I don't know anyone other than J Cole fans that would listen to Hit the Gas

I love Bunce Road Blues, the rhythms are so cool, if Cole did an Alchemist collab album I feel that would be more interesting than what this was

Being lyrically better doesnt make you better in a beef tho

Also doesnt make you better in making albums

It's cause Cole was shamed when he tried a more commercial sound out the gate on his first

I understand that but I think creatively Kendrick and Drake are both leagues above him, even though they have different methods, Drake is more trend and hit focused and Kendrick more cohesive and art focused, Cole tries to do both and does neither well, none of it is 'bad' but none of it feels very exciting or refreshing to me

I'm not even sure if it's to do with the 'newness' though like someone else said in this thread I'd rather listen to some Rick Ross with interesting samples than a lot of songs on here

Drake and Kendrick both have some level of hit focus

The Let Out is an example of not keeping it safe imo

To me that feels like an old Eminem song or a modern BigX The Plug country hip hop collab song. It is a fire song though.

I could kinda see that but agreed it's a sensational banger

3rd listen this morning. Yeah, Cole delivered and this is his best.

attention span

that's why kdot did 2min song on gnx

Second half of 39 intro is what we neede TWELVE of!!!

We neeeded more of THAT. This s*** crazy!!!!

“light refracts when the half-Black messiah raps”

“Before I'm done, they all gon' respect the mulatto, Yeah, Said they all gon' respect the mulatto”

They said him and Drake were on bad terms but he giving him so much love on this album!

Man of the people

Great album.

Needed less singing. Could've had more features but the features he did have all hit.

I would've loved more gritty 90 era type beats in disc 1. Like maybe even replace Legacy but it's whatever.

top 5 changes frequently but right now it's

Quik Stop
Run a Train
Poor Thang
Bunce Road Blues
Life Sentence

What was your reaction when you first heard The Let Out ???

the first half of 39 intro went on for too long but he saved it in the second half

Are you dumb?

Cole talking about himself

Havent heard anything to suggest that he showing Drake love here at all

most people had the same reaction

It is Future

Highlights:

• His lyricism throughout was elite and he emphasis on certain lines. His story telling was on point, he was ironic, and had multiple high level rhyme schemes.
• Production. T-Minus had his stamp on this. Everything was spaced out well and he still brought back elements from past releases, like strings on Bunce Road Blues & Quick Stop.
• the regional nods: disc 39 intro, quick stop, lingo, the constant mentions of Atlanta as a center of focus.
• the concept tracks and interpolation were tastefully done without overdoing it. What If said enough on the beef without needing to say anything to it. Felt like a fitting love letter to Hip Hop.

Lowlights:

• Still think Life Sentence and Only You shouldn’t be next to each other.
• Didn’t like the electric guitar on the Let Out or the keys on Old Dog. That may change, but tainted those tracks for me.
• Still wish he had one or two rap features. Something like DaBaby on Old Dog or JID on Two Six.

As he pointed out in the rollout before, he made the album he’s always wanted to make and you can feel it. He feels light and settled with himself. Happy to see him end a legendary career on this note.