Vibestyle Blog brings you urban culture previews and reviews.
Written by Eugene in Music | 22nd April 2018
Released on Friday, J. Coles unexpected album, KOD makes a significant impact on the hip-hop game. The album hosts 12 tracks, with a mysterious feature who goes by the name of KiLL Edward.
However, rumour has it that KiLL Edward is J.Cole’s alter ego, in fact, the man you see on the album cover isn’t Cole, it’s KiLL Edward. An variant who is portrayed as the Dreamville rapper’s demon, hence the abbreviation for ‘Kill our Demons’. Although this would seem apparent, the speculation is not yet confirmed. Nevertheless, in the meantime, here is the only track from KiLL Edward on Sound Cloud. My interpretation tells me that he sounds a lot like Cole, himself.
Vibestyle Review
J. Cole’s 5th studio album does not disappoint, I believe that this is some of the rapper’s finest work. With the track-list being full of intellect and creativity, it’s hard to believe that Cole only had 1 week to record the album. The album ingeniously leaves an impression on fans, with the innovation of experimenting several flows being something that’s become a scarcity in the hip-hop game today. Cole returns with an explosion where he flaunts an abundance of flavoursome flows.
After listening to the album multiple times since Friday, I’m still in no position to separate my favourite track from the rest, therefore I have a few particular tracks that seem the most significant at the moment.
Firstly, ‘Motiv8’ has to be one that stands out the most due to it’s high tempo, vibrant beat, and simple but effective lyrics. It almost seems inevitable that the track will get ranked amongst your summer hip-hop playlists. Being only 2 minutes and 14 seconds, Motiv8 does lack in length, but that never stopped J. Cole in providing us with a memorable listening experience.
The next track is ‘Window Pain – Outro’, something about the 11th track speaks loudly, the intro and outro are based on the Bible’s Revelations 21:1, speaking about violence in urban communities, and relating it to the Bible’s proposed recreation of a new earth and heaven. The intro and outro set the tone for Cole’s deep verses and melodic chorus. Within the track, Cole speaks on the rise of Blood and Crip gang associations around parts of the US that aren’t LA based, claiming that for acceptance, the associated youth will do anything, including participate in gang violence.
Lastly, ‘1985 – Intro to the Fall Off’ is an interesting track which is full of controversial attention. The track supposedly plays as a diss track to young and reckless rappers such as Lil Pump and SmokePurpp, who seem to misuse their ability to impact the future generations positively. To call this a diss track wouldn’t do Cole any justice, instead the track seems more of a piece of wise advice, or guidance to redirect the young rappers. This sounds a lot like rap legend, Nas’ redirection for a younger J. Cole, where the North Carolina rapper’s talents were recognised by Nas, but it was felt that J. Cole was steering off in the wrong direction, and abandoning his lyricism, especially in his 2011 hit, ‘Work Out’. However, does 1985 pose as the start of the downfall for the young rappers who seem to love controversy and disrespect?
Tracklist
- Intro
- KOD
- Photograph
- The Cut Off (feat. KiLL edward)
- ATM
- Motiv8
- Kevin’s Heart
- BRACKETS
- Once an Addict – Interlude
- FRIENDS (feat. KiLL edward)
- Window Pain – Outro
- 1985 – Intro to “The Fall Off”
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