Most likely it is.According to Wikipedia it states that Genius reached out to a source close to Dreamville,who confirmed that the storyline is about a real friend of Cole's and that he changed the name to James for the sake of privacy.
From the statement above,this album is mainly talking about death and suffering.Moreover,the fact that J.Cole changed the name of his late friend to James for the sake of privacy shows that despite talking about his friend on the album 4 Your Eyez Only he is still mourning and suffering about James death.This shows that J.Cole is the true definition of "lowkey".Therefore,we can say that the title, 4 Your Eyez Only is more like telling a story about J.Cole's personal life hence the album is special.
The title of the album 4 Your Eyez Only shows that it is based on J.Cole's personal experience.According to other sources on the internet,the title of the track of 4 Your Eyes Only serves as a message to both J.Cole's newborn little boy and Nina the daughter of a deceased childhood friend, whom the rapper calls James McMillian, Jr.
However there is a different interpretation to the album 4 Your Eyez Only. According to other sources on the internet,the album cover is by photographer Anthony Supreme.The photographer toured with the Dreamville founder for two weeks documenting Cole's writing sessions and spontaneous outings.He has a different interpretation regarding the album,telling Genius it is:"Cole Speaking to the youth-this is for your eyes only-for the black youth and how we are all are kids at some point and we really don't know nothing about the reality that we live on".
From my point of view,I believe that 4 Your Eyes Only by J.Cole is based on his personal experience.For example,according to songfacts,Cole repeats the phrase, "for your eyes" throughout the song emphasising it is a message to his friend's daughter and his little boy.
Moreover,if we look at the background information by Wikipedia it states that 4 Your Eyez Only is the fourth studio album by American rapper J.Cole. It was released on December 9 2016 by Dreamville Records,Roc Nation and Interscope Records which was released exactly two years after Cole's previous studio album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The album explores a variety of topics concerning the African American community including mass incarceration,racial discrimination,gang violence and depression.The album also touches other topics such as love and fatherhood.
The title of the track 4 Your Eyez Only mainly talks about death,love,gang violence and fatherhood.
At the beginning of the song [Verse 1] Cole explains the life challenges his late friend James faced.
"....I try to find employment even if it's wiping toilets
But these felonies be making life the hardest
Resisting the temptation to run and swipe a wallet
Or run up on your yard,snatch your daughter bike and pawn it
That's why I write this sonnet
If the pressure get too much for me to take and I break
Play this tape for my daughter and let her know my life is on it
(For your eyes)Let her know my life is on it
(For your eyes)For your eyes only...."
From the lyrics above,we can see that James lives in poverty because he was willing to find any job even if it meant cleaning the toilets.Moreover where it says ,"Let her know my life is on it" clearly shows that J.Cole's late friend,James knew that his life was in danger but he wanted to let his daughter know that he will always be there for her even when he dies.This shows one of the important topics found in the track which is love and fatherhood.The fact that J.Cole is speaking on behalf of his late friend clearly shows that they had a close relationship hence when it comes to friends,to Cole they are more like family.
The final verse of the track, 4 Your Eyes Only clearly supports the point that the album is based on J.Cole's personal experience.This is shown where it says:
"...Jermaine,I knew you since we was children
I never asked for nothing,when times was hard
I never had discussions with you,begging you to help me
I dealt with the repercussions of my actions
I know you tried to steer me 'way from that shit
But that shit was in my blood,you know my life..."
From the lyrics above,the use of the word, "Jermaine" is J.Cole's first name hence he is a messenger between his late friend James and his daughter Nina.Moreover,James was living a life of crime and Cole tried to stop him but it was in Jame's blood.This is why James approached to Cole to send a message to his daughter because he knew he would die some day.
Moreover where it says:
"...I dedicate these words to you and all other children
Affected by the mass incarceration of thus nation
That sent your pops to prison when he needed education...."
supports Anthony Supreme's point of view about Cole speaking to the youth hence the album is addressing to James daughter and the other youth affected by the mass incarceration.
The title of the track 4 Your Eyez Only is a story about the challenges faced by James,his love for his daughter and Cole being a messenger between James and his daughter Nina.This is why the album is based on J.Cole's personal experience because he clearly explains his friend's experience and how it affected his friend and him to the extent he decided to write the song, 4 Your Eyez Only.
According to Wikipedia it states that many critics praised Cole's songwriting and called it his best and most mature album to date.On January 12,2017 ,4 Your Eyez Only was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and was certified platinum on April 7,2017.This shows that this album is special to the extent it was certified Gold because of Cole making reference to his friend's death.
As stated by Genius:'Here's The Deeper Meaning Behind J Cole's New Album 4 Your Eyez Only Dec 09 2016 by Chris Mench he states that,on the song ,"Change" Cole reenacts his funeral and raps about seeing his murder reported on the news.
Another point which shows that the album,4 Your Eyez Only by J.Cole is based on J.Cole's personal experience is showm through the song track Change .As stated by Songfacts, J.Cole raps here about the changes he is going through as he grows older and gains wisdom and maturity.
"I know you desperate for a change let the pen glide
But the only real change come from inside"
As stated by Songfacts,his change from being in a singular state of mind to more socially responsible adult has come from inside.
Moreover,according to other internet sources they show us the lessons we can learn from J.Cole's "Change".Despite the pain Cole experienced in previous tracks,there is something inside him that tells him there will be better days,that gives hims a reason to keep moving forward.Cole calls this intuition,but the bible calls it hope.
According to the source Genius by Chris Mench it states that a few of the albums tracks-like "Foldin Clothes" and the two "She's Mine" songs focus on love,fatherhood and their ability to make a man reconsider his priorities in life.This is a theme that likely applies to Cole's own life but also fits in with the McMillan narrative.This supports the view that the album is based on J.Cole's personal experience.
According to Billboard "J.Cole Contemplates Life & Death on 4 Your Eyez Only" it states that following his 2015 marriage to longtime girlfriend Mellisa,Cole gives us a peek into his domestic life.
"I wanna fold clothes for you
I wanna make you feel good"
He now enjoys doing mundane,domestic chores like folding laundry,watching Netflix and eating Raisin Bran hence showing that the album is based on J.Cole's personal experience.
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