He tells a story of struggle, love and of changing oneself for the better, and he does so from the perspective of a different person. We don’t know if he actually had a friend who wanted to leave a tape like this to his daughter, but the story that Cole tells is important nonetheless. We don’t know if there is any truth to the picture that Cole paints with his storytelling.

“Neighbors” provides a taste of old Cole as it is more similar to the songs from 2014 Forest Hills Drive, the upbeat tempo makes the song fun to listen to and one of the best on the album. There is one song on 4 Your Eyez Only that strays from the narrative. Cole also shows optimism by focusing on the good aspects of life and love on tracks like “Foldin Clothes” and “She’s Mine” parts one and two. A large part of the album focuses on death and mortality. Throughout the album there are a number of themes present in the narrative that Cole tells. By making slower, simpler beats, Cole makes the story he tells and the album feel more genuine. Cole is telling a story here, and he wants the listener to know it, so he makes the words the center of the songs.

He also has some level of production credits on all of the songs, showing the level of care that he put into not only the verses on the album, but the beats and melodies too.Ĭole makes the beats simple and jazz heavy in an effort to make the verses more prominent throughout the album.

Rapping this entire album from someone else’s perspective is no small feat, and Cole does it with precision and care. Through these conversations it is revealed that 4 Your Eyez Only is the album that Cole’s friend left to be played for his daughter.Ĭole raps from his friend’s perspective, “write my story down and if I pass/ Go play it for my daughter when she ready/ And so I’m leaving you this record for your eyes only,” showing that he has passed and this is the record that he left behind. “Change” is also the song that introduces listeners to James, the person whose perspective many fans think the album is told from.Ĭole raps eloquently about death on “4 Your Eyez Only.” The song is sung like a conversation, the first part between Cole and his friend, and the second part between Cole’s friend and his friend’s daughter.

Listen to 4 your eyes only j cole