J. Cole’s reputation took a hammering this summer. Swiftly bowing out of the Kendrick vs Drake beef, his prestige took a hammering. With even the term ‘The Big Three’ coming under scrutiny, the decision to look back in his archive is a wise one. Placed on streaming for the first time, ‘Friday Night Lights’ serves as a reminder of exactly what made J. Cole so irresistible in the first place – the melodic flows, the intricate pen game, the ambition to sit alongside the greats, it’s all here, right from the off.
Initially released in 2010, ‘Friday Night Lights’ is an ever-cherished aspect of Cole’s catalogue. A real fan-favourite, it harks back to an era – searching through DatPiff, re-starting your Router – that comes with a ready-made sense of nostalgia. Returning to the tape, it remains hugely entertaining, packed with superb moments and – at times – a curiously ageless feel.
Of course, it helps that many of the samples sit in the bedrock of music culture. Working with real daring, ‘Friday Night Lights’ immediately posits J. Cole as one of The Greats, seating him alongside Nas and Erykah Badu. ‘Too Deep For The Intro’ nabs from ‘Didn’t Cha Know’, renewing the basslines phenomenal elasticity. ‘Villematic’ dares to take on one of US rap’s most totemic texts, like a graffiti artist placing their tag on a tourist landmark.
—
—
There’s more than a few big moments on here. ‘In The Morning’ marks the point where Cole and Drake aligned, while ‘Premeditated Murder’ feels ready for arena use, at a time when the rapper could scarcely sell out small clubs.
Often it’s the tracks which you overlooked which surprise. ‘Back To The Topic’ revels in a lush soundscape, and ‘The Autograph’ has a caramel-smooth sonic underpinning J. Cole’s on-point bars.
Naturally, some of it has dated. ‘Home For The Holidays’ is fun, frothy, but ultimately throwaway; ‘Higher’ feels thoroughly 2010 with its post-‘College Dropout’ piano sound. There’s a sense here, though, that in releasing the tape J. Cole is reaching out for a full circle moment, and embracing some form of renewal. A key moment in modern rap history, ‘Friday Night Lights’ bottles his quicksilver potential, and reminds you why he’s regarded as one of hip-hop’s pre-eminent contemporary voices.
8/10
Words: Robin Murray
