95 South

Album: The Off-Season (2021)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • J. Cole kicks off his The Off Season album with this victory lap where he flexes about his life and successes in the rap game. He boasts about clocking up multiplatinum records since the start of his career.

    Cole been goin' plat' since back when CDs was around

    And alludes to other rappers releasing extensive albums without achieving the numbers he does.

    Look how everybody clappin' when your 30-song album do a measly hundred thou'
  • The title references Cole traveling south on Interstate 95 from New York to his Fayetteville hometown in North Carolina.

    Trace my steps all in this game, you could see we cover ground
    Back and forth from NC to New York when Jeezy had the crown


    Cole is recalling his early days with the New York City-based record label Roc Nation, when he would frequently travel between the Big Apple and home. Atlanta-based rapper Jeezy, who was big at the time, was making similar trips between Atlanta and his New York label Def Jam.
  • The song starts with Harlem rapper Cam'ron taking the role of Cole's hype man. His chest-thumping intro lays the foundation for the North Carolina rapper's flexing.
  • The track closes with a cappella vocals from Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz's 2000 track "Put Yo Hood Up."
  • Boi-1da and Colemxn's triumphant production samples Bobby Byrd's 1970 cut "I'm Not to Blame."
  • The album title refers to the dedication it takes for NBA players to become superstars. The big names work hard all year round fine-tuning their skills, even in the summer off-season. Every day, similarly to his basketball heroes, Cole is writing verses, making beats and developing his craft. He said in Applying Pressure: The Off-Season Documentary: "One more time before I leave, before I'm fulfilled in this game, let me try to reach a new height from a skill level standpoint."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."