COLE WORLD: J COLE'S TOP 10 FEATURES
By: Noah Weinberg
In the promotional documentary for his latest album, The Off-Season, J. Cole revealed his internal dialogue behind the slew of features he’s done since 2018: “Do you really want to look back and be like, ‘You didn’t work with nobody?” “You didn’t have no songs with nobody?’ You just cool with that?’ No, OK! So start saying yes to some features.”
Cole’s a versatile artist who can glide effortlessly on smooth RnB cuts while simultaneously keeping up with rap’s best on bar-filled bangers. Here are my top ten J. Cole guest features:
10. My Boy [Freestyle] by Wale
It’s clear that J. Cole treats his collaborations with Wale as a lighthearted writing drill, and 2018’s “My Boy” is no exception. Over the bouncy, synthetic-horn led beat, Cole jokingly delivers the line “I raise my hands and raise your family's casualties up” before reminding the audience, “I'm faded, I'm playing.” The back and forth between the east coast MCs solidifies this track’s charm. When the pair affirm each other as “my boy!” you can’t help but bob up and down to their infectious attitude.
9. Say Na by Moneybagg Yo
When Jermaine sat down with Moneybagg Yo, he obviously wanted to tap into the Memphis rapper’s world. Over this wind-chime-meets-808-bass backed beat, Cole does just that, flexing about the wealth that comes with hip-hop superstardom: “Pick up a check/ So many digits, this shit just be looking like cell phone numbers.” It’s a trap-infused banger that works because Cole’s able to dichotomize Moneybagg’s simplistic flow with a dazzling display of lyrical acrobatics. His flow is cold, his delivery is hungry, and Cole effortlessly shows why he’s one of rap’s elite.
8. Johnny P’s Caddy by Benny the Butcher
On his most recent feature, J. Cole brings A+ level lyricism to this Griselda collab. It’s difficult to out-rap Benny the Butcher, yet Cole easily has the more memorable verse. Over an addictive vocal sample, Jermaine busts out of the gates rapping, “On the night I was born, the rain was pourin', God was cryin'/ Lightnin' struck, power outage, sparks was flyin'/ The real one's here, the young boy that walk with lions/ Around the outlines of chalk where the corpses lyin.” It’s like he’s talking to the listener, berating them with his impassioned flow. His detailed imagery, internal rhyme scheme, and ability to seamlessly move from one line to the next, make this an early feature of the year contender.
7. The London by Young Thug featuring Travis Scott
By far the most popular song on this list, “The London” is an unlikely pairing between three hip-hop giants. Young Thug is the song’s weakest performer, but he still sounds pleasant over T-Minus’ fluttery production. Houston’s Travis Scott glides on top of this track with his airy, ambient vocals. Meanwhile, Jermaine dominates the Thugger single, bringing a much-needed lyrical flourish. He fuses a robotic-sounding autotune into his vocals, incorporating both trap and conscious hip-hop elements in his verse. He’s ruthlessly flashy; I mean, it’s a special kind of flex to do the math on how much money you’re making from guest features (“A verse from me is like eleven birds/ I did the math it's like 2000 dollars every word”). “The London” is a fantastic single, one that’s become an undeniable summer anthem.
6. Come Through and Chill by Miguel
On this sexy, harmonic RnB cut, J. Cole makes his presence felt without overstepping Miguel’s boundaries. Miguel’s buttery vocals dominate the song, but Cole still plays into the song’s laid-back vibe. He’s conversational, practically talking to the listener. He likens his experience with a hook-up to different NFL storylines, rapping, “I was countin down the days been more patient than a Browns fan” and “know you’ve been on my mind like Kaepernick kneelin.” Between Cole’s attention-grabbing punchlines and Miguel’s seductive vocals, “Come Through and Chill” is an essential track for any sex playlist.
5. Pretty Little Fears by 6lack
Filled with vulnerable lines from both artists, Pretty Little Fears is an honest expression of letting one’s guard down. Cole gives listeners an inkling of his deep-seated love for his wife. It’s relatable and real, and J. Cole’s virtuosic lyricism blows 6lack out of the water. There’s a reason that following the song’s release, Rolling Stone published the article “Rappers keep letting J. Cole steal their songs.” Over the spacey instrumental, Cole metaphorizes his wife with “You plant a seed, it grows some roots, a branch and leaves/ Becomes a tree of life until our nights are filled/ With peace from stress and strife/And that's the blessin' that I get from wifing you.” It’s these candid lyrics that make this song so unique, and a must-listen when in the company of that special someone.
4. Family and Loyalty by Gang Starr
As the first single to legendary duo Gang Starr’s final album, “Family and Loyalty” is an ode to life’s simple pleasures. DJ Premier lays down some frosty production, complete with a cinematic string section, chopped-up piano sample, and a 90s boom-bap drum pattern. The song’s chorus references the 1971 Bond film “Diamonds are Forever.” While that title has been previously interpolated by Kanye West, deceased rapper Guru completes the line with “like family and loyalty, or real rap songs like C.R.E.A.M or My Melody.” Cole brings his best to this song, spazzing out thoughtful lyrics with undeniable speed. He reflects on how Eurocentrism often neglects the contributions of Africans to philosophy, astronomy, and even hip-hop. Although “diamonds are forever,” Cole concludes his verse by realizing, “Diamonds only worth what we demandin', uh, uh/ And n**gas payin' top-dollar/ Once upon a time I paid a 100 for mine, now I'm a lot smarter.”
3. Tribe by Bas
This song is simply musical crack cocaine. Between the cheery guitar loop and ever-present 808 drums, “Tribe” is more infectious than a nasty case of COVID-19. The melodic sample of Edu Lobo’s “Zum-Zum'' makes the listener feel like they’re surfing atop a particularly gnarly wave. The groovy production is so addictive that you don’t even realize that J. Cole is rapping to a potential love interest with lines like “I thought that I saw it all, 'til I saw you/ Now I call you when the sun shines and the rain dries up/ I'm a pit bull, but for you, I be on chain tied up.” With the perfect summer vibe, “Tribe” leaves the listener with a self-esteem boost, feeling they can take on the world.
2. Off Deez by J.I.D.
Label mates J.I.D. and J. Cole lay down a lyrical onslaught on Off Deez. The Dreamville artists politely ask their fans to stop bothering them with negative energy by saying, “get off my dick.” Chasethemoney’s rumbling guitar loop strikes fear in the listener’s heart as Cole and J.I.D. ballistically rap with Quicksilver level speed. The first time I heard this single, I had to stop the song and rewind from the beginning due to the straight fire coming out of my headphones. It’s a beautifully jarring song, one that provokes listeners to stop and think, “did he really just say that?” J. Cole is electric with his machine gun flows. He’s nonstop, progressively picking up energy, rapping, “With the chrome .45 that most don't got/ One false move, get your moto shot/ Turn a nigga whip to a photo op/ Click, click, click, and the flows don't stop/'Til I got more cream than Cold Stone got.” While his inflection is intense, he does politely describe J.I.D. as the “closest thing to me.” The top-notch flow switches, exquisite wordplay, and unapologetic bars make this J. Cole’s second-best feature.
1. A Lot by 21 Savage
J. Cole delivers the epitome of the perfect feature on 21 Savage’s “a lot.” His down-to-earth delivery over a sample of East of Underground’s “I Love You” contrasts nicely with 21’s monotone flow. Concurrently, J. Cole’s ability to rhyme so efficiently with vividly detailed descriptions makes this one of the most memorable verses of his career. He floats from one subject to the next, and compassionately reflects on infamous rapper 6ix9ine’s imprisonment: “Pray for Tekashi, they want him to rot/ I picture him inside a cell on a cot/ 'Flectin' on how he made it to the top/ Wondering if it was worth it or not.” Infused with a soul sample and trap drums, the musicality of this track perfectly exemplifies J. Cole’s perspective of being the “middle child of hip-hop.” Cole knows he’s reaching a new, younger audience on this song, and he excels in making this not only a monumental cross-generational anthem, but also the best feature of his illustrious career.
