Since there isn't too many releases that have come out or are coming out that I'm not overly hyped about, (besides a few) I decided to review one of my all-time favorites. 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole. I know I just recently did a review on 'The Warm Up', but while I'm waiting for new releases, I wanted to review this album.
J. Cole dropped his 3rd studio album '2014 Forest Hills Drive', December 9, 2014 by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation, and Columbia Records. This album was announced three weeks before its release. It had hardly any marketing or promotion, with no singles taking place prior to its release.
'2014 Forest Hills Drive' was actually Cole's address of his childhood home in Fayetteville, NC. This house is one of the first places he started writing his rhymes and where he really became serious about becoming a musician. The album takes you through his journey of leaving his hometown of North Carolina and moving to New York City to pursue his dreams. He tells stories about his battles with the transition and changes he made in order to be successful. As a child, Cole's family moved around frequently while his mother tries to make ends meet. Cole now plans on allowing a new family to move into his old home, for an extremely cheap rent, in hope they will find their feet like he once did.
2014 Forest Hills recieved unbelievable positive feedback, and rightfully deserved. In my opinion 2014 Forest Hills Drive was not only one of the best albums of 2014, I believe it was one of the best I've heard. It's combination of down to earth songs, along with powerful and meaningful songs, with fun and turn up songs is in my opinion, a perfect balance. The positive feedback includes countless awards and nominations including a #2 ranking for the Top 10 albums of the year by Associated Press, as well as winning the album of the year by BET Hip Hop Awards and Top Rap Album at the Billboard Music Awards.
This album did more that just have a few good songs put together to form a good album, it inspires anyone who is lucky enough to listen to this. From 'Intro' to 'Note to Self', this album takes you on a trip back home, and makes you appreciate all things in your life. This album is and always will be in my rotation and will always be on repeat. Songs like 'Love Yourz, Hello, Intro, and Apparantly', are easily some of my favorite songs for chill vibes. And then songs like 'Fire Squad, G.O.M.D, No Role Modelz, and '03 Adolescence are great lyrically, that all come with his own beats that just slam. Listening to this album gives me an indescribable feeling.This is also on my list of records I need for vinyl.
Usually, I list some of my favorites from an album or artist, but there are too many from this album to list, so here's the entire album. Listen to it in it's entirety:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ3fMNXgxsU
I give this album a 9.4 out a possible 10. And I just can't wait for his next album. I'm sure it'll be exactly what I'm expecting it to be.
1.) I wrote about this topic because this album is easily my top 3 album of all time. I manage to listen to it everyday and will always be in my rotation.
ReplyDelete2.) I don't think I had any problems writing this. It came pretty easily. I know this album inside and out and it came naturally writing about this.
3.) The rhetorical purpose of this post is just to show the audience about something I love, and has affected me in my life. Also I kind of wanted to persuade any reader who didn't like this album, to now check it out and give it another listen.