Gale continues, “You have to give it to J. But Cole is also more confident than ever.”Ĭole’s conviction is evident in his careful production of tracks such as “She Knows” feat. samples (‘Juicy’) and a live choir - a sonic theme of the album - the first words Cole utters are an adlib: ‘It’s way darker this time.’ Spoiler: The rest of the album definitely lives up to that. Over a backdrop of dramatic, rising strings, Notorious B.I.G. PHOTOS: 8 Albums With the Biggest Second Week Sales Dropsīillboard’s Alex Gale notes, “The opening track is a well-aimed warning shot. Critics agree that the rapper is not afraid to show his own insecurities. The North Carolina native addresses infidelity, the music industry and the struggle to remain true to his own artistic vision. In Born Sinner, Cole, through self-examination, takes listeners on a personal journey of his last two years. The follow-up, Cole World: The Sideline, further cemented his place as one of rap’s premiere MCs. Cole’s 2011 album debuted to positive reviews and hit No. The 28-year-old rapper skyrocketed to prominence in 2009 after signing with Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation. Cole’s sophomore album finally hit stores this week, going toe-to-toe with Kanye West’s highly anticipated Yeezus.