J. Cole’s Most Thought-Provoking Lyrics On “2014 Forest Hills Drive” (LIST) was originally published on globalgrind.com
1. “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”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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.”
“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 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”
“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”
“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”
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”
“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”
“…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?”
