Jan 26
TheFaderOverall, this album holds up well for the most part. You can hear Cole carving out the niche he would go on to occupy for the next decade, and it’s clear his approach was much different from The Sideline Story. Some genuinely great songs on here but a few that just go in one ear and out the other. I like how tonally consistent and cohesive the production is, specifically the drums. Cole’s rapping is sharp here, even if a few of the bars have aged like milk.
7/10
If you don't belt out "My verbal AK slay friendlies" section, word for word, you ain't a real Cole miner
- Jan 26·1 reply
Preme55_Gnx first week sales were half of Damns, and culturally theres no comparison either GNX is good but it came and went
GNX did not come and go by any definition of the phrase
Jan 26Preme55_Gnx first week sales were half of Damns, and culturally theres no comparison either GNX is good but it came and went
It was quite opposite of came and went
- Jan 26·1 replythegreatdivine
Since 2018, J. Cole has been trying to prove he can rap/takes rap seriously and all his albums have suffered as a result of that.
My point with this post is that Cole has long since sacrificed making great records for having a lot more "lyrical" moments across his albums since 2018 and his albums have suffered as a result; not in terms of him getting smash hits per se, but I feel like the sentiment with every Cole album post-2014 FHD has been "dope raps" the week it drops and by week 3, we've all moved on from it. He isn't making songs people wanna keep going back to years after their release and that's why he has the worst-performing back catalog between himself, Drake and Kendrick.
Jan 26·1 reply
- Jan 26·1 replyPreme55_
Gnx first week sales were half of Damns, and culturally theres no comparison either GNX is good but it came and went
GNX didn't come and go but it wasn't the behemoth many people claimed it was during the peak of its run. It's been out just over a year and DAMN. is still Kendrick's best-performing album chart-wise so far (despite GNX having his biggest hit ever).
Valentine 🦦Jan 26·1 replyTheFaderEhh, longterm not really. He hasn’t really dropped a HUGE album since FHD. Not talking about first week numbers here. He’s had a few big singles though
The Off-Season is a HUGE album with a $40M tour ($1.5m per night). that album was a big moment with a shortened tour thanks to covid
Jan 26NoFace - Valentine 🦦Jan 26
nigga had Lil Wayne, Jeezy and TI pull up to his festival AND perform Gangsta Grillz cause of The Offseason
enough already
Jan 26·1 replythegreatdivineGNX didn't come and go but it wasn't the behemoth many people claimed it was during the peak of its run. It's been out just over a year and DAMN. is still Kendrick's best-performing album chart-wise so far (despite GNX having his biggest hit ever).
Is HUMBLE not still his biggest hit?
Jan 26Very curious on what all will be said on this album
- Jan 26Music Listener
Is HUMBLE not still his biggest hit?
Chart-wise, no, that is Luther. But it has moved the most units in the US and has the most streams (no surprise as it has had 9 years to do that, compared to any song off GNX which has been out for just over a year).
Jan 26·edited·1 replythegreatdivineMy point with this post is that Cole has long since sacrificed making great records for having a lot more "lyrical" moments across his albums since 2018 and his albums have suffered as a result; not in terms of him getting smash hits per se, but I feel like the sentiment with every Cole album post-2014 FHD has been "dope raps" the week it drops and by week 3, we've all moved on from it. He isn't making songs people wanna keep going back to years after their release and that's why he has the worst-performing back catalog between himself, Drake and Kendrick.
How are you defining a great record here and "lyrical" moments that ruin his albums
- Jan 26·1 replyOblivion X
How are you defining a great record here and "lyrical" moments that ruin his albums
Specific songs on all his albums from the last 8-10 years where you can just tell he's more focused on impressing the listener with how lyrical he can be (on a lot of these songs he literally says so), as opposed to just making great songs (that might not be as lyrical but have a lot more replay value) like he did on 2014 FHD.
- Jan 26·1 replythegreatdivine
Specific songs on all his albums from the last 8-10 years where you can just tell he's more focused on impressing the listener with how lyrical he can be (on a lot of these songs he literally says so), as opposed to just making great songs (that might not be as lyrical but have a lot more replay value) like he did on 2014 FHD.
I can see off season and MDL because they're designed as mixtapes with the later being one. But how was that presented on KOD and 4YEO ?
- Jan 26·2 replies
Honestly i think off season actually has more replay value than a good portion of his albums
Jan 26Preme55_Gnx first week sales were half of Damns, and culturally theres no comparison either GNX is good but it came and went
Definitely not true at all lol
- Jan 26Oblivion X
Honestly i think off season actually has more replay value than a good portion of his albums
Jan 26·1 replywhy did this rollout come to a halt 😕
- Jan 26·1 reply
Such a bad rollout
- Jan 26·1 replysfsorrow
why did this rollout come to a halt 😕
Ngl this makes me more excited
We really might have a generational once in a decade type of album from him - Jan 26LickMyBalls
Ngl this makes me more excited
We really might have a generational once in a decade type of album from himi know i'm hyped for that cus i think it'll be high tier but this deserves more fanfare as his Black Album. i love what rocky did with the month leading to don't be dumb like this should be everywhere, not just hoodies sent out to hiphop twitter accounts. lowkey wondering if kiss talking about the mixtape changed anything
Jan 26Oblivion XHonestly i think off season actually has more replay value than a good portion of his albums
Incredibly low bar but yes obviously.
- Jan 26Valentine
The Off-Season is a HUGE album with a $40M tour ($1.5m per night). that album was a big moment with a shortened tour thanks to covid
It’s not a huge album, and a tour’s success doesn’t define how an album performed
- Jan 26
I do hope this is amazing