But that's also because 4 Your Eyez Only is aiming for a self-contained concept that I don't think works all the way through and overall leaves me with a lot more questions than answers. Well, this was a frustrating listen, that's for sure - I definitely get why 'False Prophets' wasn't on this, because it wouldn't have fit whatsoever. But whatever, now that I've probably alienated a fair chunk of you, how is that new album for which he was building this hype, 4 Your Eyez Only? Cole plainly thinks they are, it tends to make for records that I don't like nearly as much as so many. And if that disingenuous presentation was the only problem that'd be one thing, but when you combine it with content and bars that are nowhere near as deep or complex as J. Hell, you could probably trace it back further, but what I've always found galling is the framing: he doesn't frame his disses as such, but just 'disappointment' - the actual content rarely matches how it is presented, and that's where things can get ugly. And while to some 'False Prophets' was the first clue, this has been something I've noticed since at least 2014 Forest Hills Drive, especially in his songs about women. Cole - a guy who on the surface might seem to have sincere intentions but when you rip away the veneer he's just like so many of the A-listers that he derides. Cole is lying, right? He plainly cares, this is his way of showing his concern - after all, he's such a nice guy.Īnd make no mistake, I'm definitely using the 'nice guy' qualifier as a pejorative here, because for a while now it has seemed to ring true for J. Cole is disappointed with Kanye, he can join the goddamn club - I've been frustrated with his work since I think 2009 - but to me this stank of some opportunistic sucker shit, taking cheap shots at artists who aren't a position to directly fire back as a way to get hype for an upcoming album that doesn't even feature that song! But after all, it's not like J. So let's put aside that he just put one of his own 'friends' on blast about his depression, he also chose to release this song right as Kanye has been going through what appears to be a full-on mental breakdown, and not just attack his character, but his art. Cole expressed his disappointment that Kanye, one of his idols, was falling from grace and his art was suffering for it, and that his "friend" Wale was stewing in his own bitterness and depression given the mixed critical response to his work. Cole.Īnd let me make this clear, this was a long time coming, but the release of 'False Prophets' and the pretty blatant diss directed at Kanye West - well, as blatant as not having the courage to put names on wax is these days - pretty much cemented it in my mind. I think it's time that some of the illusions should be broken surrounding J.