Change

Album: 4 Your Eyez Only (2016)
Charted: 63 21
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • J. Cole raps here about the changes he is going through as he's grows older and gains wisdom and maturity.

    I know you desperate for a change let the pen glide
    But the only real change come from inside


    His change from being in a singular state of mind to more socially responsible adult has come from inside.
  • At the center of 4 Your Eyez Only is the story of a drug-dealing childhood friend of J. Cole's. He is named as James McMillan Jr. in this song, but according to Genius, the Fayetteville artist changed the name for the sake of privacy.
  • During the latter part of the song, Cole details the murder of James, when he was just 22. The North Carolina rapper recalls the shock he felt when his friend's killing was reported the next day on the news. In the outo, Cole re-enacts James' funeral, and expresses the emotions he felt at the time about the tragedy.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.