J.Cole: Miss America

Whitefolks November 12, 2012 Singles

J.Cole releases the lead single, “Miss America,” from his sophomore album, Born Sinner that is due out January 2013.

Produced by J Cole & Brookln Dekker.

“Miss America” will be available for purchase on iTunes tomorrow.

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Born Sinner J.Cole slider

dedicationOccupyDS=Success!!!

And yall really thought he was gonna sell out after the success of Cole World.

Repent.
- hardwhite12
  
  and you really thought Cole World was actually successful. it was mediocre at best. people that bought it were hard core J Cole fans. and thats good for HIM but the album was shit. his singles were shit. period
  - gitmunny
    
    It went gold… In todays rap game that is successful
    - al
      
      he sold more then that shitty meek mills album nuff said
  - dedicationOccupyDS=Success!!!
    
    LMAO. You are a fool.
    
    Let’s review.
    
    He drops a “mediocre” album that leaked days before it hit stores, sells 200,000 copies first week because he has a ton of hard core fans…. and uhhhhh… that is considered a failure???
    
    The success from the 1st album is why people were saying he would continue to make radio friendly records. It’s clear now that Jay-Z is letting him take control of the process and look… we get a dope single that Cole knew wouldn’t touch the airwaves.
    
    At least try to implement logic into your next response.
    - WuForLife
      
      Your logic is that J Cole sold records so he must be good. That is so flawed.
  - Thomas_Mystery
    
    I actually didnt fuck wit j cole much until i bought his album…
gitmunny

This is wut niggaz need from him… That real shit… Cole world wasn’t as bad as niggaz make it out to be… Yes it coulda been better but he still had jewels on there (rise and shine, gods gift)… This album gonna b dope
madblackman

“they’ll never play this shit on the radio” saddest shit in the entire song
Masterleodeadman

Cole delivers again. Damn I can’t wait for this album. Track is just….damn. Some real shit! As an educated brotha I can use better vocabulary to describe this song but fack it. Its just a REAL track. And this dude @d0c58c16e6752be7e1c3f0c7d5a4e20b:disqus …you really think this dude 1st album was mediocre. I HATE to see what you listen to and call successful. I didn’t know going GOLD is just the hardcore fans buying it. Pretty sure people bought the album because of the content. Is this album going to be better, YES. Because half of the songs on this album ,US FANS, didn’t hear before. Either way this dude is BEYOND anyone that came out in the last 10 years!!!!!!!
- mjbII
  
  You’re entitled to your opinion but I feel like you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself. Better than Lupe? Better than Kendrick? Don’t think so.
  - al
    
    way better then kendrick his album wasnt even that good
    - MAsterleodeadman
      
      Yes I agree…Didnt like KDot album or mixtape. And do I think he better then Lupe, YES I do. Give me any Lupe track you like and I’ll put a Cole track up against it. Sad thing is, all Cole tracks will be from all his mixtapes thats better then people Official Albums. So yea to answer your question!
      - mjbII
        
        I’ve listened to every J. Cole mixtape and his album. He does– I repeat does NOT– have a single song that comes close to this:
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF7rBcFolAc
      - mjbII
        
        Nor this…
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34NgzB-PLzc
        
        Nor this…
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsZUSP1p20s
      - JaffarR
        
        Cole’s metaphors and punchlines are insane, but he can’t mess with “Dumb It Down”, “Go To Sleep”, or even “Form Follows Function”.
        However, it is just absurd to compare the two. They have completely different styles.
      - mjbII
        
        Forgot about ‘Go To Sleep’. That song is a gem. Should’ve been on F&LII which, after sitting with it for some time, isn’t as good of an album as I initially thought. I do believe Lupe’s best days are behind him. He dropped two classic albums, but these days, and several great mixtapes, but these days he’s lost his balance. He just preaches. His music used to be filled with style, substance, storytelling, dope beats and just straight up dope rhymes. These days he’s just straight up political with it. I hope F&LII: Part 2 will be better, but somehow I doubt it.
      - JaffarR
        
        For me, F&L II is exactly what I expected. You’re right, both albums are classics, but they should be left at that. There’s nothing more blasphemous for a fan to do than compare an artist’s new work that has been done in a completely different frame of mind, environment, emotion, and outlook of life than his older work. Artists evolve as artists, but more significantly, as humans. I’m 20, but I’m not the same as I was at 17. I think differently, and I say different things. That doesn’t mean I’m not as funny anymore now just because I made the class laugh breathlessly in high school. Also, although my jokes have replay value, they’re funny trait will depreciate by the number of times I tell them. You get what I’m saying?
        
        You just can’t expect Lupe to drop another “The Cool”. It’ll be injustice to him as an artist. Appreciate his music in today’s time for what it is, not for what it could possibly have been because of your high expectations.
        Every year or so, people are disappointed with the latest iPhone because in their minds, they set an image of what the next iPhone will/should have. So many different concepts and ideas arise in the person’s mind that oh my god, this phone will be so fucking amazing, but when it drops, it’s not like how they expected, and so many are disappointed and mark it as a “fail”. But that doesn’t mean that the iPhone isn’t a spectacular phone, and remarkable for what it is.
        Do you get where I’m going with this?
        I’m tired.
      - dedicationOccupyDS=Success!!!
        
        You motherfuckers are on another level lmaoooooo
        
        Just chatting away, huh?
      - mjbII
        
        You know you love it bro. Lol. I do believe it was you who first provided the link to ‘Lupe Fiasco: The Proust of Rap’ on here. I’m just adding the details.
      - mjbII
        
        I definitely get where you’re coming from. And, again, I agree with you. The only thing an artist should hate more than being placed inside a box is being placed inside a box that HE created. But seeing as how I’m more than aware of this– I’m an artist myself (writer) I know that’s not where I’m coming from. I’m judging Lupe from as objective a place as I humanly can. I don’t want Lupe to create another ‘The Cool’ or another ‘F&L’ (one might make the argument that he put himself back in that box by giving F&LII that title). I don’t want Lupe to give me the same content… I want him to give me the same quality. The thematic form is up to him, but the quality needs to be the same or better. Take Kanye. Of all his accomplishments, I believe his greatest is that he has never made the same sort of album twice. But, in some way or another, he has always managed to outdo himself. The dude is just extremely in tune with his artistic visions and sees them out. He has released four consecutive hip-hop CD’s that, when it is all said and done, will all be considered as good or better than the one’s that came before it. That is truly impressive.
        
        Lupe has always been politically and socially conscious, but on this album I feel like that’s ALL he gave. To me, it’s a lesser version of Lupe. A stripped down, abridged version that loses quite a few layers and quite a bit of dimensionality. Again, take ‘Go To Sleep’. That song is like nothing he’s ever done before or since. But it’s one of my Top 5 favorite Lupe songs. I guess what I’m saying is Lupe’s greatest strength was always his versatility. I feel like he lost that. F&LII was a solid CD, but in the end, it feels less than.
      - JaffarR
        
        Appreciating your opinion, for me, F&L 2 is a 10/10, lyrically.There is just SO MUCH versatility on the album that it’s insane. Take the 4 singles for example: “Around My Way”, “Bitch Bad”, “Lamborghini Angels”, and “Battle Scars”. ALL mainstream singles with completely different concepts, while at the SAME time, maintaining a certain lyrical quality. “Form Follows Function” is one of the best songs of the year mainly because of the astounding entendres and multidimensional concepts. Songs like “Put Em Up”, “Cold War”, “Unforgivable Youth”, “Strange Fruition”, are others where his lyrical genius shines brightly, unlike any other artist. “Heart Donner” is probably the only song I felt was weak, although it’s another conceptual romantic song with a different feel.
        
        Production wise, the album was solid. Nothing amazing, but pretty good, nonetheless considering his vision with the album. (focusing on his own artiste)
        
        The only area where I thought the album faltered some bit is the HOOKS. For me now, “hooks” is another category in reviewing an album next to “lyrics”, “production”, “Song content”, etc. If the hook is weak then the replay value of a song is damaged. A lot of hooks here felt subpar for me such as “Heart Donner”, “Hood Now”, “Around My Way”, and perhaps “Strange Fruition”. And THAT’s a main reason why it isn’t as good as say, “The Cool”.
        
        So if I’d have to give a personal opinion of the album it’d be:
        Lyrics- 10/10
        Production- 8/10
        Songs- 9.5/10
        Hooks- 6.5/10
        Overall- 9/10.
        
        The overall rating might not reflect the average scores, but a person leans on his main category of focus. And for me, it’s lyricism. Similary, many people claim MBDTF to be above a 9 because of its outstanding production. The mediocre lyrics tend to get looked over.
        
        Hopefully after your response, our discussion ends. Lol, Peace.
      - mjbII
        
        Lol. Solid. I hear where you’re coming from, and even though I don’t think F&LII is a 10 out of 10… I’m just glad to see someone else on here who’s capable of expressing a well thought out and balanced opinion. Good talk bro, and you made some great points. I’m sure our paths will cross again on here soon enough. Have a good one.
    - MAsterleodeadman
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlu2Uab34yU
      2-Faces
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrJKMUveNAI
      Killers
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dldBac0AAiE
      Get Up
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS2lhTyWzVA
      lil Ghetto niggas
      
      All those songs from different times in his life and he still can out do anyone. These are the tracks I can relate to. And I got a verse for your boy LUPE….Im not saying I don’t like Lupe but he just another Nas to me. There is no one like COle in the game.
      
      Yeah I got a chip on my shoulder the size of a golden nugget
      The industry overlook me for that I be holding grudges
      Wouldn’t take a chance on me
      Suddenly it’s, oh you love it
      Let’s get a cole feature that’s gon put you over budget
      Picture being broke with no pot to piss in
      And then suddenly your idols is your competition
      Used to be God to me, slowly losing my religion
      As these notes from my composition turn the compositions thin
      Put it out and hope the World sing
      We sippin’ liquor for the pain that the World bring
      We had dreams just to make it up the flag pole
      Just to find out that out heroes were some ass holes
      Y’all don’t hear me, maybe you had the World figured out wrong
      When these niggas go from singing our songs to waiting on you
      Bout a year later the same ones be hatin’ on you
      Every other record these rappers be faking on you
      We singing songs but we know that ain’t true
      We know you gotta make the people pay you
      Cause either you play the game or watch the game play you
      And be that broke motherfucker talkin bout “I stay true”
      
      Read more: J. COLE – SEE WORLD LYRICS
      - mjbII
        
        J. Cole has a line here and there that might elude you for the first go-round, but Lupe has entire songs that have two or three different meanings. To this day, Lupe is the only known rapper to have constructed a story out of his albums that result in what is the equivalent of a hip-hop’s epic poem. I think Lupe’s best days are behind him, but his first two CD’s set the bar extremely high. He is not like Nas. He is not like anybody. Do yourself a solid and dig a little deeper. I assure you, even if you like J. Cole better, he has never done anything as complex, layered and thematic as Lupe.
        
        http://www.thelupendblog.com/2012/03/michael-young-history-story-of-victim.html
      - JaffarR
        
        I’m a real big J. Cole fan, but there is no way that he comes near Lupe Fiasco in terms of straight rhymes and lyrics in general. Come to think of it, Lupe might just be the most conceptual, complex, witty, and yes, greatest lyricist of all-time. This is a pretty big statement coming from me, but it’s my opinion, and I have the right to change it, putting emphasis on the word MIGHT be the greatest. Regardless, I think it can be universally accepted by hip-hop fans that he’s the best storyteller the game has seen. @147986d4ee3b29c83fa256241193beed:disqus
      - mjbII
        
        This might be the first time you and I agree wholeheartedly. People automatically trash you when you say things of that nature because they swear it’s blasphemous to consider that someone is better than Biggie or Rakim or Nas. But f that. I agree with you. Lyrically, and overall– meaning when you combine his dexterity, complexity and ability to create concepts– Lupe is the best to ever do it.
JaffarR

On first listen, it isn’t something spectacular, but pretty well done, nonetheless. Will be bumping this for the next couple of days, letting it sink in.
brandon

130 facebook likes! this better be the shit……i didn’t know that many niggas even came here
- Whitefolks
  
  130, well 165 now aint nothing there’s always posts with 500-600 likes, just look at the 50 accepts Floyd fight, damn near 700 likes http://www.defsounds.com/hip-hop-news/50-cent-accepts-offer-to-fight-floyd-mayweather/
  - brandon
    
    yea i know, but that wasn’t a song… that was ground breaking news lol seeing i had the top comment, i already know and im happy for you! you getting that pay per click money
brandon

im a j cole fan again lol nuff said
mjbII

It’s a solid song. One of those ‘real rap’ tracks. Someone said something on another site that’s very true though: J. Cole should stop producing his own tracks so much. Everybody can’t be Kanye. His beats are solid, but they get repetitive and a bit bland. I’d like to see him sprinkle in some other producers this time around, get a little bit more diversity up in the album. Overall, though, this is a cool track. I think J. Cole is one of those dudes who can rap well but he doesn’t particular have a lane or an angle or something that he really represents. He’s an everyman, which can be cool in small doses, but over the course of a whole album it can get a bit boring. In any case, I’ll be picking up Born Sinner just like I did Cole World because I bang with the bul.
- Masterleo
  
  Don’t agree homie. Most of his album he didn’t produce them and his mixtape had alot of people that produced tracks. This dude never get boring. put I can name 30 that do!
  - mjbII
    
    The first part of your reply is flat out lie: J. Cole was involved in producing 13 out of the 16 tracks on Sideline Story. The second part of your reply is an opinion, and you’re entitled to it. I like J. Cole a lot… but many would agree that, though he has bars, he lacks that X-Factor. That’s why he spends so much time painting pictures of other people’s struggles and/or talking about dope of a rapper he is: Because he lacks that larger than life persona. It’s not the worst thing in the world. He can still spit. But it’s true.
    - MAsterleodeadman
      
      Hmmm.. Ur actually right about the production but wrong about the XFACTOR. You must not get how the COMMERCIAL world works. What he is MISSING is someone COSIGNING for him. Thats how things work. BIG SEAN and 2 Chains, Kanye CO-Signing them. KDOT, damn near every known rapper from the west coast Co-Signing him. Meek Mills, MR. Rick Ross is cosigning him. and do I need to say Drizzy DRAKE, he have the biggest COSIGNER of them all, LIL WAYNE HIMSELF. Who COSign Cole….No one. JAY had him on one track and Through him to the ocean! J Coles Talent in the booth is no OPINION its a FACT! More talented in the traditional Hip Hop form then mostly anyone in the RAP GAME!.
      - mjbII
        
        Lyricism- yes. X-Factor – No. X-Factor has nothing to do with a co-sign. It has to do with having that something special about you that can’t really be explained but that also can’t be denied. That’s why a lot of dope lyricists aren’t successful and a lot of whack ones are. Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, three of the dopest lyricists in the game, but they do not have the X-factor. That’s why no one buys their albums, that’s why people call Budden boring. Even Eminem couldn’t get those dudes to sell. They just don’t have IT. But people like Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Jeezy, Ross… yeah they put out a lot of garbage but they have that appeal about them that makes them larger than life. Jay-Z, Pac, DMX, Kanye and Biggie all had/have it too. Even if J. Cole tried to make Lil Wayne type songs… it wouldn’t work for him. Despite what you might think, there’s something unique about a lot of garbage artists. They have personalities that are bigger than their music… and people buy into PEOPLE, not songs. That’s why they’re so big.
        
        I dig J. Cole man. I bought two copies of Sideline Story just to support him. But the dude is vanilla. He’s just a regular dude who can really rhyme. If you like his music you like his music– great. Me too. But he’s never going to have that larger than life persona. He’s an everyman. And that’s fine. Again, it’s not bad.
      - Masterleodeadman
        
        You know what homie…I respect your opinion. Still think you wrong about him having the IT factor because he is exactly what you explained. Something special that can’t be denied. He is the pinnacle of what you said. I still think he need a CoSigner. No one nowadays getting known or BIG without a Cosigner. Just the way the industry work. I feel you tho and I guess we have to agree to disagree. but nice convo man.
      - mjbII
        
        Solid. Good convo man. I appreciate you keeping it mature and conductive.
      - mjbII
        
        productive* lol
- JaffarR
  
  Hmmm.. I don’t think he should stop producing his own beats. Being a talented lyricist is significant itself, but adding the factor of being a great composer makes you a gifted hip-hop artist as a whole. Kanye is one of the best producers in the game right now but is far from being one of the best lyricists. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t stop rapping. Similarly, because Cole is a far superior writer than a producer, that doesn’t by any means he should stop producing (for himself). He needs time to grow, and he has grown exponentially from the start of his career. The music on The Come Up, The Warm Up, and Friday Night Lights has progressed all together, and CW had some standout beats as well. You’re right, he’s no Kanye. But he certainly has the talent and potential to become even better than Ye, one day. As far as being bland, I disagree because I can name many beats by Cole that according to me are fire.
  
  “HiiiPower”, “Bad Girls Club”, “Farewell”, “Rise And Shine”, and “The Jis Is Up”, among a few.
  - mjbII
    
    I don’t think he should stop making beats all together. By no means. I never said that. I love a lot of his beats. All the ‘Simbas’, Lights Please, and several of those you mentioned. I just think Cole should mix up his production a little more on his album. Get some other folks involved. I definitely think Cole will improve as a producer, and his being able to produce will certainly increase his chances for longevity in the game. I just think he would benefit from some other perspectives. And as far as him being better than Kanye one day, I don’t see it… but you never know.
Detroit_313

kdot..jcole.Big KRIT…its a huge drop after that
- dedicationOccupyDS=Success!!!
  
  Word
- madblackman
  
  Ab-soul and rapsody are nicer than Cole IMO
swagzilla

dope, glad to see he’s not doing shitty radio pop music any more.
REKE

WEEEEEAAAK
- brandon
  
  u crazy
  - REKE
    
    you hear one j cole song you’ve heard them all.
hip-hop

rebel.. a remix of this with kendrick and lupe would be quality!! get it done Cole..
jdub

Fuck J Cole rapping about shit that ppl die for. Stupid young rap idiot. If you don’t fuck with us we don’t fuck with you.
http://www.facebook.com/laquan.q.phillips Isaiah Quakez Phillips

Don’t sleep