From the title itself, there is the main title, "Cole World" and the subtitle, "The Sideline Story". The evidence can be found on the background information provided by Wikipedia.
According to Wikipedia, it states that, "Cole World : The Sideline Story ... is the debut studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on September 27, 2011, by Roc Nation and Columbia Records, with distribution from Sony Music. The album is his first studio release, following three successful mixtapes".
Moreover on Wikipedia it says, "The album was one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 due to the sharp rise in Cole's popularity and mainstream fan base. Cole's lyrics perhaps most strikingly deal with issues such as abortion and the consequences of growing up in a fatherless household. However, these themes are incorporated alongside more introspective issues such as relationships, family problems, fame and attempting to be successful - an area which very much links in with the subtitle of the album 'The Sideline Story' ".
From my point of view, since the title, "The Sideline Story" is the subtitle, it means that the title, "Cole World" is the main title. From the information provided by Wikipedia, "The Sideline Story" deals with issues faced in today's society such as abortion, family problems e.t.c. The main title, "Cole World" seems to be about Cole's popularity, success and fame in the rap game. Therefore, Cole World : The Sideline Story is about Cole's success in the rap game and how he seems to highlight issues and challenges he has faced in his life before gaining success.
There is another meaning of the subtitle, "The Sideline Story". According to a music review by Vince Yuen on wegotthiscovered.com, he stated that, "As the North Carolina MC J. Cole has explained himself after years of trying out, sitting on the sidelines and releasing critically acclaimed mixtapes, the time of the big game has finally arrived. His much anticipated debut album Cole World : The Sideline Story is here and it's a resounding success".
From my perspective, there are important aspects to consider. The words, "critically acclaimed mixtapes" is making reference to probably his three mixtapes, The Come Up, The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights. From these mixtapes, there was a metaphor of Cole trying out to be part of the basketball team. It meant Cole working hard to make a name for himself in the rap game. Therefore those mixtapes are the sidelines where he was working hard as a successful rapper in the rap game but he knew he had to work harder.
Therefore the album Cole World : The Sideline Story is about him being part of the "basketball team" (rap game) and him making a name for himself in the rap game. Therefore The Come Up, The Warm Up, Friday Night Lights and Cole World : The Sideline Story are linked.
There is probably a meaning for the main title, "Cole World". According to a music review by William Ketchum III on hiphopdx.com, he states that, "With his debut album Cole World : The Sideline Story, the North Carolina upstart and high school basketball player laces his J's to share his come up and show why he deserves a starting position".
From my point of view, Cole sharing his come up and why he deserves a starting position in the rap game is why I believe it's making reference to the main title, "Cole World". Moreover, the words "come up" is probably making reference to the first mixtape The Come Up where in this case it marked the establishment of J. Cole's music career. This was his world hence "Cole World".
The two titles, "Cole World" and "The Sideline Story" could show meanings through the tracks Cole World and The Sideline Story.
The track Cole World seems to talk about Cole's inspiration as a rapper and how he has gained recognition in the rap game. This is shown on the lyrics below :
[Verse 1]
"It took me all day to find some inspiration
It just hit me like a ton of bricks, no renovation
Problem with the game now, there ain't no innovation
I see my shit all in your shit, we call that imitation
And they say that's flattering, but I ain't flattered at all
Matter fact y'all need to practice that more
See my man Nate asked me if I gained weight
I said nah, my pockets got fatter, that's all
Money was an issue, but now that that's solved...."
From my point of view, this proves my perspective that the title Cole World is about Cole's popularity, success and fame in the rap game.
The track The Sideline Story is about Cole getting off the sidelines. According to Genius, it states that, "...In this song,Jermaine lays three verses about how he managed to 'get up off the sideline'. From pouring his heart out to signing to the Roc, Cole simply wants to put his city on the map". This is shown on the lyrics below :
[Verse 1]
"I put my heart and soul in this game, I'm feelin' drained
Unappreciated, unalleviated
Tired of comin' up short—fuck abbreviated
Want my whole name spelled out, my own pain spilled out
No pain, no gain, I blow brains—Cobain
Throw flames, Liu Kang, the coach ain't help out, so I call my own shots
I'm David Blaine, I'm breakin' out of my own box, you stay the same
But homie if you change, may you change for the better...."
From my point of view, there seems to be another meaning of the title, "The Sideline Story". The title not only explains issues faced in todays society in his album, it seems to talk about Cole's challenges as a rapper. Probably he's tired of being a signed artist and wants to have his own label where he makes his own music without someone criticizing him. Maybe that's what he meant by being on the sidelines.
Let's look at some tracks linked to the main title, "Cole World". These are Intro, Can't Get Enough and Breakdown.
As stated by Genius, "The Intro to Cole's debut full-length sets the somber, reflective, yet boastful tone of the accompanying album perfectly". This means that Cole was reflecting about his success in the rap game and how he wants to keep rising. This is shown on the lyrics below :
"...What a life we chose
I'm sending this out to those
Who fell down, but then rose
I'm hot, I'm hellbound
With these flows, Cole
And when my story's told
Let it be know I'd never fold
I took my time
I gave my soul
I watched you shine
But me I glow
So, I'm coming for what I'm owed
You know?"
The track Can't Get Enough demonstrates why Cole is considered to be the king in the rap game. According to Genius, it states that, "The second radio single from Cole World : The Sideline Story demonstrations why J. Cole is widely considered to be the Simba of Hip-hop...He mixes his lyrical skill over this summer beat and a Trey Songz hook to create a perfect radio jam".
From my point of view, this proves that Cole is not only skilled in terms of writing lyrics but also in terms of making beats. This is why it's about Cole's popularity hence "Cole World".
The track Breakdown is definitely a "Cole World" track. According to Genius, it states that, "This Cole World track talks about the desire to give up in three different situations-personal,societal and fictional". This is shown on the lyrics below:
"Look, I just shed tears homie and no I ain't too proud to admit it
Just seen my father for the first time in a minute
When I say a minute I mean years man
Damn, a whale could have swam in them tears fam
Cause as I left em' I reflected on my younger days
When it was just me and my brother and my mother played
Father, ‘cause no other man bothered
Not even my biological, it never seemed logical
But I accepted it 'cause I ain't know no better
Thought I was brighter than a Polo sweater
No pops was like Martin with no Coretta
So many things you could have told me
And saved me the trouble of letting my mistakes show me
I feel like you barely know me
And that's a shame ‘cause our last name is the same...."
From my point of view, this is a Cole World track because Cole clearly explains about his past life. He uses visual imagery to clearly show his listeners about his feelings and challenges of not having a father figure in his life
Let's look at some tracks that are linked to the subtitle, "The Sideline Story". These are In The Morning and Lost One's.
The track In the Morning is about intimacy between a man and a woman. This is shown on the lyrics below :
[Verse 1: J. Cole]
"Baby, you summertime fine
I let you get on top, I be the underline, I'm
Tryna get beside you like the number nine, dime..."
This song is "The Sideline Story" track because it's a song for the girls hence not related to Cole's life.
As I have stated on my music review about Lost One's, it's making reference to the lives lost through abortions.
Moreover, Genius states that, "Exploring the whirlwind of thoughts and emotion that follow this revelation, Cole adds depth to the narrative by having each verse from a different perspective; the man's, the woman's, and a neutral standpoint". This is why it's "The Sideline Story" track. Moreover on my music review about Lost One's, I give evidence that it's not related to Cole's personal life but someone else's. During the Muve Music Sessions interview, Cole said, "...when the idea came to me it was because of something personal was going on. Not even with me...with a very close friend of mine".
Cole World : The Sideline Story has two meanings because it has two titles, "Cole World" and "The Sideline Story". The main title, "Cole World" is about Cole's popularity, success and fame in the rap game. The subtitle, "The Sideline Story" deals with issues faced in today's society such as abortion, family problems e.t.c .
The album Cole World : The Sideline Story is about Cole narrating his past life and how he gained recognition in the rap game. It's also about highlighting issues faced in everyday life so that people can relate. It's probably one of the reasons why it debuted number one on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
**If you wanna know more about the track "Lost One's", you can read my music review about it by checking the category, "Dreamville Records **
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