J. Cole - The Warm Up
Finally!!!!! Our prayers have been answered there are MCs from the south WHO CAN SPIT AND SPIT WELL!!! I'm really excited to review this one, I haven't heard southern rap like this since Outkast (Pre Speakerboxxx/Love Below) and 8Ball & MJG.
J. Cole is a Lyricist and Producer signed to ROC NATION. He hails from FayetteVille, North Carolina.
Let's do this!
Intro - The Warm Up
J. Cole speaks over a melodic Piano, just warming everybody up for the fire that follows.
Welcome
nice production with some beautiful vocal samples, J. Cole relates the pain of the streets to the listeners in a very lyrical no nonsense way. He speaks on girls he fell in love with, drug dealers, poverty, trust and how people view him. This is a nice follow up to the intro. Titled perfectly.
Can I Live
He starts off right away over a sampled beat that is well deserving of his flow, the production picks up beautifully with orchestra arrangements. Reminds me of Jay Z back in the Reasonable Doubt days. He speaks about Power, Dreams, Goals and haters. He pleads to the listener his troubles in living.
Second verse makes u cringe as he speaks about a Mothers loss of her son by a bullet. J. Cole proves his versatility in story telling.
Grown Simba
To me, this is the GEM on the album, in fact, my Itunes play count for this joint reads 31!!
This song is produced by J. Cole himself and he rides it gracefully with Fayettenamm tales of old. This song is about a street princes climb to stability. The wordplay and Lyrics on this joint are ON POINT thru out the whole song.
he dives into personal tales of females who dissed him when his name was just Jermaine and how they all want him now that his name is J. Cole and known all around the world.
A few lines stick out nicely on this:
Strait out that Carolina water I was brought up
In the city where the skinny niggas trynna be the ballas
Aint no fathers but the skinny niggas trynna hit their daughters
Sneaking in her crib but her momma never caught us
What they taught us men them bad bitches only want the ballas
The starters, we hoopin now the hoes wanna guard us
Just To Get By
a short freestyle joint over Talib Kweli's kanye West produced Get By. not a gem but shows off his skills and versatility
Lights Please
The song that got him signed to ROC NATION. he speaks about a girl who wishes to enlighten about the reality of the world around him but all she wants to do is have sex with him and he gets lost in the sweet feeling of it's sin. This joint is CRUCIAL for everybody to hear. Who can't relate to this? the production on this joint is BRILLIANT and fits the story perfectly with a piano and drums as the main instrumentation. His flow is smart and executed properly.
features a Harmonized Chorus, not the best singer, but he definitely did his thing.
Dead Presidents II
A classic from Reasonable doubt is made classic AGAIN by J. Cole. He opens with the story of why he redid this song (he did it first on The Come Up) I won't even try to explain this song, GO LISTEN TO THIS, it's hard to tell who killed it- Jay-Z's original or J. Cole's Remake.
you decide:
I Get Up
Soon as my doe straight/ I throw the wifey in some dolce/
and put some chains on my niggas like I own Slaves
J. Cole is a beast, he makes you think and thats what this song is about. it's a feel good song about making it and getting his people right. Listen to this song and picture Sunshine and you will understand this song EVEN MORE!
I speak the words that tell a blind man what he's missing.
WOW, his words are TRULY visual in every sense of the word. Furthermore he speaks on the gun problems with kids and takes much needed stabs at the President. This joint was made for Strugglers, Revolutionaries and those with Dreams and Goals. The beat makes you feel good too.
World Is Empty
A smokers joint, but there's more than meets the eyes here. beat is chill yet potent.
J. Cole tongue twists over this joint further solidifying his Lyrical Potency. Smoke to this and just imagine his words coming to life. He speaks about saving females from bum ass niggas and setting the record straight on fakes.
Cold World No Blanket - J. Cole. Nice way to end this after he also revisited the rhymes about the Mothers Loss of a son to a stray Bullet.
Dreams Ft. Brandon Hines
I have heard this sample flipped hundreds of times (Lupe did it on Day Dreaming) but this one is NEW and fresh. This is a story teller, he speaks about his schemes of capturing the Girl of his dream, I wont spoil the story for you, but it's damn near EPIC!
Royal Flush
We heard Canibus and Royce Da 5'9'' run a train ALL OVER this beat a couple years ago, but J. Cole put his very own twist to it and even shouts out Canibus. this is just a Lyrical joint, it serves no other purpose but to showcase his skill with Punchlines, multies and Metaphors.
Dollar & A Dream II
He did this joint previously on The Come Up, but he felt the need to revive it and Kill it again, THAT HE DID.
J. Cole proves his value by lifting the heads of children and those struggling. He enforces his point with sure fire lyrics and gives hope to those who seek to accomplish their goals.
the beat has very nice production value. strange hi pitched voices speak behind Cole, The drums are accompanied by a soulful piano melody and a bassline. The drums are programmed but almost sound like real drums.
Water Break (Interlude)
This is a freestyle he performed Live on the radio some time ago, No point but has HEAVY lines in this! Don't sleep on it!
I got no words for these Niggas I am Instrumental on em
Heartache
beat sounds like something that was made for 50 Cent, but J. Cole is a million times better than 50 Cent! He even points out the fact that he will rip apart any MC out there, thats a bet I would like in on! Produced by Elite. J. Cole remains on point through this whole Mix-Tape.
Get Away
the beat is one of those sit back, blaze one up and listen to this type of beats.
he tells a story that starts with him waking up and his hopes for everything to go right for the day. Riding around the strips and picking up fly females. This song is reminiscent of Ice Cube's It Was A Good Day. Play this at a BBQ because this is a certified Summer Joint!
Knock Knock
You will recognize this beat right off the bat - If you are a true Hip Hop fan, that is.
J . Cole is starting to come off a little over sexed. I think this joint probably could have been left out because he has dived into the sex subject a bit too much already.
Ladies
once again, he comes off a little over sexed on this joint. Another joint that could have been left out.
Til Infinity
Souls of Mischief fans will be happy with this joint. I think he alone outdid himself on this one. Did I ever tell you that I am a TRUE LOVER OF THE Golden Era?
This joint is short but sweet. He dedicated this one to his hometown.
The Badness
J. Cole expresses the beauty of Life that can only be found and seen thru all the bad shit that encompasses it. Like that one famous quote: One can only know True beauty by knowing first, Ugliness.
This track is deep and features Omen. Omen held his weight well against J. Cole. I could play this one over and over.
Hold It Down
A beautifully produced beat supports Cole's verses with ease. As he dives into his personal life once more about making it. This is dedicated to his Hometown and Family and Friends. The title tells the story. Just hold it down.
Last Call
Kanye West did this joint on his College drop out (yea it was that long ass 12 minute song where he talked on and on and on about how he got signed to Roc A Fella) J. Cole follows Kanye's same formula, except this time we dont get a long ass talking joint, it's only 7 minutes this time around. Basically, if you heard Kanye's Last Call then you heard this one already.
Losing My Balance (BONUS)
This is a Bonus track on The Warm Up. Soulful beat and VERY MELODIC. His flow is laid back as he talks about how we lose our balance in life. Women who get fucked over by bum ass dudes. Guys who get arrested, smoke dope at early ages and use Rhymes to try and make it. he even tells the truth about how the system aims to keep us held down in the Society Totem Pole. His Third verse goes back to the subject of Sex, BUT, this time he does so intelligently.
CONCLUSION:
J. Cole is a force to be wreckoned with. I think this Mix tape is very solid, a couple joints could have been left out but overall it makes the whole package well rounded. The beats are smooth, most of which he produced himself.
I must say, he should be the Icon of Southern Rappers because there is almost no one who can fuck with him - Jay Electronica is one of my favorites from the south tho.
I will be looking out for Cole to drop his official album, after bumping The Come Up, the Warm Up and A Star Is Born for a while now, I am fiending for it!!!
GRADE:
Lyrics = A- he could've gotten a solid A+, easily. but he came off a little Oversexed.
Production = A+ every single beat is ON POINT
Replayability level = 10 read what I said in Grown Simba
Overall = A
J. Cole is DOPE, nuff said!
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