Friday Night Lights. Happy Birthday

Five years ago, on this date of November 12th, J. Cole released what I consider a top 5 Mixtape of all time... Friday Night Lights. Friday Night Lights is the third mixtape released by J. Cole. I feel this was the release that finally put people on notice about his talent. I won't even lie, this was the first project I heard from Cole. Ironically, when I heard it for the first time around my Freshman year of high school, I thought it was terrible. I only liked one song off it, 2Face. It took me two years until I realized the masterpiece he created. So on its 5th year anniversary, I've decided to review it.

Friday Night Lights is a mixtape about of J. Cole's youth. He rapped on a myriad of topics, so many that it's hard not to relate to something on here. I think what makes this tape so relatable is the way J. Cole told stories on these songs. J. Cole was storytelling. He was descriptive. You could hear all the emotions he dealt with, and that's where J. Cole excels. He tells tales better than any other rapper in the game, and Friday Night Lights is the highlight of it.

So Standout Tracks? I kid you not... All of them. There is not a bad song on this mixtape. So I'll start with my most favorite song on the whole mixtape

Too Deep For The Intro 

For anyone who hasn't heard this mixtape, I'd advise you to listen to this song first. I love this song, like I listen to it every day. I think it's my favorite because it's the most relatable to me. Cole talks about being a kid in high school. He then talks about domestic violence, and why it happens. The second verse was the verse that really gets to me. My favorite part of the song is when he starts talking about his virginity. " But being a virgin was something to be embarrassed about, I used that ass for practice so I wasn't scared out my mind". Raps about all this on a soulful Erykah Badu sample.

The Autograph

Another one of my favorites. He opens up with one of the most quotable lines in rap history. "They say anything's possible, you gotta dream like you never seen obstacles" The first verse is all about reaching your dreams, and how it feels to finally start doing so. The second verse he starts talking about this girl he knew. How he was this girls sidepiece. He kinda regrets making a women cheat on her husband. He keeps it's a buck with her the whole way though " I wouldn't say that you a hoe, just made a hoe decision" . The song is full of quotable lyrics all the way through, must listen. 

Villematic

On this track Cole remixed Kanye's Devil In A New Dress, and he snapped. A lot of rappers remixed this song, and Cole had the best one... by far. Another song full of quotes. This song has a lot of college references because Cole did graduate. He talks about the hate he gets for no reason. Then he talks about the hoes and the temptation of cheating. " But I'm tryna be strong, remind myself she ain't about shit, These hoes the same all that change is the outfit" 

In The Morning

This was probably the most popular song off the album. It was a nice slow jam, the ladies loved this track. Cole's first verse was him trying to run game. "Baby you summertime fine... You fine as hell, I guess I met you for a reason, only time will tell." The next verse comes from the 6God before he officially was. Drakes comes in singing. " Baby you wintertime cold, The night is still young drink that dinner wine slow," He goes on talking about his love for thick women, and even subs Serena Williams on here " That thing is pokin' , I mean you kinda like that girl that's in the US Open" Cole then delivers a dope third verse to close it out. 

Love Me Not

This was a song to Cole's girlfriend at the time. He talks about how the music changed him, and how it's hurting their relationship. He talks about how he's always gone, and the struggles of being a rapper on the road. I love this song because it's something straight form the heart, you hear the hurt and the truth about the whole situation. He then raps from his girl's perspective which was so creative. " The way you braking my heart, I should sue you for that, call up my uncles and my cousins, have 'em do you for that. " 

Blow Up
Another very popular song of this tape. Cole explained this song perfectly in the chorus. This is a song for his haters. He knows the fame and success is coming, and no amount of hate will stop it. One of the hardest bars of the whole tape comes on this song with his use of double ententes and irony.  " It's funny how money, chains, and whips, make us feel free." Cole says it's ironic that the things that kept us in slavery are the things we chase when we have money. Genius line.

2Face

2Face is probably the best bar for bar song on here. Cole was straight spitting the whole time. You could hear the anger all over the track, and it sounds even more prevalent considering how laid back the beat is. This was the first Cole song I actually liked, and the only one I liked when I first heard Friday Night Lights. Very quotable on here too, definitely a must listen if you one of those people that love straight spitting.

Farewell

Another top song is the tape's closing one. On Farewell, Cole raps from the perspective of him looking back on his life. He wonders what they will say about him when he dies, debating between many positives and negatives. He then starts reminiscing on his childhood and how that was such an easier time. " Yet I won't forget my past, and I hope it won't forget me"  Cole closed the album out perfectly with this one.

Looking For Trouble

Looking For Trouble was the bonus track for this mixtape. This is one of THE hardest songs... ever, Looking For Trouble featured all G.O.O.D. Music. We were blessed with fire verses from Pusha T, Kanye, Cyhi, Big Sean, and J. Cole. Back to back to back. Pusha T laid down a solid verse, a nice opening, then Kanye came in and started eating dropping bars like "The devil stay testin',  cause when you chase pussy it's a sin, but when it fall in your lap it's a blessing". Cyhi followed by Big Sean. Then J. Cole came in and literally dropped one of the hardest verses I've ever heard. " Cole world make way for the chosen one, what you now hear putting fear in all the older ones." " Fucking hoes while teaching niggas to hold they sons, this the rap Moses, scratch  that, Mary and Joseph son." He even dropped this line that blew up twitter for the longest. " They say you are what you eat, and I still ain't pussy" He by far had the best verse, dropping quote after quote. A J. Cole must listen.

Friday Night Lights is one of the greatest projects ever. Considering the fact it's a mixtape and not an album makes it even more prestigious. My personal belief, this is Cole's magnum opus. He's dropped three amazing albums, but none have surpassed the excellence of this tape. His flow was a work of art, the way he strung together stories on here is unrivaled. This mixtape deserves it's ranking as a Top 5 mixtape ever, and if you've truly listened to it, you would not debate it. Thank you J. Cole for this masterpiece, and Happy 5th Birthday.