Apparently unphased by the prospect of going head to head with those above him in stature, Cole even goes so far as to make express reference to releasing an album on the same day as Kanye, a gamble which, as we've seen, didn't entirely pay off (at least not where media attention is concerned). Re-using that sample in such similar fashion to Tribe's 'Electric Relaxation' is a brave move, and one likely to attract unfavourable comparisons with the earlier use. Not content with calling in one of the past year's most hyped vocalists as guest, the track lifts its central loop from Ronnie Foster's 'Mystic Brew', a track that will forever hold an association with A Tribe Called Quest's all time classic 1993 album 'Midnight Marauders'. It's here that Cole takes his attempt to place himself amongst hip hop's great to new heights. Speaking of Kendrick Lamar, he appears here to deliver the hook on 'Forbidden Fruit'. Forbidden Fruit (samples Ronnie Foster's 'Mystic Brew') It’s arguably a curious blend, but it works.ħ. Kelly’s 'I Wish (Remix) (To the Homies That We Lost)', forming the backbone of the track from thereon in. In so far as the track's musical backdrop is concerned, the song opens with a pitched down sample of Cole's own 'Born Sinner' featuring James Fauntleroy delivering a gospel-esque hook re-appropriated to give a broody intro to the pacier, darker setting of 'Villuminati' which then gives way to an orchestral sample borrowed from R. The track with closes out another line from 'Juicy': ”Now I'm in the limelight cause I rhyme tight / Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade", alongside yet another reference to Jay-Z in the form of a quote from 'Public Service Announcement': “allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Cole.” The verses are practically a word-search of famous names with everyone from Justin Timberlake to 'Rap City' host Big Tigga getting a look in. The album's opener dives directly into the referencing of two of the genre's most lauded artists with the line "sometimes I brag like Hov" (a reference of course to Jay-Z) and a prominent sample from Biggie's 1994 classic 'Juicy', the title quote, “born sinner, opposite of a winner”. Cole's 'Born Sinner', Notorious B.I.G's 'Juicy', R Kelly's 'I Wish' (Remix) and interpolates Jay-Z's 'Public Service Announcement' and Trinidad James' 'All Gold Everything') General critique aside, on to the samples!:ġ.
Being less kind, it could be perceived as an unsubtle attempt to force himself into the company of the genre's upper echelons by association, a tried and tested tactic adopted by the likes of The Game and his constant references to Compton's rap forefathers. Giving Cole the benefit of the doubt, the regular references to and quotes from hip hop's greats could be seen as a means of dealing with the struggle he faces to live up to his legendary predecessors. And it's evident from the outset that Cole would like to see himself amongst that sort of company. It's a feat that few major league rappers have achieved - think Jay-Z, Scarface, Kanye for successful examples.
As the name suggests, 'Born Sinner' seeks to follow in the tradition of those great introspective albums that tread the right side of the line between honesty and self-indulgence. But in spite of that pretty major setback, sales have been strong and, after Yeezus / Magna Carta related content, it remains the most popular current release featured on the site.Īpproaching ‘Born Sinner’ with a critic’s eye, one could easily dismiss Cole as the latest artist to have hopped on Kendrick Lamar’s 'honest-hip-hop' bandwagon but as a complete album it's not unsuccessful in taking the listener through the ups and downs he's faced to find his own voice.
That anticipation however was all but stopped in its tracks by Kanye's 'Yeezus' (released the same day), which it's fair to say pretty much eclipsed 'Born Sinner's media attention leaving it somewhat starved of column inches.
The few tracks to have surfaced prior to official release, including a well received collaboration with Miguel, were riding high in our hot samples list. The release of the 'Truly Yours' EP earlier in the year had, if not cemented his reputation as a major player, at least created a strong sense of anticipation around this long player. Cole looked set to rocket from sideline story to spotlight. Little more than a couple of weeks ago, J.