Thanks for this. I enjoyed it. I don't think the comparison to Coates' book is a reach. Not addressing the cycle of violence is literally killing us. We need to stop equating violence with "realness" or "masculinity" or "blackness" or anything else.
Thanks for this. I’m so glad I spent time here this morning. You’ve reframed my thinking for the day- about creativity and purpose, and about responsibility. Really meaningful piece.
Thanks so much, Tara. I had a little anxiety about publishing this, so I'm glad you received it well. It feels good to know that my words can reach people.
I don’t think people stress it enough but one of the biggest reasons artists go silent is guilt and creative block. People that feel some way about J.Cole’s song are free to do so but they should get the creative part of it. Sometimes an artist needs to do/finish work to get themselves out of a mindset.
I am glad to see J.Cole get back on track and the new song is Classic Cole.
That's a really good point, @Jaskaran, I know that when I'm blocked I can go weeks, sometimes even months without posting something new. Most times when that happens, I need to take a step back and find myself within the millions of words flowing through my head. I think Cole did the same.
Needed this piece! Been stuck in a YouTube algorithm and it felt like I was the only one who didn't feel some type of way about the song and actually enjoyed it (maybe it reopened some dormant feelings for people since the apology).
Reading your words gave me perspective and your connection to Ta-Nehisi Coates' sports analogy definitely hit home. It made me take a step back and think about how pervasive / acceptable violence is in our culture as a whole and how often we don't notice it / take it for granted.
I'm not sure if there's a version of hip-hop that can exist without some kind of animosity or violence because competition is such an integral part of human nature. So long as people feel a need to validate themselves through external means then violence will always be the result. I wish it was different but history, so far, has shown me otherwise.
love the thoughtful questions you placed at the end, it’s a technique i’ve also learned from or of the very best at it—Rachel Leeke.
to the question: “Do you think J Cole was wrong for putting out this song?”
yes, he was. And yes he did great by pulling out before the whole shit hit an orgasmic eruption. Was he late ? perhaps, because it had already birth the chaos.
He was wrong and he made things right afterwards. 2 truths can co-exist.
This is meaningful. And it requires us to examine some shit about ourselves and our desires that might reveal some things we’re not equipped to confront.
For my own self, it always comes down to a question: When Black peoples are at each other’s throats, who benefits?
Hey fam, thanks for reading, and I agree it truly does. What I have found frustrating is that as a society we insist we are tired of violence, but then we perpetuate and protect it in ways we don't even know. But humans have unlimited potential, we. can choose peace, we can be peace.
This piece was very well written and I enjoyed it- both because presentation and content. Initially I thought maybe I clicked the wrong article as you spoke on ‘The Message’ for so long. Having read ‘The Message’ I found the intro long but just as I was checking out, you made the connection to rap beef/ culture. Your views are insightful and poignant with excellent quotes to match. In terms of my opinion, J. Cole is my favorite artist (because of relatability) yet I concede he’s not “the best.” I agree that you can’t be the best while dropping out of competition, though I respect and admire his choice to do so. I think Cole made a play call that was bigger than industry and so he is/ will feel the repercussions of that. The same thing that dropped him on other people’s lists is the same reason he’s at the top of mine. 🤷🏾♂️ Also, as Lecrae rapped “love is patient so I’m trusting in the narrative/ and Christ ain’t watch the party die, he died instead of it”
@Taru, thanks for sticking with this essay and giving this really helpful and inciteful feedback. J Cole is my favorite rapper as well and the way he's moved in this period has only strengthened that for me.
I am all for Joe Cole. I don't believe in violence and I want to vouch for Cole's sincerity. He really doesn't do violence again. I have his song "No such thing as a life that's better than yours
As a hip hop head, I remember the excitement that first dropped when this whole thing started between drake, kendrick, and cole. the group chat was booming and then it got...*weird.* I love a good beat and when you throw some topnotch lyrics over top, I get gitty. But something feels odd about rapping along to some of this lyrics when they're downright vicious. I have to go listen to the new song from Cole and see what its giving, but honestly, even as a girl from NC, I've felt some type since he randomly decided to diss Noname during the pandemic, because why? Also, she fired him up in response. soooo, he got what he was looking for, if not more
I've been immersed in Ta Nahisi Coates for the past few days and appreciate you exploring the universality of Coates' work and applying The Message to another realm. Just as Coates emphatically states that, ultimately, he's an outsider and has only a shred of knowledge about what is really needed in Israel/Palestine, I'm an outsider to rap and hip hop. I've got my opinions but they're mostly unformed and uninformed. I'm deeply grateful when I read someone who can explain the nuances within a culture to me and bring a deeper perspective I will never otherwise have. I'm from The Bronx and escaping the violence was one of my great ambitions growing up, so rather than embrace hip-hop (I was there in the very beginning) I fled because of its proximity to violence. Now, as an adult, I want to know more about it -- from both a musical and sociological standpoint. I love reading about hip-hop and, most of all, I appreciate you representing the possibility that a person can love hip hop and question violence at the same time. Love your work xo
Because rap battles are an integral part of the culture, there has to be some way to maintain the spirit of the rap battle and transform it from personal attacks and violence to competing with the music and flow. The nature of people on some level is to compete. It seems to be on some level in our DNA. I hate that it results in the murder of each other or the assassination of characters or families. In the 80's and 90's I remember there was a lot of criticism of rap due to the violence and anger in a lot of the bars. The line from Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Ghetto Bastard) (Naughty by Nature) always stuck with me, "Say something positive? Well, positive ain't where I live". This line is in the middle of a song where they repeat "Everything's gonna be alright."
All of this is a long way of saying that Rap is an amazing art form that has reflected the pain and struggle of a group of oppressed and marginalized people. I hope there is some way to move forward without destroying it or the people who create it!
Stanley, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your writing! It always gives me another perspective on an issue. Thank you!
Expanding on my previous comment. You can absolutely be ranked among the best without beefing. Andre Benjamin exists. The issue people have with J Cole is that he keeps firing shots and then call for peace, trying to have his cake and eat it too. So even though I love the song and fully empathize with the feeling, it feels a bit off with his actual track record. Therefore, until his flip flopping and faltering gets addressed, people will most likely hold it against him.
Thanks for this. I enjoyed it. I don't think the comparison to Coates' book is a reach. Not addressing the cycle of violence is literally killing us. We need to stop equating violence with "realness" or "masculinity" or "blackness" or anything else.
Thanks for reading and engaging
Thanks for this. I’m so glad I spent time here this morning. You’ve reframed my thinking for the day- about creativity and purpose, and about responsibility. Really meaningful piece.
Thanks so much, Tara. I had a little anxiety about publishing this, so I'm glad you received it well. It feels good to know that my words can reach people.
I don’t think people stress it enough but one of the biggest reasons artists go silent is guilt and creative block. People that feel some way about J.Cole’s song are free to do so but they should get the creative part of it. Sometimes an artist needs to do/finish work to get themselves out of a mindset.
I am glad to see J.Cole get back on track and the new song is Classic Cole.
That's a really good point, @Jaskaran, I know that when I'm blocked I can go weeks, sometimes even months without posting something new. Most times when that happens, I need to take a step back and find myself within the millions of words flowing through my head. I think Cole did the same.
Needed this piece! Been stuck in a YouTube algorithm and it felt like I was the only one who didn't feel some type of way about the song and actually enjoyed it (maybe it reopened some dormant feelings for people since the apology).
Reading your words gave me perspective and your connection to Ta-Nehisi Coates' sports analogy definitely hit home. It made me take a step back and think about how pervasive / acceptable violence is in our culture as a whole and how often we don't notice it / take it for granted.
I'm not sure if there's a version of hip-hop that can exist without some kind of animosity or violence because competition is such an integral part of human nature. So long as people feel a need to validate themselves through external means then violence will always be the result. I wish it was different but history, so far, has shown me otherwise.
love the thoughtful questions you placed at the end, it’s a technique i’ve also learned from or of the very best at it—Rachel Leeke.
to the question: “Do you think J Cole was wrong for putting out this song?”
yes, he was. And yes he did great by pulling out before the whole shit hit an orgasmic eruption. Was he late ? perhaps, because it had already birth the chaos.
He was wrong and he made things right afterwards. 2 truths can co-exist.
This is meaningful. And it requires us to examine some shit about ourselves and our desires that might reveal some things we’re not equipped to confront.
For my own self, it always comes down to a question: When Black peoples are at each other’s throats, who benefits?
Hey fam, thanks for reading, and I agree it truly does. What I have found frustrating is that as a society we insist we are tired of violence, but then we perpetuate and protect it in ways we don't even know. But humans have unlimited potential, we. can choose peace, we can be peace.
This piece was very well written and I enjoyed it- both because presentation and content. Initially I thought maybe I clicked the wrong article as you spoke on ‘The Message’ for so long. Having read ‘The Message’ I found the intro long but just as I was checking out, you made the connection to rap beef/ culture. Your views are insightful and poignant with excellent quotes to match. In terms of my opinion, J. Cole is my favorite artist (because of relatability) yet I concede he’s not “the best.” I agree that you can’t be the best while dropping out of competition, though I respect and admire his choice to do so. I think Cole made a play call that was bigger than industry and so he is/ will feel the repercussions of that. The same thing that dropped him on other people’s lists is the same reason he’s at the top of mine. 🤷🏾♂️ Also, as Lecrae rapped “love is patient so I’m trusting in the narrative/ and Christ ain’t watch the party die, he died instead of it”
@Taru, thanks for sticking with this essay and giving this really helpful and inciteful feedback. J Cole is my favorite rapper as well and the way he's moved in this period has only strengthened that for me.
I always learn from reading you. I am a perpetual student of life. Thank you 🙏🏽
I am all for Joe Cole. I don't believe in violence and I want to vouch for Cole's sincerity. He really doesn't do violence again. I have his song "No such thing as a life that's better than yours
Thanks for the reading and the comment!
This was a good read!
As a hip hop head, I remember the excitement that first dropped when this whole thing started between drake, kendrick, and cole. the group chat was booming and then it got...*weird.* I love a good beat and when you throw some topnotch lyrics over top, I get gitty. But something feels odd about rapping along to some of this lyrics when they're downright vicious. I have to go listen to the new song from Cole and see what its giving, but honestly, even as a girl from NC, I've felt some type since he randomly decided to diss Noname during the pandemic, because why? Also, she fired him up in response. soooo, he got what he was looking for, if not more
I've been immersed in Ta Nahisi Coates for the past few days and appreciate you exploring the universality of Coates' work and applying The Message to another realm. Just as Coates emphatically states that, ultimately, he's an outsider and has only a shred of knowledge about what is really needed in Israel/Palestine, I'm an outsider to rap and hip hop. I've got my opinions but they're mostly unformed and uninformed. I'm deeply grateful when I read someone who can explain the nuances within a culture to me and bring a deeper perspective I will never otherwise have. I'm from The Bronx and escaping the violence was one of my great ambitions growing up, so rather than embrace hip-hop (I was there in the very beginning) I fled because of its proximity to violence. Now, as an adult, I want to know more about it -- from both a musical and sociological standpoint. I love reading about hip-hop and, most of all, I appreciate you representing the possibility that a person can love hip hop and question violence at the same time. Love your work xo
Because rap battles are an integral part of the culture, there has to be some way to maintain the spirit of the rap battle and transform it from personal attacks and violence to competing with the music and flow. The nature of people on some level is to compete. It seems to be on some level in our DNA. I hate that it results in the murder of each other or the assassination of characters or families. In the 80's and 90's I remember there was a lot of criticism of rap due to the violence and anger in a lot of the bars. The line from Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Ghetto Bastard) (Naughty by Nature) always stuck with me, "Say something positive? Well, positive ain't where I live". This line is in the middle of a song where they repeat "Everything's gonna be alright."
All of this is a long way of saying that Rap is an amazing art form that has reflected the pain and struggle of a group of oppressed and marginalized people. I hope there is some way to move forward without destroying it or the people who create it!
Stanley, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your writing! It always gives me another perspective on an issue. Thank you!
Sherry, thank you for this wonderful comment, and also you get major cool points for the naughty quote!
Expanding on my previous comment. You can absolutely be ranked among the best without beefing. Andre Benjamin exists. The issue people have with J Cole is that he keeps firing shots and then call for peace, trying to have his cake and eat it too. So even though I love the song and fully empathize with the feeling, it feels a bit off with his actual track record. Therefore, until his flip flopping and faltering gets addressed, people will most likely hold it against him.
3. Andre Benjamin exists.