J Cole has come a long way since he dropped his first studio album in 2011. With eight years under his professional belt, and a couple more tucked into his mixtape days, Cole is no longer considered a new school artist. In fact, his last album KOD took a very public shot at what we consider the new school today. Throughout the years, we've watched Cole grow from a boy to a man. The rapper who bragged about how nice his watch was on his first album is miles away from the man who disavows material things today. Watching Jermaine grow has been an entertaining and enlightening process, and I'd venture to say that his fans have matured along with him.
Since 2011, Cole has released five studio albums. He isn't one of those artists that drops a new album every ten months, but he also isn't the rapper who spends five years on one project. Caught somewhere between the commercial world and the underground circuit, Cole has carved out his own niche. It was relatively easy to rank Cole's albums. Each one is distinct in its message and different in its approach. There aren't many artists who can claim they went platinum with no features on an album they produced, but let's not forget that Cole had two albums containing noteworthy appearances before he went full solo on the world. It matters not whether Cole's vision is steered by his words alone, or if he enlists the help of his peers, because he still shines brightly.
From Sideline Story to KOD, here is our ranking of Cole's studio albums. Let us know what your ranking looks like in the comment section.
4 Your Eyez Only
Release Date: December 9, 2016
This album just didn’t hit the mark. Although the maturation of Cole is on full display here, 4 Your Eyez Only still doesn't feel like a complete body of work, nor is it his most engaging. It’s almost as if this was a cocoon album, a physical manifestation of Cole’s seclusion. If Forest Hills Drive was the product of the hard working and determined caterpillar, and KOD is the revelation of the fully matured butterfly, then this album was the middle ground. He was busy evolving, from his pre-dread days to his long-dread appearance we know now. Before Cole was able to leave his cocoon and evolve into his next form, he needed to shed some pieces of himself. The creative growth is occurring in real time on this album, but more often than not, it’s boring to listen to.
Choice Track:
Cole World: The Sideline Story
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Cole’s debut album was slightly underwhelming. Fans had just got a dose of Friday Night Lights, he set himself up with a hard act to follow. Sideline Story featured two songs that Cole fans had heard endlessly already from previous projects (“Lights Please,” “In The Morning”)-- to be sure, they were among the best songs on Friday Night Lights. Cole also placed uncharacteristically commercial cuts on the album (“Work Out,” "Mr. Nice Watch,” "Can't Get Enough") that ended up disappointing some of his devout fanbase. Don’t get me wrong, the latter two of those singles were great songs, but you would be hard pressed to hear Cole rap about the price of his watch or how many women he’s smashing on tour for entire records at this point in his career.
Choice Track:
Born Sinner
Release Date: June 18, 2013
This may be Cole’s most divisive project. While some of his fans have Born Sinner atop his list of albums, others have it at rock bottom. Before Cole was going platinum with no features, he was busy collaborating with several artists. Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, Bas, TLC, and 50 Cent all make appearances on Cole's sophomore project. Conceptually this may be Cole's weakest project, with songs feeling loosely tied thematically. Still, standout cuts like “Forbidden Fruit,” “Let Nas Down,” “Rich Niggaz,” and “She Knows” elevate the experience of Born Sinner.
Choice Track:
KOD
Release Date: April 20, 2018
After receiving generally mixed reviews for his previous album (4 Your Eyez Only), Cole knew he had to strike back with force. Conceptually, this may be Cole’s strongest studio album. It is unclear where the lines of mockery and subliminal disses begins and where Cole’s own creativity ends. There are clear-cut moments where it is obvious that Cole is satirically poking fun at this generation of hip-hop (the “skrrt” in "Kevin's Heart”), and of course, there’s the negative view of drug use that thematically ties the project together. KOD perfectly walks the fine line between commercially viable music and meticulously crafted art. This is Cole at his full maturity.
Choice Track:
2014 Forest Hills Drive
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Cole’s third album was constructed with the same care that he used when building his legendary mixtapes. You can hear the difference in Cole’s energy on this project. The best studio album cuts of his career exist on 2014 Forest Hills Drive. "No Role Modelz," "G.O.M.D.," and "Apparently" may be the best three singles Cole has released from an album ever. There is not one song on this album that should be skipped, and the journey from the beginning of the record to the end is miraculous. Even the more obscure album cuts like “St. Tropez” are beautifully crafted, and who can forget Cole’s most gangster banger “A Tale of 2 Citiez.” Run it.
Choice Track: