By Calder Costantini – Staff Reporter

“2014 Forest Hills Drive” is a hip-hop album produced by the artist J. Cole. The album debuted on December 9, 2014, under Dreamville Records and Roc Nation, officially being Cole’s third studio album. This album strayed from the mainstream because Cole included zero featured artists and stayed away from the radio vibe of music. Cole delivered a raw, self-contained narrative about his upbringing and the struggles that followed in gaining fame. This album conveyed an autobiographical vibe that fans adored. 

The name “2014 Forest Hills Drive” originates from J. Cole’s childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The album loosely follows the story of his childhood in Fayetteville that shaped him, and his anxieties today. The songs “Dreamz” and “January 28th” explore Cole’s adolescence as an awkward, out-of-touch, high school student, following his anxious and troubled childhood, staying unapologetically honest throughout these songs. Bouncing off of those songs, songs like “G.O.M.D” and “No Role Modelz” show Cole’s path through the music industry, where he strived to be his own specific artist, and he didn’t want to be compared to anyone else. In these songs, he can critique the industry while still being able to know his own place, which is a strong point and recurring theme throughout this whole album.

Arguably, the best song on this album is Cole’s “Love Yourz.” The song dives deeper into the emotional side of his music, reminding listeners that fulfillment doesn’t come from success. The track demonstrates how gratitude is essential to achieving happiness. 

Although this album is a critically acclaimed masterpiece, there are a few weak points according to fans. Many people claim that the album has lyrical inconsistencies and seems to stray away from being a standout album for Cole. These points make fans second-guess the album’s prominence in the mainstream media, but a majority of listeners have no bad thoughts on this record.

This album truly follows a great story through Cole’s childhood and his challenges throughout his whole life. The album won countless awards, such as, 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards – Album of the Year, the 2015 Billboard Music Awards – Best Rap Album, as long as the album went triple platinum in 2019.

Overall, this album is one of the cornerstones of modern-day hip-hop music and will surely go down in the history books as one of the greatest storytelling rap albums of all time.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars