one rapper becomes the leader. Fire Squad takes us on a trip of ego versus soul, where it’s not about the clinging to power, more so than how you have impacted others lives. A lot of this track reminds me of the words of Frederick Douglas. Douglas stated that “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose.” (BlackPast.org) For example, Douglas is stating that the ruler can only keep them down if the oppressor is unwilling to battle the oppression. This is much of the same in the Hip-Hop industry, as the white man can attempt to steal the fictional crown, but in the end, it’s not the crown that holds importance, it’s the power displayed in the music.
However, Cole ultimately sees his ego driving him at this point, as he’s reaching his stardom. His ego being displayed in this track has him taking subtle shots at artists he competes with, while also proclaiming himself the king of rap, today. As money has become his main motivator for success, Cole is lost in the chaos of becoming a celebrity, stating “money my motivator, the songs that I sing. Picture a peasant passin’ from pawn to a king. You tell me ya still love me, if so let me go. Will I return or will I burn, never know.” This is stating that at this current point in his life, he has lost touch with himself, and currently is leaving his girlfriend behind as he has bigger sight’s in his future at this current point in time. Money and lust has overtaken his spirit and love in his heart. Cole is becoming a product of his environment in stardom.
The third verse tails off into racial issues of white supremacy. Cole wrote that “While silly niggas gon’ argue about who gon’ snatch the crown. Look around my nigga, white people have snatched the sound. This year I’ll probably go to the awards dappered down. Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile.” Cole is implying here that much of the white artists in the past that have had success have done so by stealing it from the African American race. As this fictional ‘crown’ that exists in Hip-Hop that Kendrick Lamar made up in a verse two years ago now has caused drama and debate throughout most of the greatest poets in hip-hop, the white man has slipped through the cracks to steal everything that the black man built with Hip-Hop. See Macklemore, Iggy Anzalea. In the outro of this track, however, we see a very deep voicing, almost as a God like figure, portraying the truth in this superficial “crown” in Hip-Hop. This “God” in the outro, speaks as the true individual, the true innovator, that speaks the truth throughout the plot of the story. In this outro, the “God” states “There ain’t gonna be no more kings. Be wary of any man that claims. Because deep down he clings onto the need for power. But in reality he’s a coward. Ultimately, he’s scared to die.” This is displayed how the ego often times in our society has driven us for power. To fill holes in our hearts with synthetic love. Such as holding positions of power or having a positive reputation. When in actuality, the reality lies in our own minds. The American Dream lies within love, and love for being yourself. That’s the true meaning of happiness. Cole finds himself in a battle between wanting the crown and becoming eager to find this happiness. In the next song, G.O.M.D., Cole begins to shift towards finding his soul once again.
Play: G.O.M.D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LpPoDTmhQA
According to Deepok Chopra’s “The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success” the ego is described as “Your internal reference point. The ego, however is not who you really are. The ego is your self image; it is your social mask; it is the role you are playing. Your social mask thrives on approval. It wants to control, and it sustained by power, because it lives in fear.” This is a powerful symbol of this part of the album, as Cole seems to find himself fighting with his hated ego and his beloved soul. G.O.M.D. finds Jermaine lost in his own ego, as the track begins to play out by Cole referring to himself as “Hollywood Cole;” the social mask is wearing. The first verse finds Cole lost in Hollywood, falling in love with fake means of happiness such as money, cars, and women. However, in the second verse, we see the theme of organic love come back into play. Cole recollects about true love in life, where he kind of lost himself, and thinks back to the days of “Wet Dreamz” and how in “Fire Squad” he gets lost in his ego and leaves his partner. At this point, he starts to see things with clarity, and begins to transition back to his roots. Cole’s quest for the American dream continues to change with his ever growing wisdom. This wisdom begins to come to fruition in “No Role Modelz.” The next track on the album.
Jennifer L. Hochschild’s “What is the American Dream” details this lack of appreciation when in lust for success and happiness. “Every American is eaten up with longing to rise… in America I have seen the freest and best educated of men in circumstances the happiest in the world; yet it seemed to me that a cloud habitually hung on their brow, and they seemed serious and almost sad even in their pleasures. The chief reason for this is that. . . [they] never stop thinking of the good things they have not got. . . They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight. This powerful paragraph by Hochschild details what is success without appreciation? Often times, we become infatuated with the thought of success, we fail to smell the flowers, and appreciate where we have come from. Instead, success becomes ordinary, and greed becomes strong in us. Never stopping to reach happiness, because it always wants more and more. J. Cole speaks about much of this in his trials and tribulations of his “American dream.”
Play: No Role Modelz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBe6fFejsPU
“No Role Modelz” becomes an enlightenment period for Cole. Here, he realizes that the entire Hollywood industry of fame and fortune is fake, synthetic love. He is finding that a lot of the women that he was sleeping with during these times were extremely broken, shallow individuals. He is differentiating the differences between a woman and a female that doesn’t have respect for themselves. A lot of this stems from the role models that society portrays. The mob in our society has often praised the reality television genre, of women idolizing the term “Bad Bitch.” This term is to symbolize a woman who wears very provocative clothing, sleeps with a multitude of men, are extremely heartless, and are spiteful and egotistical in their ways. Unfortunately these women are broken, and don’t want to be saved. This is who they have become, succumbing to norms of what is deemed as cool in our society. Cole speaks on behalf of his only regrets being born in the wrong generation, missing out on true, loving, talented women. Cole, now rediscovering his soul, wants real genuine love in his life. The fame, the dream of money, cars, and hoes, is all but real to him at this point in his life. His American Dream is still not met, despite his riches and popularity. This is a dream of ego, just filling holes that will never truly be patched up unless he fixes the issues deep within.
Play: Hello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z_rPDomnf4
Cole, hurt by his lack of love in his life, goes back to the same girl he previously spoke on in “Fire Squad” in “Hello.” Dipping back into his past in order to rekindle a spark in his love life, he is disappointed to hear that she has happily moved on without him. Throughout the plot of this album, he had his girl waiting for him. However, as fame and his spotlight ultimately distracted him from what really mattered, he lost out on the love. Cole, lost in his thoughts, begins the song with stating “Hello,” excitingly, and ends the song stating “Hello” almost in a sarcastic tone as the women he loves doesn’t respond to him.
This causes Cole to become rather reflective in his nature, wondering about past regrets, and gained wisdom, to see where he is today. His wisdom is displayed during “Apparently.” This is where Cole begins to spread his enlightenment of who he is today, and all of the trials and tribulations he went through.
Cole’s wisdom is parallel with Hochschild’s “American Dream.” “Today, psychotherapists specialize in helping “troubled winners” or the “working wounded,” for whom a life too much devoted to pursuing money, power, position, and control over others ends up being emotionally impoverished. In short, material-and perhaps other forms of success is not all it’s cracked up to be even (especially) in a nation where is is the centerpiece of the pervasive ideology.” As Cole spoke upon this in “A Tale of 2 Citiez”, growing up, his dreams were to be rich and famous, and as he learned from his very own wisdom, it left an emptiness in his heart, which can’t be replaced by materialistic egocentric items.
Play: Apparently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRaFMlZ1YHA
In “Apparently” Cole reaches the pinnacle for his American Dream. However, it wasn’t the riches, the popularity, or the women that most strive for in their quest to achieve this dream. Cole’s dream was love and achieving your dreams. In the hook, Cole speaks much about freedom, writing “I got my wings to carry me, I don’t know freedom, I want my dreams to rescue me. I keep my faith strong. I ask the Lord to follow me. I’ve been unfaithful. I don’t know why you call on me.” Cole is rapping about how as long as he stays focused upon his dreams and harmonizes this with his belief in God, success will follow. Despite all of the mistakes Cole has made in his life, Cole is still in a position of success and power, and now that he fully realizes where is in our society, he uses it for the greater good of man.
Play: Love Yourz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifBJumarrDM
He uses this power now, in “Love Yourz.” Here he states, with his wisdom gained, “No such thing as a life that’s better than yours.” As the main themes of the plot of love and happiness come into play. If your heart is filled with love, and you have appreciate for who you are, there lies your happiness. Living in a lust driven world, it’s rare to see someone who is happy for what they do have instead of only wanting the forbidden fruit. Some heartfelt lyrics in this track, as Cole later states “It’s the beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success.” As throughout our lives, you learn the most in your darkest days, and sometimes when you’re at the top, you lose sight in what really matters, letting your ego over take you. Cole later states ‘The good news is nigga, you came a long way. The bad news is, you went the wrong way.” Continuing on with the analogy of selling your soul to the devil in order to gain fame and riches, Cole catches himself later in life, and realizes what truly matters. Transparent as ever, Cole is putting his life wisdom into this track. “What’s money without happiness, or the hard times without the people you love.” Here Cole understands that happiness and love were the common denominators in his American Dream. It was never about the popularity, or the Hollywood lifestyle for a soulful poet like Cole. Sometimes you have to lose love in order to gain it, and sometimes you have to leave your loved ones in order to appreciate them.
The theme of losing in order to gain or fully appreciate in life is shown throughout the album, which ironically enough shows that nostalgia is needed in life in order to gain innovation. Cole uses nostalgia throughout the album, speaking about his finest memories from the best. However, the album is as innovating as ever. Rarely do you see a rap star like Cole conclude that the meaning of his album, as well as his very own life is love. Appreciating your own life. The future is positive because of the evolved mindset from the past. Cole spoke upon his past to realize that true happiness stemmed from the mind rather than the outcome. This also tails back into the mob versus the individual. When the number one song in the nation is “Trap Queen” with an artist bodaciously bragging about selling drugs and having women love him because of his corrupt ways, it’s a breath of fresh air to see someone like Cole with an individual mindset giving us a unique perspective on life. Much of the “American Dream” speaks much about freedom. Now, little do most realize, that freedom is far greater than a few bill of rights. Freedom is a mind-state. To have an open mind and question everything and to take wisdom from your hardship and appreciate your victories in life. Freedom is a mindset to follow your dreams, simply because no one can stop you. With freedom as a mindset, anything is possible.
Play: Note to Self https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMCGOAGb4Y0
The album concludes with a track called “Note to Self” which almost works as a reminder towards him in this journey we call life. Cole speaks on a feeling that holds us together. That feeling is love. Everything materialistic is synthetic. As long as you love your life, and love the ones closest to you, life will fall into place. In typical Cole fashion, he spends the next 7 or so minutes praising everyone that helped him along this journey towards success, reaching his very own version of the American Dream.
If you ask me today, what is the American Dream? I’ll struggle to respond with which car I’d like to own. Or how big of a house I plan on having. Ultimately, my American Dream is love. Love in my career. Love in impacting people with my work. Love in my family and closest friends, and most of all love in giving back and having gratitude. My dreams will unlock, if I continue to keep a free mind and love my dreams as much as I continue to love myself and others, happiness will follow. That is the true American Dream.