J. Cole’s fourth studio album, 4 Your Eyez Only, has continued his ascendency to becoming one of hip-hop’s greats.
Following the success of 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which became the first rap album in 25 years to go platinum – and then double platinum – without any features, there was enormous pressure on the Fayetteville-born rapper to deliver another modern classic.
The 32-year-old lyricist duly obliged, and his latest release has since gone on to follow its precursor in also achieving platinum certification – again with no featured verses.
Congrats to my brother @jcolenc on his 4th Platinum album. Also congrats to @Dreamville and All producers & musicians who worked on 4YEO. pic.twitter.com/zLWAy2g9Lh
— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) April 7, 2017
J.Cole illustrates the struggles of a young maturing black male in the United States. Throughout, he flips from his own viewpoint to that of a close friend, who was shot down and killed at 22.
The album takes the form of a letter to his passed friend’s daughter.