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J. Cole is no stranger to addressing violence in his music. His fifth studio album, KOD, explores addiction, drug abuse, and gun violence in an attempt to reveal, on a social level, the consequences of these phenomena. However, in his most recent album, The Off-Season, Cole offers a more personal perspective on violence, drawing upon his experiences growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and dealing with crime that intensified in his community. Specifically, he often references the impact gun violence had on him throughout the twelve tracks that comprise this relatively short thirty-nine-minute album.
Cole presents a variety of violent scenarios throughout the album, and in each scenario, he is tested to show how he responds to the conflict. These responses range from showing tenacity in the face of danger to complete inaction when facing imminent gunfire. Some scenarios are hypothetical or generalized but demonstrate the reality of his chaotic environment. Cole’s varied reactions to gun violence throughout The Off-Season, underpinned by constant insecurities, highlight his adaptability growing up in Fayetteville.
Persistence
In the opening track, “9 5 . s o u t h,” J. Cole reminds the audience of his dominance in the rap game. Reminding the listener of his status as a platinum-selling artist, he criticizes the industry for its emphasis on gaining the most possible streams instead of focusing on the quality of the music. Cole takes pride in the “footprints” he left in the early rap scene, describing his constant trips between North Carolina and New York City when signed to prominent labels in the mid-2000s. He then describes disturbing memories of experiencing gun violence and how he sought to avoid this conflict at all costs. In order to do so, Cole needed to remain persistent and alert because there was no sense of “fairness” with respect to criminal activity. This is evident in his rhymes,
“Vivid memories, n***as start to squeeze, we duckin’ down / So many shells left on the ground it make the Easter Bunny Proud / I get up, dust my clothes off, sleep is the cousin of death / No plans to doze off, the streets, it don’t come with a ref”
(( J. Cole. “9 5 . s o u t h.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
J. Cole interpolates Nas’s famous line “I never sleep, ’cause sleep is the cousin of death” (( Nas. “N.Y. State of Mind.” Illmatic, Columbia, 1994. )) in order to illustrate the violence that he confronted within his community. In response to this crime, Cole felt that it was necessary to adapt, and his characterization of the shell casings from gunfire revealed the constant threat of murder. In addition, Cole had to look after himself, as the description of the streets not “coming with a ref” indicated a lack of an intermediary that managed and resolved the conflict. This refers to a lack of law enforcement in the community or a general lack of desire to end the violence. Either way, Cole asserts that persistence was a necessary trait that helped him navigate the rife crime in his environment.
J. Cole’s appreciation for this persistence continues on “i n t e r l u d e,” revealing an optimistic outlook on the violence he experienced. Although he gained a lot of trauma in this situation, Cole learned how to productively respond to conflict and use this understanding of crime to develop his work ethic. After describing how a mother would respond to the death of her child resulting from gunfire, Cole depicts how he persevered through these difficult times,
“Woah, thank god we survived around where terrorists hovered / though traumatized, wouldn’t trade it for nothin’ / through hard times, it was there I discovered / a hustle and makin’ the best out the struggle”
(( J. Cole. “i n t e r l u d e.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
Although J. Cole dealt with a chaotic environment that had a deep psychological impact on him, he expresses gratitude for its presence because it gave him the courage to work for a better life. The violence that Cole witnessed and his proximity to the “terrorists” that traumatized him allowed him to reflect and concentrate on his own craft. Furthermore, Cole states this confidence and determination continue into the present, demonstrating that the brutality of his environment permanently influences his behavior. Although Cole’s insecurities manifest in this song, the capacity to remain resolute in a crime-ridden area is on full display.
Silence
To effectively deal with the gun violence and ensure personal safety, Cole remained silent during murder investigations. On the track “a m a r i,” Cole depicts a scenario where someone’s death by gunshot prompted the police to determine what transpired. During this probing, it was necessary for him to remain indifferent and not give away any information because doing otherwise would have placed him in danger of being discovered by the perpetrators of the crime. This feigned unawareness of the violent proceedings is explained in the lines,
“2-6, murder scene pumping / better leave it tucked if you ain’t dumping / Pow, pow, n***a, he slumping / twelve comin’, we ain’t seen nothing”
(( J. Cole. “A m a r i.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
In addition to the silence that J. Cole emphasizes during the event of gunfire, he expresses the importance of concealing one’s weapon if there is no desire to add to the violence. The word “twelve” refers to the police, and with their arrival on the scene, the ability to remain steadfast through a detachment from the event benefited the witness’s safety. This security was either from the intervention of gangs or the police themselves; the decision to not provide any leads or be transparent with law enforcement in response to this violence ensured anonymity. The recurrence of criminal activity in Cole’s neighborhood allowed him to develop a personal process of remaining silent to avoid getting noticed by the “wrong” people. He was very much aware of the conflict and could have spoken up about it, but he decided instead to mask his knowledge with a cover of quietness.
J. Cole continues to remain quiet and protect himself in response to police questioning in the track “m y . l i f e.” In his verse, Cole describes a scenario in which he heard gunshots resulting in the murder of someone nearby. The police decided to question the citizens near the crime scene; however, Cole refrained from providing any relevant information. He instead chose to remain irrelevant within the context of the violence that occurred,
“Woke up early from shots that were swarmin’ / A block full of opps, now the cops in an orbit / Guess somebody got popped, now thеy knockin’ on doors / Tryna find an informant but I ain’t see Nathan / I’m mindin’ my business as God is my witness / No weapon gon’ prospеr that’s formin’ against me”
(( J. Cole. “m y . l i f e” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
At the end of this rhyme scheme, J. Cole’s appeal to God solidified his sincerity regarding his non-involvement in any criminal investigation. This effectively explains why he chose to remain silent in response to this violence, as brought up in “a m a r i,” because it essentially cleared Cole from any participation in police affairs. If he had become an informant and offered details regarding who may have committed the crime, it could have completely jeopardized his safety. Reflecting on this, he was certain that “a weapon won’t prosper against him” if he did not cooperate fully with law enforcement; the weapon of potential criminals would not have bothered him once he chose not to expose the actions of the offenders.
Dismissal
With J. Cole growing up in a chaotic and violent environment, he learned to differentiate between real threats in his community and impotent threats over the internet. As a result, he developed the capacity to ignore any attempts from critics to degrade or abuse his status as a rapper. On the track “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e,” he mentions how he developed and matured within the crime-ridden city of Fayetteville. Experiencing violence in the real world, J. Cole was able to disregard any other inferior “threats” that did not match the strength of actual crime,
“Started my grind where crime festers / and nines showing like they in they second trimesters (Pregnant) / That’s why when n***as throw a shot or two online, I pay no mind to their benign gestures”
(( J. Cole. “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
As a rapper with a large following within the hip hop community, J. Cole is bound to face disparagement from people who may be “trolling” or criticizing for the sole purpose of seeking attention. It is clear that Cole has grown accustomed to the “phony” comments or opinions directed towards his music and has effectively dealt with this commentary by not providing it with any of his time or energy. The energy required to properly respond to the violence in his neighborhood should not be applied to an environment where degradation can only occur through a “technological gap.” Although many artists may respond with hostility or defend themselves from online critics, Cole appeals to his encounters with gun violence to elucidate what counts as an “actual” threat and dismiss “hollow” insults.
J. Cole continues this dismissal in “p u n c h i n ‘ . t h e . c l o c k” through a recount of a traumatic experience he had as a child. This time, he dismissed the severity of his own involvement with a gun. After describing how he maneuvered around gunfire, which resulted in the murder of someone near him, he recalls getting a Glock handed to him. Cole’s inexperience with using this weapon was clear, and after haphazardly firing shots at trees, he dismissed the impact this experience had on him while he was with his family.
“Thought it was toys, it was a Glock this n***a handed me / I busted the trees, was barely strong enough to squeeze / Bullets traveled through leaves, it probably killed somebody randomly / Ran in the crib and played it off amongst the family”
(( J. Cole. “P u n c h i n ‘ . t h e . c l o c k.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
J. Cole’s insecurities are on display in this example, as his decision not to disclose his act of gun violence to his family indicated that he was uncomfortable with the truth of his actions. Furthermore, the assertion that these gunshots may have had the capacity to kill someone illustrated the recklessness he had while dealing with the weapon. The claim that he lacked the strength to pull the trigger also revealed a level of naiveté with regard to the proper handling of a gun. Although Cole downplayed the impact of this moment with the people he loves the most, his inexperience and poor decision-making with the weapon clearly affected him, as later on in his verse, the police finally apprehended him in a nightmare.
Fear
An important response that J. Cole depicts throughout his lyrics on The Off-Season is fear, demonstrating more clearly moments where he lacked confidence when dealing with gun violence. This manifests on “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l,” where Cole describes a moment when he had been threatened with a gun. Although he was frightened, his pride allowed him to confront this threat, which masked his true feelings during this tumultuous encounter,
“Still remember vividly the n***a that pulled a gun on me / I’m petrified but moving like I got no sense of urgency”
(( J. Cole. “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
Prior to these lines, J. Cole stated his gratitude about not being the victim of murder, revealing the perilousness of the environment he matured in as he grew into an adult. Being directly involved in a violent encounter, a common expectation would be to flee the scene or attempt to de-escalate the situation. However, Cole responded by standing firm and not letting the threats right in front of him affect him. On the exterior, Cole exuded bravery and a calm demeanor, but internally, Cole was uncertain about the whole confrontation. Fear was contained below the surface in an attempt to deal with the gun violence without letting any weakness become visible to the opposition. It was highly probable that this facade saved his life; the decision not to abandon the conflict revealed a level of confidence in his own ability to handle these situations.
The notion of presenting a persona for other people while masking one’s fright is apparent on “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d.” Reflecting on his childhood, J. Cole notes that he had a fear of looking “weak” in front of other people, desiring instead to maintain an image that preserved his strength. This image was necessary for covering up his fear of being murdered by gunshot,
“I had a fear of gettin’ punched while everybody eyein’ / Add to that a constant fear of dyin’ / By gunshot wound, the other violent type of endings / I kept a tough demeanor on the surface but was mostly just pretendin'”
(( J. Cole. “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
Although J. Cole was able to mask his insecurities regarding violence successfully, this decision-making only “blanketed” his fears, allowing him to secure respect from his peers. In addition to the gunfire he was afraid of, a fear of looking “weak” in front of others also manifested, revealing that his insecurities ran deeper than broad anxiety regarding gun violence. As a result, “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d” is a sanctuary for the trepidations Cole held throughout his childhood, and now as a thirty-six-year-old adult, there is value in having these thoughts appear on a track when there are essentially no repercussions for this expression. Fear was the driving force in his determination to protect his character at all costs and avoid violence, even if he had no place to express this vulnerability.
Realization
When experiencing gun violence, the sound of the first gunshots causes an immediate shift in behavior. However, if the gunshots constantly occur over time, then this behavioral shift becomes permanent, and one develops a greater awareness of the effect of gun violence in the community. On the track “1 0 0 . m i l,” which is largely dedicated to his improved status as a rapper and his developed artistry, J. Cole discusses how he reacted to gunshots under the influence of alcohol. The first shots jolted him, allowing him to become aware of the violence.
“When shots got to ringing, like freedom, I ducked / E&J fell out my cup / Them bullets fly by that shit sober you up”
(( J. Cole. “1 0 0 . m i l.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
This moment of cognizance depicts J. Cole’s understanding of the gun violence and how necessary it was for him to remain vigilant in a dangerous environment. The reference to the brandy and the immediate sobering up symbolizes the transition from initial intoxication to sensibility. Although Cole was intoxicated, it is understood that the loud and demanding sound of the gunshots completely reversed his state of mind. Furthermore, Cole interpolates the song “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)” when he states, “ringing, like freedom.” Repurposing this patriotic song in the context of a track dedicated to revealing the consequences of gun violence indicates that Cole seeks to criticize this violence on a national level (( “1 0 0 . m i l.” Genius.com, 2021. Accessed 1 August 2021. )). This socially conscious critique further demonstrates awareness of the brutality of gunfights that plague communities throughout the United States.
The realization of the consequences of gun violence continues in the track, “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k,” but this time, J. Cole seems to offer a solution to this problem. Throughout the song, lyrics regarding his disturbing experiences and the value of his rapping paint the track in a very aggressive tone. However, the song’s hook is more despondent, referencing both the general comfort in lying instead of telling the truth and the desire to get revenge for the murder of his friend with his crew. Following this, the track’s outro responds to this despondency by proposing a method to de-escalate violent confrontations, similar to a suicide hotline,
“Everybody mentions suicide prevention / Man, they even made a hotline / To call up when there’s tension, but I got a question / What about a f***ing homicide? / Need a number for my n***as to call / Whenever there’s a urge to get triggers involved”
(( J. Cole. “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
J. Cole recognizes the impact that a suicide hotline has on people who are struggling with depression, and wonders why a similar hotline does not exist for people who are prone to engage in gun violence. In this way, he is a proponent for “homicide prevention,” desiring that society treat the issue of armed conflict similar to how they treat suicide. In J. Cole’s community, the tension that manifested between members of rival gangs prompted responses from law enforcement; however, as previously mentioned on “m y . l i f e” and “i n t e r l u d e,” Cole chose not to offer any information to maintain his own safety. The proactivity to deal with this violence finally reveals itself on “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k.” It is clear that J. Cole believes in mediation but from a separate third party, one specifically designed to de-escalate and pacify instead of the police who deal with a wide variety of issues.
Inaction
Although the intention to solve the rampant gun violence in J. Cole’s community is evident on The Off-Season, elements of inaction and thoughts of hesitancy in response to the violence inhabited his mind. This is apparent on the track “c l o s e,” where Cole details a deteriorating friendship and is dispirited that he and his friend were not in contact before his passing. Cole describes a nightmare he had that involved his friend getting shot. People with guns approached his friend, and although Cole attempted to yell and warn him, he was unable to save him,
“I saw the heat tucked in they coats / You didn’t notice ’cause you was busy countin’ dough / I tried to yell, but nothin’ came out of my throat”
(( J. Cole. “c l o s e.” The Off-Season, Dreamville, 2021. )).
After they fired the gunshots, Cole woke up from his nightmare. After waking up, one would normally expect life to be stable, and one would be grateful that none of the events in the dream actually exist in the real world; however, that was not the case in Cole’s scenario. In real life, he received a text from his mother saying that this particular friend was murdered. The inability to prevent violence from occurring in the dream can be seen as the foreshadowing of Cole discovering what truly happened to his friend once he awoke.
To be clear, the sequence of events in Cole’s verse were as follows: 1. J. Cole’s friend in real life gets murdered. 2. Before J. Cole knows about this, he has a dream about that friend getting murdered. 3. J. Cole wakes up from the dream and discovers that the friend is actually murdered. Dreams have the power to influence behavior and often involve people, places, and actions with which one is most familiar. J. Cole hesitated to act and could not stop the crime; however, this event only occurred in his imagination. The listener can interpret this tentativeness as a preparatory lesson to ensure that this indecision does not occur again in any tense situation.
Why J. Cole Grappled With Violence In Different Ways
At this point in Cole’s career, it makes sense that an honest characterization of his approaches to the violent conflict would be a focal point of his newest albums. He does not try to portray himself as someone who knew how to actively handle crime that surrounded him throughout his childhood and his years as a young adult. Although he did offer potential solutions and demonstrated a greater awareness of his own personal experience with gun violence on many tracks throughout The Off-Season, this understanding came with a doubt in his own strength and perseverance.
Many of Cole’s violent scenarios are vague; they generalize his encounters with crime in Fayetteville. A handful of these scenarios involve Cole suppressing his trepidations and avoiding active confrontation to protect himself. This internalization resulted in fear and uncertainty, but it also generated confidence and the ability to persist in response to the conflict. What all of these responses had in common was that they portrayed Cole’s equable demeanor; his reactions were somewhat composed, even if his inner self was anxious and perturbed during these moments. Thus, The Off-Season is a well-crafted juggling act of all of the different behaviors J. Cole exhibited when he confronted violence on a personal level.