4 Your Eyez Only song by song analysis Thread https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Pfeil nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach unten">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Pfeil nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach unten">

This thread will take a deeper look into how each track forms the overall story of 4YEO

If y’all have any questions at the end I would love to hear them
Concept Summary: 4YEO tells the story of coles childhood friend, James, who became a drug dealer. The album, directed as a message from the friend to his daughter after his passing, tells the story of his struggle with the law, love for his family, and posthumous regrets.
For Whom the bells toll: The intro track exhibits the strife that returns throughout the album. James struggles with the reality of his probable death, and what that means for his family. He hears the “bells getting louder”, or the funeral bells getting closer, and begins (1/2)
...to contemplate on this track, what the whole album is about; his maturation which has left him in love with a wife and child, but his past ignorance, which has cornered him into a trap of drug dealing and death. This emotional intro sets the tone for the album. (2/2)
Immortal: Immortal combines a youthful POV from James with reflective critiques on systematic racism. When it comes to the direct storyline, this song serves as an intro to his drug dealing, how wanting to be real and surroundings forced him into dealing, a death trap. (1/2)
The track also shows the idea of how systemic racism and a realness mentality forced him into a mindset, that was ignorant to death. Ideas he was fed such as “sell dope, rap or go to NBA In that order” show the trap he was forced into. These themes stay throughout the album (2/2)
Deja vu: Deja Vu marks the introduction of relationships and love as a theme. James meets the girl he falls in love with in this song. However the introduction of their relationship is more frivolous and macho. At this point James is more focused on image & masculinity than love
Ville Mentality: The immaturity and machoness from Deja Vu are continued here. The song isn’t necessarily from James POV, however, it defines his mentality clearly, how he is unwilling to express or sway from the definite ville mentality of strength, money, etc (1/2)
...which is achieved through drug dealing. This mentality is also expressed as cyclical in this song, with the voice sample of a young child whose father was killed. In the sample, the child expresses a sort of closed out, unemotional mentality, the same as James (2/2)
She’s Mine Pt 1: This song marks the beggining of his maturation, but not yet a full 180. James through his relationship with this girl, starts to become emotional and feel comfortable for the first time. This relationship starts to shift him from the ville mentality (1/2)
However, this song doesn’t mark James move from drug dealing. Rather it’s an emotional step away from the streets, but not yet a physical one. (2/2)
Change: Change takes a step back from James linear story, and uses Coles view to take a larger scan of the situation. I see this song as J Coles summary of James situation, mainly focused around dealing and death, rather than his mental change.
Neighbors: This song has 2 layers to it. On the surface it’s the story of J Cole and his friends hanging out, when a neighbor called the cops because they thought cole was selling drugs. However in aline with the story, the song has a more direct meaning. (1/2)
This story represents the racial stereotypes that still surround black people across America without bounds. These stereotypes are the ones that have created the systemic racism that forced James into drug dealing as his only option (2/2)
Foldin Clothes: Tho it is hated by some, Foldin clothes is one of the most important tracks, showing us James’ further maturation. His mentality has completely switched from the streets at this point. No longer is his mental captured by the ville mentality, rather now he has...
...grown to care more for this girl. He’s willing to fold clothes to help her or drink almond milk because she says so. He’s gone “soft” compared to his old self. However, the tone of the song shows us that this softness doesn’t matter to him, and he’s content sacrificing for her
She’s mine Pt 2: At this point James has fully matured. At the end of foldin clothes, his mentality has changed, but his actions haven’t necessarily. But with pt 2, his daughter is born. This is a feeling that doesn’t match anything else in the world, and with this he’s (1/3)
Willing to do anything for her. The contrast of pt 1 and 2 is interesting. In 1, he is having more of an emotional release, whereas pt 2 is blissful, and reflective. He’s thinking about anything he can do to make his daughters life better, willing to sacrifice everything. (2/3)
Even the chorus has a different impact between songs. Pt 2 just seems so genuine and real. It represents an instinctive unconditional love. (3/3)
4 Your Eyez Only verse 1: James reflects on his decisions in this conclusion. On the first verse, he struggles with changing his ways, and getting a job to support his family. He does this for his daughter, however due to his criminal background, he can’t find work, and (1/2)
contemplates a return to dealing to support his family, though it will likely mean his death. This foreshadowing basically concludes the linear storyline, but not the story as a whole. (2/2)
4 Your Eyez Only verse 2,3,4: These verses emotionally show James as a true father figure, explaining his issues to his daughter and giving any advice he can. It’s easy to tell the maturity and affection James has. The relationships he’s had, formed him into a father figure (1/2)
J cole concludes on the last verse, summarizing James life, how his early struggle affected him, but his care for His daughter defined him (2/2)
Conclusion: This emotional album, tho summarized in the final song, fully scopes the story not only of James, but of thousands before him and the system that pushed him into the direction he ended. Despite his change, the structure in place left him no chance
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