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Born on a military base in Germany and raised in North Carolina, American rapper J Cole gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his 2007 mixtape, The Come Up.

Signing to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, the rapper singer, songwriter and producer who celebrates his 37th birthday today, is now considered one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

In honour of the rapper’s 37th birthday, here are a few of his songs to include on your playlist.

8. Party

Although this 2011 track only features the artiste, it still makes for a great addition for your playlist. This feel good summer song was released as part of Beyoncé’s fourth studio album, 4. J Cole, who replaces Andre 3000 on the official remix, delivers a shorter but quite similar verse.

His verse, which he easily delivers, borrows from Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh’s La Di Da Di, and there is a shout out to Ice Cube’s comedy classic, Friday. Cole can also be seen in the accompanying music video.

7. Middle Child

From the 2019 album of the same name, this single was written by J. Cole, Allan Felder, Norman Harris and Tyler Williams. In Middle Child, Cole envisions himself in the centre of the old and new generations of hip-hop, therefore making him the ‘middle child’ of rap.

Middle child syndrome, according to Healthline, is the belief that middle children are excluded, ignored, or even outright neglected because of their birth order. 

6. Crooked Smile

Released as the second single from his second studio album, Born Sinner, the track samples Jennifer Hudson’s No One Gonna Love You and features girl group TLC, who had not released a song in over seven years at the time.

The 2013 uplifting ode, speaks to those who constantly focus on the positive, especially women, and it also speaks to the importance of inner beauty.

5. Pretty Little Fears (2016)

Another J Cole featured song on this list, Pretty Little Fears hears the rapper delivering lines surrounding the of the union between him and wife, Melissa Heholt, who he married in secret in 2016, two years prior to the song’s release.

The T-Minus produced single comes from 6Lack’s East Atlanta Love Letter Album. 6Lack unlike Cole raps about a romantic affair that eventually dissolves.

4. Power Trip (2013)

The 2013 single which features Miguel, is the lead from 2013’s Born Sinner and was dropped just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The double entendre speaks of both his love for a woman and also his love for hip hop. Power Trip, according to the singer’s Facebook page, is a continuation of his earlier track, Dreamz.

A Power Trip is defined as an activity or way of behaving that makes a person feel powerful. This definition fits both songs, as Cole is so obsessed with his female interest, so much so that he is more than willing to kill for her, which he eventually does in the accompanying music video. It also explains his want to progress in the industry.

3. Love Yourz (2014)

Love Yourz hears an older and wiser Cole reflecting on the most important things in life, such as love and happiness, as things come full circle.

Released from the 2014 Forest Hill Drive album, Cole personalises the themes, touching on the glamourous lifestyle that comes with the territory and his disillusioned stance.

2. Wet Dreamz(2014)

Here the rapper tells the story of how he lost his virginity to a girl in Math class, after lying to her about his sex life. The song, which was released on the 2014 Forest Hill Drive was originally intended for his debut studio album Cole Word: The Sideline Story.

The tune samples Family Circle’s Mariya and The Game’s Like Father, Like Son.

1. No Role Modelz (2014)

The fourth single from 2014 Forest Hill Drive, No Role Modelz is quite the fan favourite. J Cole is of the view that shallow and materialistic Los Angeles women became that way because their only role models were untalented television stars.

Similarly, Cole did not have much of a role model growing up, so now he is just a sad and empty man who indulges in lust, although it does not bring any form of fulfillment.