J. Cole Premieres His ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ Documentary

Clash catches the new film at London's Troxy venue...

After releasing his album-inspired documentary to the US on HBO last weekend, J. Cole exclusively gave his UK fans a chance to view, ‘J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only’ last week at East London venue Troxy.

Co-directed by the rapper and film director Scott Lazer, those attending were able to watch the documentary in its entirety. In the thought provoking, 48 minute recording, we see J. Cole get behind the camera as he travels through the Deep South of the United States.

The Roc Nation rapper speaks to black communities in cities such as Baton Rouge, Atlanta, and his own hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Highlighting their unheard stories, Cole shares the accounts of individuals who feel politically powerless and speaks to the cousin of Mike Brown who was controversially shot in Ferguson, Missouri. We get a rare glimpse of Cole’s father who takes him around Jonesboro to learn about the town’s black history.

Additionally we see the real life footage of police raiding the studio, The Sheltuh on suspicion of Cole drug dealing, which is the inspiration for track 'Neighbors'. The documentary weaves in many music for tracks from his December 2016 album ‘4 Yours Eyez Only’ whilst including some unheard songs.

Proving that J. Cole sees a bigger purpose to his art, he successfully gives a voice to the voiceless sharing stories from the black community that need to be heard.

J. Cole returns to the UK for his '4 Your Eyez Only Tour' on October 12th, beginning in Nottingham – it follows on from his 2015 'Forest Hills Drive Tour' which was the highest selling hip-hop tour of that year. The rapper will perform two nights at London's O2 Arena on October 15th and 16th.

– – –

Words: Nikita Rathod
Photo Credit: Samuel Bradley

Buy Clash Magazine

-
Join the Clash mailing list for up to the minute music, fashion and film news.