J. Cole Packs Drugs with a Political Punch | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

J. Cole Packs Drugs with a Political Punch

What has the rapper getting High for Hours?

94
J. Cole Packs Drugs with a Political Punch
Youtube: Everybody Dies by J. Cole

Despite its lewd title, J. Cole's new single High for Hours carries a profound, deeply honest message. Released, not so coincidentally, on January 16th (MLK Day), High for Hours discusses a wide range of political topics ranging from ISIS and Bin Laden's assassination to racism. While the track is masked by the rapper's smooth, R&B vocals and soft, hypnotic chorus, each verse outright questions American fundamentals, presidential actions, and our population's values. Cole dishes out food for thought without once inputting any opinion on this year's Election. By the end of the song, Cole forces his audience to look beyond party beliefs and judge ourselves as a collective body: one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice... for all (?)

This is called being high as shit, for hours
That's the name of this song, nigga
"High as Shit for Hours"
Here we go, yeah

The rapper begins the song in a conversational tone, stating that he's high on some sort of drug. The misleading intro suggests that J.Cole is presenting his audience with another cliché rap song riddled with explicit innuendos and party behavior, yet the next line provokes his listeners.

American hypocrisy, oh, let me count the ways
They came here seekin' freedom
Then they end up ownin' slaves
Justified it usin' Christianity which saves

Religion don't mean shit, there's too much ego in the way
That's why ISIS is a crisis
But in reality this country do the same shit

The questionably offensive parallel to ISIS is a blatant attack on Americans. Why would Cole publish such an anti-patriotic belief? It turns heads. It forces you to listen. Cole's manipulation of pressing topics draws his audience in, encouraging debate, questions, and maybe even controversy. He strikes at America's core: freedom. Alluding to the colonists fleeing from Great Britain in search of a safe haven, Cole bitterly details the hypocritical past of America. While we use religion as our mask to cover the ugly truths of racism, sexism, and xenophobia in our society, J.Cole justifies his fluid stream of consciousness by claiming he's been high for hours.

Use of drugs like marijuana encourages the brain to magnify thoughts originating in the subconscious, often preventing people from filtering what is going through their mind. J.Cole's obviously troubled by the political climate and he passionately writes about these stresses, giving us a peak into the artist's subconscious.

He bridges each verse together with a breathy, faded line: "the type of shit that make you wanna let go"

Each hit draws him farther and farther away from reality, allowing him to fade into his idealistic high and avoid the realistic brutality. However the release of the track carries more questions than answers. When was High for Hours recorded? Why wasn't it added to J.Cole's recent album, 4 Your Eyez Only?

J. Cole places national controversies at the heart of his song and gives room for open-ended answers. By releasing High for Hours as a stand-alone track, J.Cole is distinguishing the song as a separate entity from 4 Your Eyez Only. Audiences do not hear it amidst the shuffle mode on an album. The rapper is hoping his listeners will take the time necessary to analyze the song beyond face value. He wants it to make a statement.

It's time to have a conversation. Let's start now.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1123
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

683
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199800
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20632
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments