J Cole’s albums have always been noted as something to look at. “Cole World: The Sideline Story” was his debut studio album including tracks like “Work Out” and “In the Morning” featuring Drake. That album followed by “Born Sinner” with hit songs like “Power Trip” featuring Miguel and “Born Sinner.”

Both of these albums want to make you sing along or nod your head. They tell a story of a young aspiring artist with the troubles of financial struggle and his elders not respecting his music as expressed in the song on the “Born Sinner” album “Let Nas Down.” In retrospect, J Cole has always teetered on the edge and played it safe with his music.

But now, with his third studio album released, “Forest Hills Drive” Cole has gone off the deep end and reveals his somewhat apparent not caring about you only his music attitude. Songs like “G.O.M.D.,” “No Role Models,” and “Fire Squad” represent his I’m the best, deal with it attitude.

The best song on the album by far is “Apparently” peaking at number 17 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Billboards charts staying there for 11 weeks. In the song he says that “This is my canvas, I’ma paint it how I want it.” Paint his canvas, he did. And he painted well, pushing his album above 500k sales, painting it gold.

Cole’s fire album, going gold has transitioned him from an aspiring artist, to an inspiring artist.