J. Cole
The Warm Up (mixtape)
You can’t tell the story of the erstwhile Jermaine Cole without referencing Jay-Z, who, for the sake of this anecdote will play the role of the often ballyhooed, near-mythical Michael Jordan. Jay-Z was unfailingly cavalier in his quest to become rap’s greatest spokesman. And despite his dedication and unrivaled work ethic on the court, it didn’t quite translate to corner office accomplishments. Sure, there’s Kanye West, Rihanna, and Ne-Yo. Helping to propel the career of those three megastars alone would be enough for any regular Joe CEO. But not Jay-Z. He wants more. And, to be honest, we expect more. Because for every Kanye West, there is a vexed LL Cool J, a misguided Game Theory (Def Jam, 2007), and a bemused Reggie Noble. But, thankfully, times have changed.
Enter J. Cole, the first draft pick signed to Jay-Z’s newly cemented Roc Nation label. Hailing from North Carolina, the newest Roc boy offers an apt assessment of a young rapper trying to overcome life’s hurdles on his second mixtape, The Warm Up. Lyrically, Cole is more like Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose. Hungry, verbally acrobatic and motivated by an unspoken angst, Cole raps with an incalculable fervor (“Grown Simba,” “Water Break Interlude”) that makes contemporaries like Kid Cudi and Asher Roth sound painstakingly trite. He runs the perfect triangle offense with “I Get Up,” “World Is Empty” and the sinewy “Heartache.” And the production is refreshingly fickle. Minimalist here, monstrous there. The variety is grand and imaginative—pounding drums, dusty bass lines, jagged riffs, crisp soul samples—which augments the quick-tempered yet cerebral flow of the Fayetteville native. Content-wise, he’s closer to Los Angeles Clipper Eric Gordon, channeling the tired rapping aesthetic: recycle, reduce, and reuse. The Warm Up is riddled with if-at-first-you-don’t-succeed-try-and-try-again anthems a la “The Badness.” In similar fashion, Cole mightily fails to flip Souls of Mischief’s timeless “Til’ Infinity.” The result is quasi-blasphemous. On the hook he rhymes, “Bitch, it’s no time to chill, I’m tryna get meals, it’s no time to chill, I’m tryna build.” Aren’t we all?
But beneath the thematic repetition and bulky track list, The Warm Up is exactly what it claims to be: the jog before the sprint. There’s just one problem. Cole professes he wants to be “the king.” And he has potential. But with Jay-Z running the show? Good luck with that one.
Cover art for J. Cole's "The Warm Up" mixtape
Track Listing for The Warm Up
1. “Intro” (The Warm Up)
2. “Welcome”
3. “Can I Live”
4. “Grown Simba”
5. “Just To Get By”
6. “Lights Please”
7. “Dead Presidents II”
8. “I Get Up”
9. “World Is Empty”
10. “Dreams” feat. Brandon Hines
11. “Royal Flush”
12. “Dollar and a Dream II”
13. “Water Break” (Interlude)
14. “Heartache”
15. “Get Away”
16. “Knock Knock”
17. “Ladies” feat. Lee Fields and The Expressions
18. “Til’ Infinity”
19. “The Badness” feat. Omen
20. “Hold It Down”
21. “Last Call”
22. “Losing My Balance” (Bonus)
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