Cole the producer offering a beat that's rather Alchemist or 9th Wonder inspired, and then slathering it in plush strings for a perfect single on an album that refuses singles. Key cut 'January 28th' puts gut-wrenching hard truths of the Pusha-T type ('What's the price for a black man's life?/I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight') next to wobbly wordplay that could have been lifted off some old Digable Planets LP ('Flow is bananas/Here, peel this back'), while 'Wet Dreamz' finds J. Most importantly, it's admirable bordering on excellent, sure to inspire returning fans to herald it as a classic even if it doesn't woo the skeptical, casually wandering out of its intro with two smooth and soulful numbers that are so free, they're just shy of being clumsy. Cole's third studio effort was released with no supporting singles, and there are no featured artists, either, because 2014 Forest Hills Drive is one of those personal, conceptual, and 'heavy' albums. Named after the address of his childhood home in North Carolina, J. Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
