When you’re the first Roc Nation signee, a hyped rapper who’s directly in the shadow of the GOAT, it’d probably be a good idea if you don’t rap over a classic JAY-Z beat, let alone one as iconic as “Dead Presidents II,” especially after your first attempt was “not up to par” according to the man himself. Having spent nearly all of 2015 operating in the shadows while peers Drake and Kendrick released career-altering projects, the song felt like Cole’s return address, a public service announcement of sorts for fools still sleeping on him. One year removed from going Platinum with no features, Cole reminded doubters that success hadn’t diminished hunger with “Folgers Crystals,” the opener from Dreamville’s second compilation mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers II. Project: Revenge of the Dreamers II (2015) Backed by Carlos Santana’s guitar licks lifted from Hill’s “To Zion,” Cole spends the song speaking to three people from his past: The first verse is directed towards a girl he used to date, the second towards his step-father, and the third aimed at an old friend. Overshadowed by fan favorite “Cole Summer,” though, is “Can I Holla At You,” the opening number on his first Truly Yours EP. Cole, & Carlos SantanaĬole is lights out when sampling Lauryn Hill. Centered around a topic that every twentysomething is familiar with-returning home after an extended period of time-listeners can’t help but sing along as Cole effortlessly delivers his verses with a catchy cadence. Cole’s skill as a storyteller, we have a habit of focusing strictly on heart-wrenching tracks such as “Lost Ones,” “Breakdown,” and “4 Your Eyez Only.” However, coming-of-age songs like “Wet Dreamz” and “‘03 Adolescence” are equally as good from a storytelling perspective, though neither is as catchy as “Home for the Holidays,” the most underrated song on Friday Night Lights. In hindsight, “Kenny Lofton” is essentially a prelude to “No Role Modelz,” as Cole raps about how people only care about black people if they’re successful athletes or rappers. Backed by a flip of The Manhattans’ ‘70s R&B hit “Hurt,” Cole gets contemplative and delivers social commentary, while still flexing lyrically, of course. If his guest spot on 21 Savage’s “alot” reminded you that no one sounds better rapping over soulful beats than Cole, do yourself a favor and revisit “Kenny Lofton,” a cut from his 2013 EP Truly Yours 2. Instead, “Revenge of the Dreamers” finds him hungry, with Cole opening the track rapping, “ I’m in the zone this year, it’s all fire n**** check my attire/Your worst fear is confirmed, your reign at the top expires this year.” As far as Cole could tell, the entire rap game was still sleeping on him. Cole used the title track for the debut mixtape by Dreamville Records crew as his personal victory lap. Arriving in January 2014, just six months after Born Sinner out-sold Yeezus, it would’ve been understandable had J.
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