If you have enjoyed J. Cole on the mixtapes you shouldn't be disappointed with this debut album, as he hasn't released a pop rap filled LP like other mixtape artists sometimes do with their debuts, and it's pretty much the J. Cole we know. Some tracks of note; 'Lost Ones' really gives off a 'Stan' feel, with Cole rapping from different perspectives. 'God's Gift' is my pick from the disc - Whilst lyrically it is a bit unstructured, I love the bangin' beat. The songs that surround 'God's Gift' are also among the best - 'Breakdown' and 'Rise and Shine'.
The production handled predominantly by J. Cole himself is quite good. To me it feels like a mixture of a '90s soulful/chillness, with a touch of Kanye influence. Negatives are that he can become repetitive, particularly if you've heard his mixtapes, however, he gets an A for rapping which separates him from a lot of other new artists. Not a lot here will exceed expectations, and it is blotchy at times, with most of the songs with featuring artists being the main offenders (see below), but after getting into it I've found it to be a pretty consistent album, with only a few disposable tracks in the middle, and one that finishes really well.
Great: Dollar and a Dream III, Sideline Story, Cole World, Rise and Shine, God's Gift, Breakdown, Cheer Up
Good: Can't Get Enough (feat. Trey Songz), Lights Please, Lost Ones, Never Told, Nothing Lasts Forever, Work Out, Daddy's Little Girl
Meh: In the Morning (feat. Drake), Mr. Nice Watch (feat. Jay-Z), Nobody's Perfect (feat. Missy Elliott)
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