4 Your Eyez Only
4 Your Eyez Only | ||||
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Studio album by J. Cole | ||||
Released | December 9, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2015–16 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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J. Cole chronology | ||||
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4 Your Eyez Only is the upcoming fourth studio album by American hip hop recording artist J. Cole. Scheduled to be released on December 9, 2016, by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation, and Interscope Records,[1] it will be Cole's first release with Interscope.[2]
Background
On July 29, 2016, DJ Khaled released his ninth studio album,[3] Major Key, the fifth track of which—titled "Jermaine's Interlude"—features Cole.[4] During his feature on that track, Cole declares, "Said all I could say, now I play with thoughts of retirement"—a line that had fans of Cole's wondering about the future of his music career.[5] In September 2016, while performing at a live concert, Cole said that it would be his "last show for a very long time."[6][7]
On December 1, 2016, the cover art and track listing for the album were revealed, when it was made available for pre-order on iTunes.[8]
Album artwork
The album's cover artwork was created by Anthony Supreme, a photographer and fan of Cole's. The photo that forms the basis of the cover was shot in an Atlanta neighborhood in September 2016.[9] Supreme explained on Instagram:
This Atlanta neighborhood was just going crazy! People were running out of their house to take a photo of Cole and ask him questions but, there was something to me about this boy and how he kept looking at Cole as he walked around his neighborhood. I can see in his eyes how much this experience is slowly changing his life forever! The young boy's face just stood out to me to capture. I saw in his eyes he knew nothing about J. Cole, but was some what amazed how everyone was reacting to him. The boy even asked Cole several times who he was. But, he couldn't understand what was going on in his world. Cole and I spent hours one night looking for photos for his album but nothing seemed to stand out. Then a few days passed and I finally found this photo that I felt represented the cover the most to me to pitch to him.[10]
Recording and production
Part of the album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, over the summer of 2016.[11]
Promotion
On December 2, 2016, Cole released a 40-minute documentary, titled Eyez, on Tidal. The documentary features behind-the-scenes footage of Cole and collaborators working on the album.[12] The documentary also includes two music videos with one for the track, called "False Prophets (Be Like This)" and the other for the track, called "Everybody Gotta Die"; neither song is confirmed to be on the album.[13] The film was directed by Scott Lazer, who also directed J. Cole: Road to Homecoming and Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming.[14]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Track 1" | |||
2. | "Track 2" | |||
3. | "Track 3" | |||
4. | "Track 4" | |||
5. | "Track 5" | |||
6. | "Track 6" | |||
7. | "Track 7" | |||
8. | "Track 8" | |||
9. | "Track 9" | |||
10. | "Track 10" |
References
- ↑ "4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Interscope Mines a Cole Surprise (Update)". Hits Daily Double. December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ↑ "DJ Khaled – Major Key [Tracklist + Album Art]". Genius. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ↑ Schwartz, Danny (July 28, 2016). "DJ Khaled – 'Jermaine's Interlude' feat. J. Cole & EarthGang [New Song]". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ↑ Fleischer, Adam (July 27, 2016). "Could J. Cole's Retirement from Rap Be on the Way?". MTV News. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ↑ Lal, Rahul (October 2, 2016). "J. Cole Plays His 'Last Show for a Very Long Time'". Radio.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ↑ Complex News (October 2, 2016). "J. Cole Performed His Last Show 'for a Very Long Time'". YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ↑ Schwartz, Danny (December 1, 2016). "J Cole to Release 4 Your Eyez Only Album Next Week". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Anthony Supreme, Director & Photographer: J. Cole – 4 Your Eyez Only". AnthonySupreme.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ↑ Meka (December 2, 2016). "The Photographer Behind J. Cole's 4 Your Eyez Only Reveals Its Concept". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ↑ Diep, Eric (December 2, 2016). "14 Things We Learned from J. Cole's Eyez Documentary". Complex. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ↑ Bundy, Will (December 2, 2016). "Watch Cole's Surprise-Released Short Documentary Eyez Now". The Fader. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ↑ Lamarre, Carl (December 2, 2016). "J. Cole Returns with a 40-Minute Documentary Titled Eyez & Two Videos from His New Album". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ↑ Frydenlund, Zach (December 2, 2016). "The Inside Story of How J. Cole's Eyez Documentary Was Made". Complex. Retrieved December 3, 2016.