Black History Month: J. Cole listening party

On February 26, Blazers and Blair staff gathered in Room 253 to pay a final tribute to Black History Month with a listening party for rapper J. Cole’s newest album, “The Fall-Off.” For each song played, attendees rated it from 1 to 5 mics (or stars, essentially), and then raised their hands to explain the reasoning behind their ratings.

Starting off strong, the class followed along to the lyrics of “Two Six” playing from the Promethean Board. The chantlike whisper-rapping made for a compelling intro, replicating the fast-paced, gritty energy of “Trial Time” by The Last Mr. Bigg, of which it samples. The lyrics and instrumentals were energetic and intriguingly disorienting. The ending, however, mellowed out into a melodic, almost hopeful tune, the final lyrics reading, “Fell off and fell on my face / But I knew I’d find a way.” The song was well-received, with several listeners holding up five fingers.

“Safety” came next, a more steady, reflective piece exploring themes of loss, homophobia, and regret, accompanied by a strong beat and jazzy instrumentals. The chorus was catchy, but the storytelling stood out in particular. The artist expresses remorse for distancing himself from a gay friend, who later died from what was likely Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), over disapproval of his “lifestyle.” Many in the room rated it five or four mics, one student complimenting its use of samples (“U.N.I.T.Y. by Queen Latifah and “Midnight Theme” by Manzel) and another expressing he felt it was a “summer song.”

“Bunce Road Blues” began with strong, emphatic lyrics following a calm and almost eerie instrumental opening that continued in the background. The song described rocky beginnings, with “I come from the brokest of homes” as a repeated lyric. About halfway through, singer Tems took over with smooth, satisfying vocals, ending the song by singing “I’m handcuffed, I’m roped in.” The track also smoothly wove in samples of “Nice & Slow” by Usher and “Pokey Nova.” Most in the room found Tems’ inclusion to be the best part.

The last song played was “I Love Her Again.” It sampled “The Light” by Common and built on the concept of Common’s “I Used to Love H.E.R,” which used a relationship with a woman as a metaphor for the evolution of hip-hop. The song has similar twists, and received lots of ratings of five mics.

Overall, the listening party was a wonderful celebration of hip-hop and Black artistry. Happy Black History Month!