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J. Cole’s Most Thought-Provoking Lyrics On “2014 Forest Hills Drive” (LIST)  was originally published on globalgrind.com

1. “Fire Squad”

“Fire Squad”

History repeats itself & that’s just how it goes

Same way that these rappers always bite each others flows

Same thing that my nigga Elvis did with Rock n Roll

Justin Timberlake, Eminem, & then Macklemore

While silly niggas argue over who gone snatch the crown

Look around my nigga white people have snatched the sound

This year I’ll prolly go to the awards dappered down

Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile

2. “January 28”

“January 28”

“What’s the price for a black man life?

I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight

I turn the TV on, not one hero in sight

Unless he dribble or he fiddle with mics”

3. “Intro”

“Intro”

“I said do you wanna, do you wanna be happy

I said do you wanna, do you wanna be, free

Free from pain, free from scars?”

4. “January 28”

“January 28”

“Cause we from where you from

I’m not talkin’ bout the slums

I’m talkin’ ’bout that mind state that keep a black nigga dumb

Keep a black nigga dyin’ by a black nigga gun

And keep on listening to the frontin’ ass rap niggas son”

5. “’03 Adolescence”

“’03 Adolescence”

“Cause I’m tryna stay alive

In the city where too many niggas die, dream in quiet tryna dodge a suit and tie

Who am I? Aye, who am I?”

6. “A Tale Of Two Cities”

“A Tale Of Two Cities”

“Before you go I’ve got to, warn you now

Whatever goes up surely, must come down

And you get your piece but no peace, won’t be found”

7. “Fire Squad”

“Fire Squad”

“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

And sometimes so am I”

8. “G.O. M.D.”

“G.O. M.D.”

“Why every rich black nigga gotta be famous

Why every broke black nigga gotta be brainless

That’s a stereotype.”

9. “No Role Modelz”

“No Role Modelz”

“No role models and I’m here right now

No role models to speak of

Searchin’ through my memory, my memory

I couldn’t find one”

10. “Love Yourz”

“Love Yourz”

“Always gon’ be a bigger house somewhere, but nigga feel me

‘Long as the people in that motherfucker love you dearly

Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the the one you got

Always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the one’s you rock

Always gon’ be a bitch that’s badder out there on the tours

But you ain’t never gon’ be happy till you love yours.”

11. “Fire Squad”

“Fire Squad”

“But when I’m in tune with the most high

I realize

The fear lies in my lack of awareness of the other side

Today I know that we are the same

Are the same, you and I

Different kind of skin, different set of eyes

Two different minds, but only one God

(It’s only one God nigga)”

12. “03 Adolescence”

“03 Adolescence”

I complimented how I see him out here getting his cash, & just asked

“What a nigga gotta do to get that? Put me on”

He just laughed when he seen I was sure

17 years breathing his demeanor said more

He told me, “Nigga you know how you sound right now?

You won’t my mans, I would think that you a clown right now

Listen, you everything I wanna be that’s why I fucks with you

how you looking up to me, when I look up to you

13. “Hello”

“Hello”

“Reflection bring regrets don’t it

Rejection makes you defensive

So you protect your pride with your reflexes

But life is a game with no reset on the end”

14. “03 Adolescence”

“03 Adolescence”

“…You bout to go get a degree, I’ma be stuck with two choices

Either graduate to weight or selling number two

For what? A hundred bucks or two a week?

Do you think that you would know what to do if you was me?

I got, four brothers, one mother that don’t love us

If they ain’t never want us why the fuck they never wore rubbers?”