4 Your Eyez Only, an Album Deconstruction

Located in the thread below, will be an album Deconstruction of a personal favorite album of mine, 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole. I will display the story line and the message each song conveys and how they add to the story. Enjoy!

1. For Whom the Bells Toll

We are first introduced to this journey of “4 Your Eyez Only,” through the track, “For Whom The Bells Toll.” It establishes the very start of the album, by introducing us to the character that J. Cole will be speaking from the perspective (1/3)

of throughout most of this project, James McMillian Jr. James expresses his loneliness, depression, and thoughts of hopelessness. The title is a symbol, as the “Bells that Toll” (2/3)

symbolize funeral bells ringing, as he feels death is creeping around the corner. Overall, a setup track for James’s introduction. (3/3)

2. Immortal

Now, we get introduced to more of James’s character, especially regarding his come up, and the drug dealing business that he partakes in. James reveals to us, that he got caught up in the drug dealing business and explaining that he got in it because he (1/3)

needed money to make a living. He has self-awareness though, of himself and what he is doing. He understands that he is doing wrong but needs to continue to survive in this environment. (2/3)

At the end he reflects, realizing that he won’t be heard or appreciated, unless he passes at an early age and continues the mindset of feeling hopeless. (3/3)

3. Deja Vu

So now James proceeds to talk to this woman he has met, wanting her to just give him a chance at trying to win her heart over. He details his love for her and wanting to be with her, but as he continues to talks to this girl, he realizes that it’s not love he (1/2)

is experiencing, and starts to question it, to then say she isn’t worth the time and fit his expectations. He then accepts it and moves on from her. The track shows us a different side of James, the love that he wants from a woman, but ultimately being disappointed. (2/2)

4. Ville Mentality

James proceeds to then detail the mentality that he has adopted in the hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina where both the storyteller Cole and James are from. James talks about the limited opportunities to shine, and not chasing his dreams. He (1/2)

hasn't given up yet, as he details how he doesn’t want dirt on his name and will fight to defend it. This track can be described as a sight into more of James’s Hopelessness and his side, but he still has the strength to keep going. (2/2)

5. She’s Mine Pt. 1

Now James finally wants the girl he wants to spend the time of his life with, he details his true affection with her, just wanting to be by her side and being transparent. He now feels uplifted and has accomplished a real purpose in life.

6. Change

The story gets messy from here on out, so bear with me. We will essentially go back and forth between Cole and James’s perspectives here on out. This track can be interpreted in two different ways depending on the context of the album. The first one (1/6)

is that James feels so uplifted from this girl so he feels the need to “Change” to be the best man that he can be for her. The second context for this album, is how this song is reaching a level of “Christ Consciousness” and a mutual understanding of everything around him. (2/6)

He questions faith in god throughout the track, coming to an understanding of that if god was real, he wouldn’t truly judge someone since he is understanding. He also understands that he gets stronger every day and how it comes from within you. He then proceeds to (3/6)

understand that he is truly doomed just like his peers as well, because he sells dope. Expressing his fears shortly after, he reminisces in the past on the lifestyle he lives as of now and then realizes the lifestyle and his entire life has been a poison. The (4/6)

perspective now switches to Cole to say that James was found dead on the news and reported it like a normal news story. The outro shows us a funeral, the funeral of James McMillian Jr, and showcases how the cycle of violence resumes. It starts with a death for people (5/6)

then to get sad and then try to avenge the individual who has died, it's all a cycle. This track is essentially a flash forward, meaning that it is a fast forward into the album, this isn’t the end of the project, but its technically the second last part of the story. (6/6)

7. Neighbors

We take a break from James’s perspective for this one track, “Neighbors.” This was a song inspired by a break-in into Cole’s Home studio, “The Sheltuh” and how the police had raided it. He learns that the neighbors had been suspicious of him, so this (1/6)

track acts as a vent to them, to tell the neighbors who thought he was selling dope, that he wasn’t and only had good intentions in his heart to not do misdeeds. He vents his paranoia and fear that he struggles with him, as he is a black man in this society. All in all, (2/6)

he just wanted a safe place to stay, and in the end, he realizes that there will never be a safe place to live, since he will always live in prejudiced communities. Now throughout the track, we get hints of James’s whole perspective on this, as he is a drug dealer. (3/6)

At the end of the Hook where Cole raps, you can hear “Well, Motherfucker I Am.” This track is too a reflection of James’s thoughts and fears of being a drug dealer in this society, also realizing that he is a prejudiced black male and has the same feelings of fear and (4/6)

though he owns up to it and has made the Change in the last track like he did, understanding to own up to his mistakes cause in his head, (5/6)

he is guilty and learning from his lesson in “Immortal,” he is fine with passing away cause he knows it will come soon. Overall a track and shows the “Change” and understanding that James has come to. (6/6)

8. Foldin Clothes

Over this track, James shows the vulnerable love he has for his wife, wanting to help her out while she is pregnant with his Kid offering to Fold Clothes for her. He comes to an understanding that he doesn’t have to be this thug type of guy, but he (1/2)

can be vulnerable and soft as well. He just wants to show her love, be there for her, and show her physical love since that’s what she does to him. At the end, he realizes that even though he may suffer, he will always be strong and pull through it all. (2/2)

9. She’s Mine Pt. 2

James now shows his most vulnerable side thus far, expressing his love for his newborn child, and his wife. He feels so uplifted from them and now realizes (1/2)

his true purpose in life, to care for his family. He doesn’t care about anything else but now wants to live for them and nobody else. At the end, he starts to believe that God is real since his Child was born. (2/2)

10. 4 Your Eyez Only

We finally get to the end of the album with the title track, “4 Your Eyez Only.” We now pick up where we left off, right before he was found dead on the news in “Change.” He reflects on his life as a whole and the memories he has had. He reminisces (1/5)

on the troubling street life he has had growing up and in the present day. He reveals to us that this whole journey was documented by himself and wants this tape to be sent to his daughter if he passes early. He then starts to talk to his child, praying for her and only (2/5)

wanting the best for her in life, and detailing the struggles that he went through and doesn’t want her to go through. He finishes what he wants to say, by hoping that he won’t lose her and that he loves her with all his heart. Now, we switch to Cole’s perspective (3/5)

, as he tells us that James had a talk with Cole before he passed, telling him to tell the tale of James’s life through this album of “4 Your Eyez Only.” (4/5)

Cole then finishes off the album by talking to James’s daughter, and says that instead of being disappointed in her father for passing early, that she should be happy because he simply loved her and that’s what made him real. (5/5)

Thank you all for reading! Hope you enjoy! RT's and Likes Appreciated!