J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive LP

Third album from the rapper J. Cole, named after his childhood home address 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Produced by J. Cole with guest producers Elite, Ron Gilmore, Tray Samuels, DJ Dahl, Illmind, Cardiak, CritCal, Vinylz, Organized Noize & Jproof.

The album has no built-up single, no pre-release teaser. 2014 Forest Hills Drive will, inevitably, be analyzed to every last verb and snare. But the music speaks for itself.

From an all black trailer park in cramped quarters to a two-story house on a tree lined street with a carport and bedrooms for each family member. As the years and jobs of his mother improved so did the living situations and therefore the openness to get creative. With the new private bedroom coupled with a growing interest in rap music fueled by one summer-long visit by a cousin from down south who ushered in No Limit style hip hop the seeds of the future rapper were there.

The songs create a narrative and the mood varies from song to song. He wants success ("Fire Squad"), he sees growth ("A Tale Of 2 Citiez"), gets deep on storytelling ("'03 Adolescence", "Wet Dreamz"), hits bumps (""G.O.M.D.," "No Role Modelz") and comes full circle to what it all means to him and the notion of love ("Apparently," "Love Yourz").