Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
This was the first thought that came to mind after hearing J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only for the first time. However, I struggled to understand exactly why this was the case and even struggled to explain the thought to a friend. But, then it dawned on me — that was exactly the point.
Drawing on the title of the novel of the same name, 4 Your Eyez Only, at least to me, was meant to mean something different to everyone. With that being said, 4 Your Eyez Only provided what was expected while simultaneously, in many ways, exceeding those expectations as well. The long awaited release was well worth the wait. Indeed, it was powerful, profoundly executed, easy to listen to, and it underscored J. Cole’s ability as a phenomenal storyteller, a remarkable lyricist and a sound producer.
J. Cole’s ability as a storyteller is, as stated above, especially noteworthy and on display. It is as unique as J. Cole is as an artist. He creates 4 Your Eyez Only to accentuate the difficulties of living in poverty, of living in “the hood,” of dealing drugs and of being a black man in a white America.
These difficulties make him contemplate his life and the value thereof, which is the theme that kick-starts the album. The record then transitions from a theme of contemplation to one of rehabilitation. He finds some solace in meeting a girl, building a life together and having a child. The transition from contemplation to one of comfort, security and happiness is subtle but powerful, and each part of this transformation has a song that is dedicated to emphasizing each given phase.
From “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which demonstrates the contemplative aspect, to “Déjà Vu” and “She’s Mine Pt.1,” which introduce his lover, the catalyst for his transformation, to “Immortal,” “Ville Mentality” and “Neighbors,” which underscore the pressures of his living conditions, we see a clear path that he follows from point A to point B. The transformation is seen as complete with the songs “Foldin Clothes,” and “She’s Mine Pt. 2,” because of his desire to satisfy his lover by doing domestic housework and dedication to his daughter.
However, the beautiful, hidden layer behind the entire album is that this story was written to describe his life and the life of a friend that had passed away. The album is meant to describe the transformation of both the narrator, which is assumed to be J. Cole, and the friend in the same exact way: one of contemplation to salvation through the same exact route given the same exact circumstances. However, in the end, as detailed in the song “4 Your Eyez Only,” the friend is the one who is not able to make it out alive, and asks his friend, the narrator, to leave the album as a story for his daughter that is meant to be for her eyes only, as the title suggests.
The story stands as the facet of the album that was was most passionately and powerfully composed, being woven together into a lyrical spectacle that is not only sonically exquisite, but as unique and unrivaled as his work always is. It is what makes the album and story even more significant; it, together, with his elegant flow, sensational versatility and impressive production, just make the album all the more complete. J. Cole’s ability to convey a message in the way that he does is, at times, reminiscent of old school hip-pop, and to many people, that is what makes J. Cole so appealing. This album is the pinnacle of the development of this sound and style, whether or not J. Cole intended it or not.
It must also be noted that this album had no features — something that Cole did in his previous album, as well. Moreover, an important characteristic of this album is that it wasn’t meant to be a mainstream hit. It wasn’t intended to be an album for the masses, for the glory nor the fame. It was intended to be for those who have supported him through and through. It was pure and a true representation of his devotion to his fans and his genius as an artist. The album flows as a unit and isn’t a collection of bang out hits. In fact, it seems as though if one song is omitted, the flow and message seems incomplete, which is undoubtedly what J. Cole intended.