Throughout the work, Cole utilizes numerous rhetorical devices in order to give meaning to his music.
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This aspect of history influenced Cole’s work by letting him speak to the familial struggle of black people in today’s world and furthering the discussion of how society must free itself from the ghoulish mindsets left over from the antebellum era. The idea of shared experiences means that, in an instance such as the shooting of African Americans mentioned before, they can see themselves as the victim of that same situation. These parts of history obviously brought about great suffering for African Americans, but it is important to understand that it also created a familial style bond in which black people have a set of shared experiences. Primarily, it is essential to remember the history of African Americans in the United States, focusing most on slavery and discrimination. In terms of the less recent past, there are a few important things to note in order to attain an adequate grasp of the meaning of the album. The event as a whole influenced the album by providing evidence to the theme of hope for the future. During this event, Cole spent private time with Obama and worked towards creating an organization that would help black youth towards brighter futures. This meeting was composed of about ten rappers, Cole included, who gathered together to meet with then President Barack Obama to discuss some of the issues that are facing African Americans today. The last recent event that is important to note is Cole’s visit with Barack Obama during his presidency in 2016. This helped drive home the theme of the disconnect between white and black people by showing how it affected Cole and how it could affect other African Americans. Situation in the song Neighbors, while also calling for a change to this pattern of racial bigotry. SWAT team raiding J.Cole’s home in North Carolina images included in the official music video Neighbors by J.Cole YouTube, 16 Nov. As a result, Cole exposed the obvious discrimination seen in thisįig. Because of Cole’s wealth and the color of his skin, his neighbors had assumed he was a wealthy drug dealer and called law enforcement officials. This raid was per request of his white neighbors, and resulted in the invasion of Cole’s home that included a whole SWAT team and accompanying helicopter. As a whole, this aspect of the album really offers an explanation of the theme of the struggle of being a black man in today’s society.Īnother important event to note during the making of the album was the SWAT raid of Cole’s mansion. Cole also notes this feeling in the song Neighbors, when he explains that these shootings make all black people feel as if they are candidates for the same type of fate as Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black male who was killed by a white police officer. For example, these events forced Cole to express the fear, that many African Americans share, of being gunned down mercilessly by police in his song 4 Your Eyez Only. These unfortunate altercations influenced the album by being the source of some of Cole’s political commentary that can be found within the music. The incidents continuously sparked riots and intense protests, jarring new political conversations across the nation. To begin, in the two years leading up to the release of the album there were numerous fatal interactions between unarmed African Americans and police officers. However, it is also important to note the incidents occurring during the time this work was being created. In terms of the context of the piece, the album follows the narrative of James McMillan Jr., as mentioned before. This narrative serves a microcosm for the life of a black man in today’s society, and speaks to many political issues that occur today. The tale goes on, recounting how McMillan tried to turn his life around upon becoming a father, but reaches a sorrowful end with McMillan being slain in the streets. In between a few personal intermission songs from Cole, the album retells McMillan’s journey starting from the point where he became a drug dealer. The story of the album follows the narrative of James McMillan Jr, a young black man living in Fayetteville, presumably alongside Cole. The album features a variety of musical styles as it holds slow, melodic, jazz-style beats while also containing a few up-tempo, old style beats that reflect the rap of the early nineties. Only was released on December 9th, 2016, exactly two years after the release of his last album.
4 Your Eyez Only Album Cover official cover art released by J.Cole Instagram, 16 Nov.