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If his debut found J. Cole bringing the sound of Drake down to the streets, the Roc Nation rapper's sophomore effort finds him going for the full Illuminati and attempting an ambitious, multi-faceted album in the style of his label boss, Jay-Z. No spoiler alert required for that one as the opening "Villuminati" has the gall to sample Biggie's classic "Juicy" while using Jay's nickname as a mantra by repeating "Sometimes I brag like Hov," but besides this, Born Sinner is the a more self-confessional and word-filled effort than before, all of it very busy and Black Album minus the references to Beyoncé and the beats from Rick Rubin. Cole is the one who produced most of the album himself with his Kanye-sense of sampling (work songs, gospel, old soul, etc.) and his love of hard bass (check "Trouble," "Chaining Day," or infectious single "Power Trip" for some great low end) both returning from before, but it's his love of jazz that provides the greatest rewards as "Forbidden Fruit" (it's like Erykah Baduh meets Ice Cube on this soulful dude cut with guest Kendrick Lamar) and "Let Nas Down" (a pledge to honor the man with better rhymes and less pop) are both driven by their Blue Note-inspried backbeats. All this bold borrowing is backed up by lyrics that flow fine until their shocking twists ("She raisin' that guy's kids while she swallowin' mine"), while "She Knows" with Dirty Projectors vocalist Amber Coffman is shameless enough to spit "This is Martin Luther King in the Club/With a bad bitch in his ear/Saying that she down for whatever/In the back of his mind is Coretta." It's snide, smart-ass stuff and when it comes to sublime/ridiculous balancing act that his heroes Jay-Z and Nas have mastered, Cole is a little short on the sublime side here to be considered classic. Still, "Crooked Smile" with special guests TLC is a genuine, mature step in the right direction and will have no trouble reaching vintage age. A handful of other numbers carry that same weight, making Born Sinner a daring step forward for Cole and an exciting attempt at mastering Jay's Blueprint style.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
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J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Combs, ComposerLyricist - Christopher Wallace, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - R. Kelly, ComposerLyricist - Sylvester Stewart, ComposerLyricist - James Mtume, ComposerLyricist - Todd Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tanikka Myers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Yolanda DeBerry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Antwan Patton, ComposerLyricist - André Benjamin, ComposerLyricist - David Sheats, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Amber Coffman, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Hubert Laws, ComposerLyricist - Miguel, FeaturedArtist - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dutton, ComposerLyricist - Jake One, Producer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Alvin Fields, Choir Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, Additional Producer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Brent Kolatalo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Carmen Roman, Unknown, Other - Fred Sladkey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Recinos, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Blessed Choir, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Pete Whitfield, Unknown, Other - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Christine Kim, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Patitucci, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Wooten, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Suzanne Ornstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jung Sun Yoo, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sandra Park, Strings Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Grossman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Elite, Producer, Additional Producer - Shmuel Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Hartman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Keyboards, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Jones, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Joanna Maurer, Unknown, Other - Annaliesa Place, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Lehman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Southhorn, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Milena Pajro-van de Stadt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Desiree Elsevier, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kyle Armbrust, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Maureen McDermott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Calin, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Pete Whitfield, Unknown, Other - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Christine Kim, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Patitucci, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Wooten, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Suzanne Ornstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jung Sun Yoo, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sandra Park, Strings Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Grossman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Madeline Follin McKenna, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Amber Coffman, FeaturedArtist - Shmuel Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Hartman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Cults, FeaturedArtist - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Unknown, Other - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Maurer, Unknown, Other - Annaliesa Place, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Lehman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Southhorn, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Milena Pajro-van de Stadt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Desiree Elsevier, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kyle Armbrust, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Maureen McDermott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Calin, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - DJ Dummy, Unknown, Other
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Pete Whitfield, Unknown, Other - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Christine Kim, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Patitucci, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Wooten, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Suzanne Ornstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jung Sun Yoo, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sandra Park, Strings Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Grossman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Stephan Haeri, ComposerLyricist - Michael Giffts, ComposerLyricist - Christophe Hetier, ComposerLyricist - Deborah Anderson, ComposerLyricist - Shmuel Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Fabrice Dumont, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Hartman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Keyboards, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Maurer, Unknown, Other - Annaliesa Place, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Lehman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Southhorn, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Milena Pajro-van de Stadt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Desiree Elsevier, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kyle Armbrust, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Maureen McDermott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Calin, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Alvin Fields, Unknown, Other, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Brent Kolatalo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Carmen Roman, Unknown, Other - Fred Sladkey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Blessed Choir, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Ronnie Foster, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Kendrick Lamar, FeaturedArtist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Johnny Wilson, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Christine Kim, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Patitucci, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Wooten, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Suzanne Ornstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jung Sun Yoo, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sandra Park, Strings Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Grossman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Shmuel Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Hartman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terrance Stubbs, ComposerLyricist - Charles Still, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Maurer, Unknown, Other - Annaliesa Place, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Lehman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Southhorn, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Milena Pajro-van de Stadt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Desiree Elsevier, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kyle Armbrust, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Maureen McDermott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Calin, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Bratten, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Syience, Producer - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
TLC, FeaturedArtist - Rich Harrison, ComposerLyricist - Alvin Fields, Choir Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Meleni Smith, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Pete Whitfield, Co-Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, String Arranger, Engineer, Additional Producer, Choir Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Christine Kim, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - John Patitucci, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Wooten, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Al Carty, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Suzanne Ornstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jung Sun Yoo, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sandra Park, Strings Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Grossman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Kolatalo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elite, Producer, Co-Producer - Shmuel Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Hartman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carmen Roman, Unknown, Other - Fred Sladkey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joanna Maurer, Unknown, Other - Annaliesa Place, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Lehman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Southhorn, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Milena Pajro-van de Stadt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Desiree Elsevier, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Kyle Armbrust, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Maureen McDermott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Calin, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Courtnee Rose, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Hanan Rubinstein, Vocal Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Giannelli, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Elite, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Jones, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Alvin Fields, Choir Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - James Fauntleroy, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Canei Finch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Producer, Additional Producer - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jermaine Cole, ComposerLyricist - Brent Kolatalo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elite, Producer, Co-Producer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carmen Roman, Unknown, Other - Fred Sladkey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Recinos, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Blessed Choir, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
Album review
If his debut found J. Cole bringing the sound of Drake down to the streets, the Roc Nation rapper's sophomore effort finds him going for the full Illuminati and attempting an ambitious, multi-faceted album in the style of his label boss, Jay-Z. No spoiler alert required for that one as the opening "Villuminati" has the gall to sample Biggie's classic "Juicy" while using Jay's nickname as a mantra by repeating "Sometimes I brag like Hov," but besides this, Born Sinner is the a more self-confessional and word-filled effort than before, all of it very busy and Black Album minus the references to Beyoncé and the beats from Rick Rubin. Cole is the one who produced most of the album himself with his Kanye-sense of sampling (work songs, gospel, old soul, etc.) and his love of hard bass (check "Trouble," "Chaining Day," or infectious single "Power Trip" for some great low end) both returning from before, but it's his love of jazz that provides the greatest rewards as "Forbidden Fruit" (it's like Erykah Baduh meets Ice Cube on this soulful dude cut with guest Kendrick Lamar) and "Let Nas Down" (a pledge to honor the man with better rhymes and less pop) are both driven by their Blue Note-inspried backbeats. All this bold borrowing is backed up by lyrics that flow fine until their shocking twists ("She raisin' that guy's kids while she swallowin' mine"), while "She Knows" with Dirty Projectors vocalist Amber Coffman is shameless enough to spit "This is Martin Luther King in the Club/With a bad bitch in his ear/Saying that she down for whatever/In the back of his mind is Coretta." It's snide, smart-ass stuff and when it comes to sublime/ridiculous balancing act that his heroes Jay-Z and Nas have mastered, Cole is a little short on the sublime side here to be considered classic. Still, "Crooked Smile" with special guests TLC is a genuine, mature step in the right direction and will have no trouble reaching vintage age. A handful of other numbers carry that same weight, making Born Sinner a daring step forward for Cole and an exciting attempt at mastering Jay's Blueprint style.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:20
- Main artists: J. Cole
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Roc Nation LLC
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records ℗ 2013 Cole World/Interscope Records
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